Todd's legacy is a morality maze

DETAILS of the life and tragic death of Manchester police chief Michael Todd have unfolded painfully since his body was found on Snowdon last Tuesday. In the immediate aftermath, plaudits and tributes rolled in for the charismatic "copper's copper".

He liked patrolling with beat officers. He was media friendly and believed in transparency. He was even filmed at the wrong end of a Taser gun to prove to the public that it was a safe method of restraint. He was praised for his leadership qualities, and at the comparatively young age of 50 he was tipped to one day take over the Met.

Then another side of the married father of three was gradually revealed. He was known as a "ladies man" by some, and an incorrigible womaniser by others. He suffered from depression and, it was rumoured, he had threatened suicide before. Indeed it was his wife's discovery of his latest 18-month affair with a Manchester businesswoman and the threat of exposure by a Sunday newspaper that is alleged to have led to him taking his own life.

If the thought of disgrace in life was so unbearable, it seems reasonable to assume that, as a public figure, he would also have been concerned with how he was remembered after he'd gone.

That brings into question how much the public believes a man's private morality, or lack of it, should colour his achievements.

In France there is a general acceptance of men's dalliances. We are led to believe the keeping of a mistress is as commonplace in Paris as membership of a gym.

In Britain we have always taken a straighter, less tolerant line. If a man lies to and deceives his wife, what chance of him being truthful to the public? Inappropriate relationships leave public figures open to blackmail or – as it seems in this case – exposure, fear of which could surely cloud his judgement.

How can we trust a man, who appears to be led in part by his groin, when it comes to making crucial appointments either of women, be they plain or beautiful, or men he might see as competitors in the love stakes?

Infidelity, especially when it's a lifestyle rather than a one-off, is still frowned upon in Britain, albeit that we seem to be becoming more forgiving of celebrities and politicians, of whom we have come to expect nothing more.

Of course, it stands to reason that a man like Michael Todd, so charismatic in work, might be equally charismatic at play. Then there's the power factor. Do we blame the women in such men's lives for succumbing, or them for exploiting their "advantages" and glamour?

As is often the case in such circumstances, Todd's widow Carolyn is standing by his memory, their love and their 27 years together.

Think of Jeffrey Archer, Cecil Parkinson and John Major, each of whom survived and recovered by virtue of outliving their indiscretions and retaining loving wives, thus proving they couldn't be all bad. Is someone who couldn't tough out the disgrace more or less noble?

Perhaps we should all be more laid back "au Francais" and let Michael Todd's memory rest untarnished. Yet that could be asking too much.

It's not necessary for those in the public eye and in positions of almost unparalleled authority to be whiter than white. But, unfortunately for Michael Todd's legacy, nor should they be blacker than the rest of us.

Guilt-free duty-free?
I'M no great fan of Tommy Sheridan, nor for that matter, his wife Gail – not that I have had the pleasure of meeting either of them in the flesh (scope for a joke there, Tommy). Like everyone else, I have no idea how air stewardess Gail came by 150 miniatures, be it honestly or dishonestly. That's for the British Airways tribunal and, ultimately, the court to decide.

What I can say, hand on heart, is that I have known several cabin crew members in my life. Without exception, each and every one of them has a booze cupboard the size of our entire bathroom, including cardboard boxes full to the brim with miniatures.

Naturally, I assume they bought them all duty-free, above board, fair and square.

Darling's side-effects
AS a wine-drinking 4x4 owner who is not averse to an occasional ciggie, and who uses supermarket plastic bags to clear up after the dog, I'm not ecstatic about the budget. But the effects of taxation aren't always predictable.

We were thinking of trading in the gas guzzler. Now we'll have to keep it on the road till it expires, for who will buy it? We've started buying dog poo bags, thus fuelling a whole new plastics market. The fags may well have to go, but as for the wine? We can always console ourselves that we don't drink whisky, or liquid gold as it is now known.