Convicted rapist at Labour event - A businessman with a rape conviction attended a fundraising event for the Labour Party, the BBC reveals. [BBC Politics]

Ok....so a convicted rapist attended a political event.

Whats the problem here? It happened in 1996 for gods sake. Presumably since the man is wandering around free, he has completed any punishment the courts set down for him.

If you don't feel that the punishment set down for him was enough or appropriate, then thats something YOU need to deal with. I would suggest lobbying your local MP for some serious justice and penalty reform.

I am in no way condoning what this man has done, to rape any man or woman is unforgivable. I am not suggesting he be forgiven and have no doubts about it, he won't be. That offence will be on his record forever, like a port wine stain on his face.

What I can't condone is the apparently endless persecution people in this situation suffer. They have the right to a political opinion and they have the right to vote. That automatically gives him the right to educate himself in his chosen party's policies, which means he is perfectly free to spend as much as he feels comfortable buying a seat to listen to a PM speak. Personally I wouldn't pay fifty pence for the privilege, not because I dislike him, but because I am paying for a licence fee already (plenty annoyed about that too).

The man has done his time. If you don't like the way he was punished, then start lobbying, or enter politics on a justice platform and tear up the halls at Westminster. Stop bitching about people living their lives.