Seeing as we have a shiny new "politics" sub-forum and there doesn't seem to be a thread for this - let's discuss it here.
For me, there are a number of dimensions to this story that merit consideration. Some of them are:
- Why has she confessed now? (some 20+ years after the fact) Was it political opportunism? Was someone going to leak the story? Some other reason?
- How many different elements of non-disclosure were there? She has mentioned the flatmates, but she has also confirmed that she refused to name the child's father. (While at the same time acknowledging that she was receiving support from both the child's paternal and maternal grandparents) Was the father possibly one of the "flatmates"?
- What might the implications be legally? (Benefit overpayments? Benefits for which she may not have been entitled? Risk of criminal charges? Impact on potential future career as a parliamentarian, or as a practicing lawyer?)
- Her public support of others deliberately manipulating the welfare system in a similar manner today.
- Potential knock-on effects for the party that she co-leads?
...plus many more :-)
Discuss!