"Are You Now, or Have You Ever Been, Bonkers, Mr Brown?"

"So, Prime Minister, is it true that you are completely bonkers?" Which,of course, is what the BBC's Andrew Marr didn't ask Gordon Brown in an interview the other day. Although he might as well have. As soon as you start asking anybody in the public eye if they take prescription drugs, then the clear implication is that you think that they are either an addict or mentally ill. Or both. The very fact that Marr asked such a question is highly revealing of attitudes toward mental illness in our society, implying that both the illness itself and the medication both render one unfit to hold any kind of position of responsibility. Both are untrue. Not all forms of mental illness are serious enough to be incapacitating, nor is the medication used to treat most forms of such illness. Indeed, the whole point of the medication is to bring the condition under control. But, as far as the media is concerned, both mental illness and its treatment are both stigmas which can be used to try and discredit politicians.

Bot, of course, Brown isn't mentally ill and isn't on medication. No matter how much Marr tries to defend his line of questioning by claiming a 'public interest' defence, the fact is that there was never any sound grounds for asking such a question. The whole 'Brown on medication' bollocks is an internet rumour originating with right wing arseholes chattering away on their blogs. I don't know about anyone else, but I really don't think that online tittle-tattle is a reliable source of information for political journalists. Still, in the interests of balance, I look forward to Marr asking Tory shadow chancellor how many prostitutes he has shagged, or confronting 'Call me Dave' Cameron with the allegation that he regularly turns into a slavering bestial fiend that rampages through the fleshpots of London, indulging in murder, sexual violence and insider dealing. I have a funny feeling that he won't, though.