Monday, 23 September 2019

Politicians and Digital Tattoos - my letter to The Times

My letter to The Times (published 21st September)

Schools have an important part to play in teaching young people how to remain in control of their digital footprint online.

Sir
Justin Trudeau joins the growing line of National leaders where the indiscretions and misjudgements of youth are visited on the older statesman. His ‘blackface’ photograph will sit alongside Tony Blair’s ‘air guitar’ and the notorious Bullingdon Club photo of 1987 of David Cameron and Boris Johnson. This pattern is set to increase as Millennials with significantly more extensive digital tattoos begin to take up political office. Looking ahead as society we face a choice: we either draw our leadership from the narrow pool who have never committed an indiscretion; or we accept leaders who have made mistakes and have learnt from them. Accepting Justin Trudeau’s contrite response of ‘deep regret’ is surely the preferred path.



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