The 62-year-old former Conservative leader, who represented Henley in Parliament and now resides near Wallingford with his family, has faced strong backlash after sharing a tribute following the passing of the journalist.
Rod Liddle, who passed away on Sunday August 2 at the age of 66 following a brief illness, spent his working life in the media industry. During his career, he served as editor of the BBC Radio 4 Today programme between 1998 and 2002, while also working as a writer, television personality and newspaper contributor, with numerous articles provoking heated debate.
He additionally held the position of associate editor at political publication The Spectator, which the former Prime Minister edited between 1999 and 2005.
After learning of Liddle’s passing, the Conservative politician took to social media to express his grief, describing himself as deeply affected by the news.
In his post, he stated that he was devastated by Liddle’s death, calling him an exceptionally witty and talented writer with an effortlessly engaging style. He noted that Liddle possessed an extraordinary ability to identify what was plainly evident yet considered inappropriate to voice, and would then express it with such flair as to cause maximum outrage to precisely the intended audience. Spectator readers were particularly fond of his work, the statement continued.
However, some internet users responded with harsh criticism, drawing attention to articles Liddle had written concerning attraction to minors and questioning the legality of viewing child sexual abuse material.
Liddle maintained that his writing frequently employed irony and comedy, aiming to provoke discussion rather than being interpreted literally.
When responding to the former Prime Minister’s post, Jon Wiltshire wrote that he experienced identical feelings upon Rolf Harris’s passing. David Hicks commented that one could not stoop any lower. Gary McEvoy stated that the two men and Spectator readers clearly appreciated Liddle because he held revolting and twisted perspectives on life.
Despite the negative responses, other commenters offered kind words and expressed understanding for the tribute.
One individual remarked that Liddle’s Saturday morning programme on Times Radio was the best part of their week.