Fitzpatrick: His constituents must be appalled

Dear Ed, FORTUNATELY Jim Fitzpatrick is not my MP. But I am sure some of his constituents must be appalled by his behaviour

Dear Ed,

FORTUNATELY Jim Fitzpatrick is not my MP. But I am sure some of his constituents must be appalled by his behaviour (East London Advertiser and website, August 13).

Imagine how you would feel if a guest arrived at what should have been one of the happiest days of your life, caused a scene in public, distressed your parents, then promptly called his favourite newspaper to complain that you had offended his sensibilities by, err, doing absolutely nothing.

What caused Mr Fitzpatrick to storm off in this manner? Was a group of a terrorists parked outside the centre waiting to carry out a dastardly plot to kidnap this innocent MP. Was Osama Bin Laden lurking around behind the chocolate fondue fountain waiting to pounce on Mr Fitzpatrick and throttle him? No!

How this family seated their guests was none of his business. He was invited to take part in the celebration, not dictate who should sit where. It wasn't his son or daughter's wedding and he hadn't paid for it.

This was not the first Bengali Muslim wedding he and his wife had attended, so he would have been aware that male and female might possibly be seated separately.

He should send the family a public written apology, asking for forgiveness for dragging them into his shameless political game. After all, he was not dragged off the street and frogmarched into this place against his will. He was sent an invitation which he accepted.

If he had a political point to make with any group or organisation, he should have made it to them directly and not involved an innocent third party.

Afia Khatun

Pedling Street, Stepney