'My first living memory is being sort of coaxed out from underneath the bed by a police officer'

Everyone has a backstory. Not everyone has a backstory like this

In recent years I’ve noticed a rise in receiving tip-offs that appeared to be malice-laden and politically motivated.

The latest local body elections is a good example: ‘Mr X has a conviction’, is an often repeated one, as is ‘Mr X never actually graduated’ is another.

Often these tip-offs are full of crap, a last resort for people trying to undermine someone’s campaign.

A person I interviewed last weekend told me something that resonated:

“To what extent are the things you did when you are a teenager, or at university, are you held accountable for them now?”

It is a good point, and particularly relevant for those seeking public office. My interviewee subject decided to front-foot any scuttlebutt.