Here is the cartoon I referred to - thebone with the caption: "Highly contagious? Boy, am I glad I sneaked into Britain before your election," beneath the strapline Tories announce that they will introduce health checks for immigrants before allowing entry.

That gross picture of a hook-nosed alien with oozing sores coudl have come out of some Nazi sheet. Of course then it would have been intended to be a Jew, and now its supposed to be some other semite from the Middle East. That makes it OK? If you are talking about "offensive", I would suggest that that is what "offensive" in this context actually means. (And please, I am not suggesting that this cartoon was a reason for Ken's remarks, since it only appeared yesterrday - but it's an indication of the depths to which those particular papers can sink.)

Of course Ken was intending to offend that journalist, and it would be a lie to say he hadn't meant to offend. He clearly did mean to offend, and felt he had good reason, which were nothing to do with the journalist's Jewishness, and everything to do with teh way he earned his living.

He equally clearly had no intention of offending Jews in general, and h ehas already made that clear. If such people are offended, that is a matter for regret, and if he hasn't said that already I imagine he will do so.

But I would suggest that that cartoon should give them far more reason to feel offended. To make anyone feel offended.