The right to give offence

Tory blogger Iain Dale's connection to the regional press is somewhat tenuous - he writes a column for the Eastern Daily Press - so we didn't carry today's story about the PCC adjudication against him on the main site.

Nonetheless, the commission's decision to reject Mr Dale's complaint against the Daily Mail columnist Ephraim Hardcastle's description of him as "overtly gay" certainly raises some interesting issues.

It's a rather strangely worded judgement. The PCC agrees the article was "uncharitable" and "snippy" but does not accept that the use of the word "overtly" in conjunction with the word "gay" is necessarily pejorative or homophobic.

It goes on to say: "While people may occasionally be insulted or upset by what is said about them in newspapers, the right to freedom of expression that journalists enjoy also includes the right - within the law - to give offence."

Dale himself, who had initially complained that the piece was "snide" and objectionable, has been fairly restrained in his comments about the adjuducation.

Writing on his blog, he states tersely: "I'm disappointed, but I can't say I am surprised."

Would Franzen have done better?

Former That's Life presenter Esther Rantzen today struck a blow for the journalistic profession by announcing she will stand for Parliament at the next election in the Luton seat being vacated by expenses row Labour MP Margaret Moran.

But if it's Rantzen for Luton South, it could have been Franzen for Norwich North, if Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg had had his way.

Peter Franzen was, until a few weeks ago, the hugely respected and long-serving editor of the Eastern Daily Press. But after announcing his retirement at the end of May, he was apparently then approached by Clegg to be the Liberal Democrats' candidate in the Norwich North by-election caused by the resignation of another MP hit by expenses revelations, Ian Gibson.

The story, which originally surfaced on Iain Dale's Diary and was subsequently carried on HoldtheFrontPage, has never been denied, and Peter's own carefully-worded non-denial - "it would be unfair to the now-adopted prospective parliamentary candidate for the Lib Dems, April Pond, to say any more" - seemed to amount to a confirmation.

In the event, of course, Ms Pond's selection proved disastrous for the Lib Dems. She came a poor third, prompting at least one political blogger to question Clegg's own future.

Would Peter have done better? Quite possibly. For all the low esteem in which they are allegedly held, journalists have a good record as "anti sleaze" candidates, as Martin Bell proved in 1997, and as the redoubtable Ms Rantzen may well prove in 2010.