Louise Mensch, a British politician who recently questioned Rupert Murdoch in parliament about the News of the World phone-hacking scandal, has publicly responded to accusations that were—entirely coincidentally of course—sent to her by journalists three days later on July 22. The mysterious “Dave Jones Investigative Journalists” emailed the 40-year-old Conservative Member of Parliament a series of allegations. Top of the list was that she took drugs with the unconventional violinist Nigel Kennedy—a regular cannabis user—at a club in Birmingham in the 1990s, before “dancing on the dance floor, whilst drunk, with Mr Kennedy, in front of journalists.” The missive menacingly added, “Photos of this exist.” Mensch replied: “Although I do not remember the specific incident, this sounds highly probable… since I was in my twenties, I’m sure it was not the only incident of the kind.” She apologized for being “not a very good dancer.” Fellow politicians—even from the opposing Labour party—immediately backed her. “I admire her for what she has done. The fact that they would go back 20 years and try to dig up into her private life is frankly disgusting,” said Labour MP Tom Watson. Nigel Kennedy added: “I am a socialist myself but do remember having some great times with my beautiful and very clever right-wing friend.” Admitting to past cannabis use has become increasingly acceptable for British politicians in recent years.
