Brilliant - this is the way to respond to the reptiles!

Bravo, Mrs Mensch! Brilliantly handled.

UberMensch

*That*, dear readers, is exactly how to deal with smear merchants. Bravo Louise!

Must be a slow news day

The girl got chutzpah!

At least it's better than your responses when you're on Newsnight or Twitter.

shut up...cant you see the bigger issue here, press intimidation, blatant

MP in normal person shocker. I like her even more now. There is a Boris-like quality to the way she handles herself and I like it.

Whilst I approve of her response, comparisons with uberoaf boris is hardly a compliment...

Bravo!

Great stuff - keep it coming!

Well said! Congratulations on not being pushed around...

I wish she'd added something along the lines of "I trust I will hear no more on this tedious and unprofitable subject from YOURSELVES. Or, as my English teacher preferred to say, YOU. Or, as I have learned to know you, YOU ARSEHOLES."

Why do people use yourself instead of you? On a more important note, well done!

Fantastic response! First class

Brilliant. Politeness and transparency do far, far more good for your reputation. Great example of yet further wholly irrelevant-hack-smears. And, sorry, when did anyone of this ilk in Fleet St. become a paragon of virtue!? Beggars belief. One wonders just who got this journo on the case?

Respect lady - respect

hahah. Quality reply. "Cap doffed".

She shoots, she scores! Well palyed Lou, I think I love you. x.

Good response. Although why was the investigative journalist writing to you? is this standard practice? And even as a sort of "threat", this doesn't sound plausible - far likelier they would have just splashed the photos in the press than to send you a courteous note about it first. Think you are trying to get people to forget you lied at the Select Committee about books you've never read and justifying your lies.

Obviously you must have a crush on said poor Mr Morgan, based on the bitchiness of your attack on Louise Mensch. Be careful, it may turn out he knows much more than being claimed by him.

You have them on the ropes, well done you.

Brilliant. Honesty is the best policy, after all. Considering the MP related scandals of the '90s and 2000's dancing on a table is akin to being caught cross sitching.

I never knew that "dancing on a dance floor whilst drunk with Nigel Kennedy in front of journalists" was a drug, but it sounds excellent. Where can I get some?

Not sure why she's getting the praise. Her response to the question about drugs is to not answer, well that's great given that she's responsible for drugs policy in this country.

And her lies about Piers Morgan hardly prove that what she says is the truth.

She did answer - she said it sounded highly probable. Louise is getting praise for standing up to a clear attempt at intimidation and I can think of no better way for an MP in her situation to respond than by calling their bluff in this way.

"clear attempt at intimidation" really? All 3 questions are a lot of fuss over nothing and, I stand to be corrected here, but aren't journalists supposed to give people the chance to respond before publishing. If anything I'm finding this sudden hero worship suspicious after her shambolic efforts of 'Get Morgan' last week. I'd love to see Morgan in the firing line but last weeks allegations where pathetic.

If you don't think it's an answer I'm not sure you understood the question; besides, I'd rather take advice on drugs from someone who'd encountered them than someone totally ignorant. I'd also rather people admit past failings than feed us bullshit, especially if hiding the past allows others to control things with shady threats.

Isn't alcohol a drug then?

I would expect the person who decides drug policy in this country to have a little personal experience in that field. If that personal experience can contribute to a better understanding of the drug related problems in this country, and lead to a better policy then more power to that. Would you expect to be employed as a chef when you had never cooked a dinner in your life? No, you'd employ someone with experience wouldn't you.

Well done on a very effective approach to dealing with the gutter press.

great answer! I think focussed is spelt focused?

Brilliantly done. We've all done stupid things in the past that we wouldn't want to be reminded of, so far better to face them head on and name and shame the people attempting to embarrass you for past demeanours.

"Dave Jones" is actually Lord Sugar's suedo name....

Well done, Louise, on not being deterred from asking important questions by people now trying to defame your character. Keep on keeping on!

I must admit, well handled. If only you had given this kind of intellect and attention to the revelations in the Piers Morgan (book) scandal. I believe your integrity and reputation has been significantly damaged by this episode.

*applause*

Fantastic response :)

Bravo response... I wonder how many others investigating the hacking scandal are being threatened with smears?

What a wonderful letter. It's even got you your first positive comment in the Gauardian's CiF.

Facing the bullies out. Brilliant stuff, keep it up.

Remarkable stuff!

Sorry, I'm missing something here. She reasonably answers some frankly trivial allegations and now she's a hero for this "smackdown"?? Last week she was the coward who part of a feeble attempt to drag Piers Morgan into the hacking scandal.

Martin you really ought to see the evidence that prompted the inclusion of Piers Morgan in the first place. Apparently, more than one ex-colleague of Morgan is willing to confirm that hacking was rife at his paper. If Morgan was not aware, then he is only admitting that he is as incompetent an editor as Rebekah Brooks!

Take your pick, complicit or incompetent, but Lord Justice Leveson will decide in the end.

Give it another month and we shall see how feeble it was.

The an is clearly as guilty as hell.

I'm not supporting Morgan. I'm sure he'll turn out to be as guilty as hell and I will fully enjoy his downfall.

What I am questioning is the fact that she came out with a very feeble allegation using Parliamentary privilege which anyone could see didn't say what she claimed it said and then wouldn't admit her error.

Then after this debacle last week she starts claiming she's under attack and we get this today with the 'totally out of context' final sentence. Questions are now being raised as too who exactly this journalist is. davidjones12323@gmail.com, really? If this is a big scoop to discredit her its pathetic and, if anything, she gives him further ammunition in the answer to point 2.

Even after this I'm still think she's doing a good job on the Select Committee but this is all wrong and could come back to haunt her.

Legend - good girl!!

Oh great. What a response. Kudos to you.

Well done, stick it to them. They hate people who will stand up to their bullying tactics.

Good response, and good move to publish this exchange. BTW which paper / organisation does David Jones work for?

Good One !

Mrs Mensch has gone up several points in my estimation. Excellent riposte.

Excellent retort Louise. David Jones, you are a pathetic little worm.

So she basically owned to the majority of it, and avoided the rest? On what planet is this a win for Mensch? I find it hard to give her any credit after her lazy lies about Piers Morgan. Although I'm sure if it comes out he did authorize hacking she'll take credit, despite the fact her accusations were pulled out of the air with not a shred of evidence to back them up.

GOARRRNNNN Mrs. Mensch - stick it to them!

One of the things about exposing wrongdoing is the penalty that some people pay for doing so. I think everyone expects that the newspapers et al will be trying to produce dirty on committee members. This is the start. In this country there is a 'great' tradition of building people up and then destroying them publicly. And that has nothing to do with the public good. The past is the past, unless it harmed anyone else.

That's actually quite beautiful; well said/written.

Very good; well said. I'm replying to this on my work computer too (though I'm not taking drugs).

Given the Conservatives' attitude to drugs, I can't believe she's getting any respect for adding herself to the list of 'I did it once but you shouldn't' MPs. She's trying to be down with the normal people while at the same time distancing herself. You can't have your cake and snort it too.

I hope that the moral high ground is a lonely place for them. How pathetic...

Splendid. *Throws off clothes and runs into the sea*

Good on you. Keep up the good work.

Brilliant Ms Mensch. This is exactly what should have been done from the outset to break any culture of fear. The general public are after all human, forgiving and reasonable. Although these hacks seem to think the complete opposite.

Superb answer! Enjoyed that!

Well Answered.. like the truth..and yes..there's probably hardly one person who attended college'university etc., that hasnt smoked/drank/etc., in their youth..you seem to be as-they-say 'trending' on twitter..again today..if you are able to convince with clarity and good intention..nothing to worry about..

The only thing about this that doesn't ring true is the inappropriate dress bit. I escaped the music biz for the real world in the 80's, but you could theoretically have turned up for work dressed to attend the Torture Garden in my day.

Indeed!  I really wonder what constituted inappropriate dress at a record company in the 80s! 

Not generally a fan, what with being a socialist trade union dinosaur, but nice one. Really, really nice one. Chapeau, madame.

Just the way to reply .Hope you have started a trend.

Can only imagine how much real dirt the Murdochs have on many politicos from the phone hacking and use of private detectives. And then they threaten to publish it in their newspapers. I'd be nervous!

Got my vote

Well done to David Jones 'Investigative Journalists' for exposing a total non-story. Pathetic.

Bravo! Although I do not agree with your politics - I still respect you, I am amazed at the cheek of these pond life who wrote to you.

Truth and transparency is best way forward. Stick it to them!

OK, I give in.

I like the last sentence best of all. Its meaning is clear: "Nice try, creeps."

Six commas in less than 24 words (Allegation 2)? That journalist should be arrested and charged with cruel and unusual punishment to punctuation.

"fewer"

No, "less than 24 words" is fine, I think. Grey area, but I'd say "less [text] than 24 words" gets in on the same grounds as "less [time] than 24 hours".

Less than 24 hours makes sense because time is divisible by units other than hours. You may not mean a precise number of whole hours, but may be referring to an indiscreet amount measured all the way down to yoctoseconds and beyond. Where as words, may be made up of letters but are only words when they are words, consequently they are discrete, there may be 22 words, but it can never truly be 22.64 words, unless the page is torn I suppose, but that's not what we're really talking about.

You can enjoy some selected (accurate) quotations of my work here: http://twitter.com/#!/BagshaweDiaries/favorites

Good for you! :-)

Wonderful response Louise. Completely defused their attack with the truth. In my opinion the email you received could be construed as a blatant blackmail to force you to give up your investigation into the widespread use of hacking by the press. You've obviously struck a blow that hurts them - keep going.

This is how to do it. Impressed. Now don't let it go to your head. Stay cool, calm and never, ever, ever, use Guido Fawkes as your only primary source again. Well done anyway!

Well done!

1. Are they sure it was Nigel Kennedy, the slightly pervy violinist, and not Gary Rhodes who is good with fish? 2. Is ‘dancing on a dance floor’ a drug I missed or are ‘Investigative Journalists’ a bit crap at English? 3. I have never danced on a dance floor, preferring poles and tables. But that’s just me. Perhaps LM had no pants on. She sounds a bit naughty. 4. In my early twenties my boss crouched at my feet and measured the length of my dress. 5. I once wrote a novel, of a sexual nature, on my thigh, with a biro. There was a driver called Bob, based on my then team leader, Bob The Builder, and his friend Lofty. Lofty is now unemployed. Bob is working for RBS. 6. Photos of my thigh exist. 7. I have neither read Piers Morgan's lovely book nor watched Britain's Got Talent. It is difficult to do these things up a pole in the dark with a violin in my ear.

Sorry - I should have added, it's a pity Jacqui Smith didn't have quite quick enough a wit to reply, "Yes, we watched it together!" I hope the next one will.

Lovely. Keep up the good work.

You couldn't have asked for a better way to get your respect quadrupled - Thanks SNAKE Jones

Regarding whatever she said during select committee proceedings, everyone makes mistakes... as Morgan should know. No, not what happened in 2004. I am thinking mainly of his attempts to arguing the alternative in response to throwaway remarks this month when the audio of his appearance on Desert Island Discs in June 2009 is available. As for this letter, I really cannot see it as anything other than a thuggish attempt at intimidation.

I wish you were leader of the labour party.

Jeebus. Who HASN'T smoked a reefer and danced with Nigel Kennedy? It isn't as if you were dirty dancing with Robert Mugabe wearing a fur coat and blood diamonds. And everyone I know who HASN'T been fired from a job is dead boring. So well said...and well lived!

This David Jones, it's not this one is it? - http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?authornamef=David Jones

Brilliant. I'd vote for you. Transparancy and politics go together quite nicely. Who'd have thought it.

Well done you! You sure showed that lying bugger, didn't you!? Oh no, wait, you just established that he was telling the truth. And gave you the opportunity to comment before printing the story, and checked the facts with you. All examples of good journalism. You prefer just to lie and hide behind Parliamentary Privilege, don't you? Still, at least if you jump on the moral crusade by becoming the anti-journalist figurehead, you'll pick up a few votes and get yourself another slot on 'Have I Got News For You,' eh?

Matt - yes Louise was given the chance to respond to the story and yes she confirmed SOME of it - but what the hell has the 'story' got to do with anything 20 years later? As Louise pointed out, everyone does things in their youth that they might not necessarily do later on in life but why should it be brought up just because they have chosen to do something in the public eye? She's saying that she isn't perfect and whiter than white - frankly I'd rather that than some sanctimonious ***** preaching at me.  And she did apologise for getting something wrong which is also refreshing. Get off your high horse mate.

"including dancing on a dance floor" an awful crime I'm sure we can all agree.

Best response ever. Never heard from them since I suppose?

Leave it out, Matt, the tide's against you on this one.

Well done! Don't let these bullying scumbags get you down! Bravery and honesty are their enemies, fear is their tool of control

Bravo. Who wants a house of commons full of boring career politicians who have never got drunk, never dabbled in drugs, never got in trouble at work and have no experience at all of the real world? Although the Labour party did seem to select one for a leader, though, so I guess there must be some.

Brilliant Louise, take no prisoners. You are now officially my favourite Tory, although as I'm a lifelong socialist the competition for that title is not fierce. Keep on keeping on.

Now this is a reply from somebody who DOESN'T have anything to hide! What a refreshing change!!

Good on You !

Respect to LabourList for running this http://www.labourlist.org/in-praise-of-louise-mensch-mp

How refreshing to have an MP who is not easily bullied. I'm listing Louise as my favourite MP. Thank God she's not a raving Gordon Brownie

Brilliant Louise, don't bow down to them. Honesty and being transparent is what we all want to so. Perhaps some of these so-called people could take a leaf out of your book and then they will learn the true meaning of being an honest person.

Impressively open. If only she wasn't a tory.

Brilliant response. Well done

Brilliant!! Obviously illustrating you have a higher intelect to those gutter feeders, scribbling for comics otherwise known as tabloid newspapers. Expensive toilet paper, I find. Better to buy the real stuff that comes in rolls!

My god - you danced in Ronnie Scotts?!!??? I'm speechless, quickly, hold the front page!

OK, so let's see the photos of both the dancing and the inappropriate dress and we can all decide which is best.

Pearsy and I love the good work that investgative journalists like this do.

Madam: I admire your careful PARSING of language. Nowhere do you admit to wrong-doing: indeed your response omits the word DRUGS entirely. In fact you admit to nothing but Dancing and being in Drink. And your claim to have written your Book after working hours is a wonderful mis-direction: could you not have done the same at Home? Indeed, none of this reflects on your fitnesse to serve in Parliament or any thing ELSE: in fact your Response reflects the Gifts that have gotten you so far, viz. surface POLISH that disguises vacuity & a craven disregard for the TRUTH. Yours &c. W. HOGARTH Esq

HA HA HA. They have to go back 20 years to get dirt on you??? Sad people if that's the best they can come up with. Keep going Louise, don't let them get to you. It's the likes of Piers Morgan that needs to be worried. He is filthy as hell. The truth will out.

Well said, Ms Mensch! That'll teach the sleazy swine some manners.

There's hardly a comment above that doesn't include the word 'brilliant'. It was brilliant. Why is it, then, that from the entire community of marketing, public relations and political communications, you would never get a recommendation to take this course in dealing with the nonsense Louise M faces? You just know she wrote it. It's authentic. Why don't politicians learn this?

Does anyone know who this David Jones is? The Guardian's James Walsh says it's apparently not the Daily Mail's David Jones. I hear that the FT's Westminster blog says the e-mail comes from davidjones1232@gmail. So who is this David Jones?

I salute you Louise.

That's the way to do it!!!! Bl***y well done.

Brilliant response -

Well done Louise...they will know the truth and the truth will set you free...keep up the good work... kindest regards Hugh ps I will tell the truth if I have to but I,d rather not... LOL unlesss its for a laugh.

Piers, you'd better get a good lawyer as I fear you've entered the cross hairs and this will go way beyond the NOTW spat confirmed to the UK. Oh dear...

Are these tactics reminiscent of the bully boy methods of News International ? Politicians if you mess with us we'll find some dirt to sling. Give them the finger Louise because the rest of us are fed up with crap journalists. We want high quality investigative stuff not mud slinging no talent lame drivel !!!

Awesome!

Good for you girl. Give 'em hell!

Not a con fan, but FAB response to the crawling insects pathetic attempt of a ridicule! I Wouldn't have apologized to Morgan though, shame that she felt she had to eh?

I know nothing of this email.

Good for you. They need to know they can't intimidate people into backing off. Excellent response!

How appalling is this . Can this pointless slur be traced back to NI?

Brilliant move!!

Very well said. Good to see an MP with a bit of backbone and a great sense of humour.

Wonderful.

Good on you girl,well done,now you should run for tory leadership,you will win easily,it also helps that Ithink your gorgeous,you definately get my vote,if your ever in Paisley give me a call ha ha ha!

Excellent. Are you a Tory? If so, never mind, it's still excellent. Bloody good for you.

Sock it to them!

Bravo for standing up to this henchman, whomever he represents!!!

I detest her politics but love her attitude

Firstly, I'm guessing that the letter to you was written by a man and if so, secondly, I'm guessing he must have a very small penis, such a shame!! Arrf!! ;-)

Louise, you are a real mensch.

Unmenschlich

The long black gloves treatment. Very good.f

Am not a Tory, but I do think you are a decent person with a very large set of balls. *loud applause*

To me obviously trying to intimidate you into pulling your punches re: past culture of hacking etc. Perhaps someone should investigate the past working practises of the journalist Mr David Jones. - I like an MP that has lived a little in the real world btw - even a Conservative one - & your reply just makes you more likeable - a straight forward honest MP - you come over well on TV too.

Bravo indeed. Major props, not just for the excellent rebuttal but for partying properly with Nigel Kennedy and actually living your youth. This only shows the underhand and dirty tactics of your new enemies. Keep fighting the good fight.

Im not a Tory but Louise Mensch rocks - awesome! Well played!!!

This is so fake. This gmail address is just another bad work of fiction by her so she can then publish her like TOTALLY cool rebuttal on the internet, showing shes an AWESOME fighter against horrible investigative journalists (Its not just News International!!! dont look at them!!!they're come totally clean!!!) and distract from her idiotic lack of basic fact checking and abuse of parliamentary priviledge.

Ms Mensch destroys the blackmailer by agreeing with him. Excellent work! Now, since he promised, he could at least publish the photos of Ms Mensch dancing.

Nick Davies said, in his Guardian video that a certain international news organisation liked '..to play dirty when it had to..' Wonder if THIS farrago is an example of same?

Yessss...brilliant response, no fear, bas****s blatantly trying to intimidate. Wonder if puppet master Murdoch has fingers in this one? Anyone know where this slime known as David Jones works, which paper?

We all have previous lives and have all made mistakes in our youth thats what makes us real people and forms the basis of who we are today, I find it pathetic that the media responds to be investigated for illegal & imoral activity by trying to dig up dirt on one those people doing the investigating but then again just more proof that the likes of Murdoch need to be brought to account and this lie that they represent freedom of speech & expression brought out into the light so that they can be shown for what they are, gossip peddling money chasers who think they can influence political control through their media vehicles......Go get em Louise

Outstanding response. I wish more politicians had the guts to stand up to muck raking 'jornalists' in this manner.

Lets all get naked!!

I have seen how the pappers lie and try to destroy people .Friend mine front page news for a week back in the 70s just because she was gay and married . I really believe piers morgan is david jones or his behind this attack on louise mensch.His tweet remark on the 27th july points that way .And i'm normally right .

I wish I could have seen the looks on those pinched little evil faces when they read that letter.

A necessary Theory on the Conduct of Mrs @louisemensch MP. VIZ: Mrs MENSCH receiv'd a Letter from a Hack who, it is now clear, does not EXIST. If it was from Fleet-st, or there exist'd a Person looking to SHAME her, she would have receiv'd a Call from the NEWS DESK. The Letter contain'd anodyne Allegations that are easily refut'd: it is not the Stuff of BLACK MAIL. By refuting them, Mrs MENSCH hath, after a Fortnight of bad Press, regain'd a moral HIGH GROUND: indeed, she does appear a CHAMPION in the eyes of the Publick. Though Mrs MENSCH is a Hack by trade she hath respond'd with the Assistance of Mr Thos. STEINER, a specialist in Public Relations. After a Life spent disengag'd from Politicks Mrs MENSCH hath entered the Corridors of Power through canny use of Media & Self-promotion. Indeed it is circumstantial, Ladies & Gentlemen. But it STINKS. I remain yr obedient Servant &c. W. HOGARTH

I am really shocked that Louise Mensch is a Member of Parliament and a writer and yet does not know that it is none of them HAS and not none of them HAVE ever complained...

And just for the avoidance of doubt, that was a joke to show how unbothered I was about the allegations. I share everyone else's admiration for the way she dealt with them.

I do not share yr Admiration, Madam. It seems a sick STUNT.

Thank God - someoe who refuses to be intimidated "publish and be damned" - right on! Keep it up!

It's a pity the journalist's don't do something similar on Uncle Rupe and his cohorts

well done louise great way of shutting these morons up

well done louise great way of shutting these morons up

What a great 'up yours' response!

A good honest response and definately the right way to handle these people. Was this meant to scare her in anyway though? Smacks of deperation to me. Intrigued as to 'inappropriate dress sense'allegations though. Crimes against fashion should not be tolerated!

Well done Loise. That's the way to do it! Can we have the name of the reptile who sent the e-mail. We need to put some heat onto his/her's tail. What a pity we did away with the rack.

Perfect response! Others take heed when they come for you

Well done. Damn Straight.

You go, girl! Kudos to you from across the pond. :)

While not a Conservative supporter in any way - I may just have become a fan of Louis Mensch

The right way to deal with bullying cowards. Publish and be damned was a response worth following

Lets focus on hacking, and not what a very large number of 20 somethings get up to in the 80's. I do hope that someone investigates David Jones and see if he has any skeletons in his closet. People in glass houses......

We all have skeletons from our youth and some are embarassing later in life. How clean is this scumbag reporter I wonder. Big mistake to try and slur this lady who is held in high esteem by her peers and the public. May I suggest that you crawl back under the slimey rock you crawled from and try another career

Next....!!!

Next....!!!

Did you have to hand the reply to a man in a trenchcoat and fedora in a cold, empty, echoey car-park?

you'll get my vote.

great response - now go for the jugular!

I Like You Louise. Perfect response. The abnormal has become normal for some journalists, and they just "don't" see it, and doubt they ever will. :-)

To be honest I hadn't heard of you before the phone hacking enquiry but all I can say now is I wish you were my MP; I'd vote for you. Keep up the good work!

Good on you and I'm glad you enjoyed your youth!

Good on you and I'm glad you enjoyed your youth!

Good on you and I'm glad you enjoyed your youth!

Nice reply. It's not going to make me vote Tory, but more power to your elbow, girl.

I believe I have found a new idol. Somebody whose mind operates the same as mine and someone I can truly look up to and be inspired by. Thank you....you made this woman very very happy and put a smile on my face this morning!

Are there no depths to which these reptiles will sink? Go Louise, stick it to 'em!

Well done!

I would have struggled not to finish with the question: "May I ask how you came by your information regarding my departure from EMI?"

damn, I've never wanted to be Nigel Kennedy more than I do today!

Go Girl. Talk about Pot calling the Kettle black. People who live in glass houses, Her who lives without sin cast the first stone...... etc etc.

Well done. That is the only way to deal with these lowlifes!!

My goodness; did they really expect you to crumble at such pathetic 'allegations'; they must really have had to dug deep if that was the best they could come up with - clearly you are an upstanding member of the community and just the type of person we want asking these low life's probing questions. You go girl!

Louise, I don't know you personally, although I had occasional dealings with EMI publishing 'back in the day' - but you have my unswerving admiration for your response to this hideous piece of correspondence. I applaud your forthrightness and tenacity.

It's a shame she's 'a right-wing nutter', isn't' it? Because, otherwise, she's highly likeable. The fact she thinks 'life begins at conception' is just a bit too much of a put-off for me.

I think you miss read the admirable one, she was rather taken by Blair at one time. Louise is far from alone in believing that life begins at conception, its abundantly obvious. 

I wish I was calm enough to be able to reply so eloquently and at the same time stomping them to little pieces. A superb effort Mrs Mensch!

Weill done, an excellent response. While I think that you waited too long to retract your incorrect comments about Piers Morgan I think that your approach on the Select Committee is, in general, superb.

Slimy b**d - boycott David Jones/Daily Mail I say!?

Boycott you say? You read said publication?

Well said Louise!

Wow, this is the most hopeful bit I've read in a while. I wish everyone had your guts.

Excellent response. Conclusive proof that the main difference between a catfish and a journalist is that one is a scum-sucking bottom-feeder whilst the other is a fish.

Sock it to 'em lady!

Where can I get a copy of Career Girls?

i take my hat off to ms. mensch. what a brillian response.

i take my hat off to ms. mensch. what a brillian response.

Excellent reply! Although it was a slip of the tongue, a mistake. I think you were right when you said to RM at the Parliamentary committee it was the most humiliating (changed to humble) day of his life.

Most excellent response. I applaude you Mrs. Mensch for sticking to your guns and being totally transparent about your own past. As you say, you were in your twenties. Anyone who didn't get up to some mischief at that age must have led an extremely boring life! Once again, Bravo!!

Very good, well done !

The moral of this story: If you're carrying an assault rifle, don't point it at your foot.

Well handled, so what who cares....Louise is who she is, we accept that and frankly welcome it....If only more MPs had lived a bit we would all be better served.

Love it!! good for you :) xox

Top stuff, Louise. This is the bravery we need to ensure we all end up with a decent and ethical free press. As an Australian I am embarrassed that my country gave rise to Murdoch and his 'empire'.

I have no Tory leanings at all, really, but you really are made of something strong and worthy, probably destined for higher things. Good luck and keep pressing the buttons, you're obviously niggling some people. Jim

Good for you Louise. Hit 'em again!!!

At last; A real person as an MP, one who has worked for a living in the real world. We need more of these. Was the novel published?

My respect and admiration for Ms Mensch has just increased a thousandfold (from an admittedly low base!). It is refreshing to hear that not all politicians planned their careers from infancy and that they may even have had real lives (with all the embarrassing moments that go along with those lives) before choosing to stand for election. Why should someone be pressed to deny their youth just because they have chosen a different path in middle age?

Stuff it too 'em Mensch!

What a great response, why haven't these 'indiscretions' been dragged up before, think 'the knives are out' no one would go into public life if all their antics when young were dragged up. I certainly wouldn't be where I am if my dubious past mistakes were dug up. Good luck Louise!

This reminds me of the story about the young US Navy office who was filmed by Soviet intelligence with a female Soviet agent in a "honey trap". When the Soviets showed him the film and demanded his cooperation or else, his response was to ask for copies of the film so he could show eveybody how good he was in bed.

Brilliant response to a smarmy bully.

I am sure it has not escaped many people's notice that in Yiddish the word Mensch means "a person of integrity and honor"

You brilliant person! Keep at 'em!

Nicely done, Mrs. Mensch! The public cares far less about any substances you may have ingested on a dance floor 15 years ago than about the courage you have today to stand up to petty blackmailers and peddlers of filth.

Congratulations, Ms. Mensch. You just showed the world how EVERYONE should respond to blackmail. This is how you defang a snake-- and it's a pity so few people in power understand that and instead let themselves get drawn under the thumb of our new oligarchy.

BRAVO LOUISE, BRAVO!

I would.

Louise, good on you. Don't let the proverbials get you down, you are more than winning in this tirade of testosterone. Finally a role model for women and politicians everywhere.

great response, i dont want politicians who have never lived or done anything !

Well done.