Emily Gosden
Win a trip to the Ice Hotel in Lapland

David Cameron was accused of insensitivity today after making a joke about suicide in his keynote address to the Conservative Party conference in Birmingham.
Mr Cameron departed from his planned script after joking about the prospect of Gordon Brown remaining in power forever, adding: "I won't go on - there are people in balconies up there”.
The quip prompted a loud laugh in the hall but fell flat with a group dedicated to helping those affected by suicide.
Angela Samata, Trustee of Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide, said that Mr Cameron's comment was "very insensitive" and could be “extraordinarily upsetting for people in our situation: people who have been bereaved by people who had perhaps jumped to their deaths".
She said that those bereaved by suicide are "very, very sensitive to comments like that".
"We come up against this kind of thing time and again, it's quite a big issue for us,” Ms Samata said. “For some people it's a well-used turn of phrase, but for someone who could be the next Prime Minister you would expect a certain level of sensitivity."
Mr Cameron's joke was especially ill-timed given news reports about 17-year-old Shaun Dykes, who threw himself from the top of a city centre car park in Derby at the weekend.
Police who tried to dissuade the teenager from taking his own life complained that a crowd of up to 300 people had gathered in the street below to taunt him. One had even shouted: "How far can you bounce?"
Mr Cameron's faux pas also came on the day that one of his frontbenchers, the local government spokesman Eric Pickles, was forced to apologise for making a joke about John Prescott's bulimia.
Industry sectors news at a glance. Interactive heatmap, video and podcast
The inside track on current trends in the charity, not for profit and social enterprise sectors
Read our exclusive 100 Years of Fleming and Bond interactive timeline, packed with original Times articles and reviews
Everything the Business Traveller needs to know to make a better trip
Shortcuts to help you find sections and articles
05/2005
£13,500
08/2008
£109,950
2005 / 55
£59,500
Great car insurance deals online
£Excellent+ executive benefits
Torres and Partners
London
£49,229 - £62,035 pro rata
Charity Commission
London/Liverpool/Taunton
Alstom Power
Europe
Six Figure
Rolls Royce
Midlands/Europe
From £89,950
Special Offers now available
At the new sophisticated
Encore Las Vegas Resort!
Cruise the Islands of Hawaii - Pride of America
List your property with two leading travel websites
Great travel insurance deals online
Contact our advertising team for advertising and sponsorship in Times Online, The Times and The Sunday Times, or place your advertisement.
Times Online Services: Dating | Jobs | Property Search | Used Cars | Holidays | Births, Marriages, Deaths
News International associated websites: Globrix | Property Finder | Milkround
Copyright 2008 Times Newspapers Ltd.
This service is provided on Times Newspapers' standard Terms and Conditions. Please read our Privacy Policy.To inquire about a licence to reproduce material from Times Online, The Times or The Sunday Times, click here.This website is published by a member of the News International Group. News International Limited, 1 Virginia St, London E98 1XY, is the holding company for the News International group and is registered in England No 81701. VAT number GB 243 8054 69.
People need to stop being so sensitive and get lives - we used to have a reputation for being thick skinned in this country sadly that no longer appears to be the case
Dan , Winchester, England
Before I retired I worked in an A/E dept. at the local hospital. Dealing with suicide and those who have lost their loved one to it. I agree with Angela from Survivors of Bereavement by Suicide. What a stupid remark, how can that be classed as humour. He should have been in Derby at the week-end
Carolyn Rabbitt, Derby, England
Keep things in perspective... Come on! DC is the leader of the opposition, in a country with a population of over 60m people. I can't imagine anyone saying anything in a public forum that wouldn't offend a few people!
Michael, Newcastle,
Lets see who's still laughing after the Tories (Once in power)smash up half the country in the name of a psuedo economic policy.
Mark, Yorkshire,
This topic makes me want to jump out the window. People just want to be so self important these days. I am no supporter of Cameron but for goodness sake.
Robbo, Ayr,
I thought it was a breath of fresh air, finally, a politician with a sense of humour, As we all know The basis of all humour is some one's misfortune, for example, Slipping on the elusive banana skin, Etc... David Cameron seems passionate about politics which is a rare commodity these days
John Wood, Birminham, UK
I was in the hall this afternoon and I found the joke funny. I also know what it is like to lose someone by suicide. The joke was neither "very insensitive" nor "extraordinarily upsetting". Anyone who thinks it was should really reassess their priorities.
Emma, London,
Cracking article. Very well written.
Joe, London, UK
It's time to march through the streets to end the fascism of political correctness. It started in the early '90s and it should end - now.
Les Gibson, Yorkshire,
Another truth, ye Gods! If Brown was PM forever (and even for much longer) most Brits would "jump off", for relief...
mac, oban, scotland
Do we know that "How far can you bounce?" was a tasteless and tactless jibe? It could've meant "Please don't jump, you can't bounce, you know".
As for Ms Samata's organisation, its existence is new to me and no doubt to other readers. Is there no limit to the self-importance of such do-gooders?
JF, Canterbury, UK
Roll on the end of political correctness as Mr. Cameron promised. We will have a "Department for Permission to Speak" next. Perhaps we will have an inspection quango where we submit an "I want to say something but it may offend somebody somewhere - would you mind awfully checking for me". God !
Pip Gold, Market Drayton, U.K.
Nonsense - some people are just too sensitive...
beau symons, st emo,
For goodness sake ..it was a joke .. and a funny one.
Would it be in bad taste to call these "sensitive" people kill joys ? Humour is often on the edge... that is what makes it funny. I am sure there are much more inportant things these people could be doing instead of winging about a quip.
Vanessa Kimbell, midlands,
In his keynote speech did Cameron explain how the millionaires and short sellers are funding the Tory party?
I must have missed it .
m wilson, bidache, France