Nothing exemplifies British hypocrisy better than the current furore over yesterday's gaffe by Gordon Brown. Not - as the British media would have you believe - on Gordon Brown's part but the prevailing culture of double standards, prurience and holy-than-thouism.

To explain: Brown made some comments about a member of the public. Particularly damaging was the term "bigoted". As I understand it, his comments were made to his immediate aides and - as he believed - in private. Little did he know but his microphone was still attached and (worse) working.

Obviously this is a 'regretable incident' as political spin doctoring would have it and suggests that Brown is not very media savvy. However, I challenge anyone - in the BBC, journalism, medical professions, teaching professions, etc. etc. - to admit that they have never made similar off the cuff remarks on closing the door or putting down the phone. It's what's known as being human.

And, supposedly that's what we want 'our' (note the possessive) politicians to be. Later that afternoon BBC's PM programme ran an interview with Nick Clegg where he was grilled not so much on policy as "when did you last cry". You could feel (and share) his embarrassment. The tone of the questioning was cajoling, vulture-like - as if waiting for a reply that could be wilfully misinterpreted or quoted against him later. This isn't finding out about a person - it's setting traps.

I wonder who left the mic on Brown (was this a set-up?). I wonder whose PR agency is working with Mrs Duffy (and who they 'work' for?). I listen with increasing bile to the repetition of the incident in the news headlines - it is assuming ever more distorted proportions.

Just maybe it will backfire: that enough people will feel that this actually proves Gordon Brown does have some recognisable human traits.

Somewhere I have an interview in which Allen Ginsberg talks of the 'distance' of words. How - in his contemporary American poltics - language was becoming ever more filtered in the culture of the political speech writer. Before Mr President spoke, the many mouths and hands the words had gone through.

So I'm rather pleased to hear some words coming - genuinely - out of the mouth of one of 'my' politicians. Unpleasant as they may be.