You report that the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea intends to fine Peter Mandelson for urinating in the street at 11pm one night last November (Peter Mandelson faces fixed-penalty notice for urinating in public, 10 April). I’m no fan of Mr Mandelson, but on this occasion my sympathies are entirely with him.
I am a year younger than him and, like many men of similar age, what used to be quaintly called my “waterworks” aren’t as robust as they used to be.
What was he supposed to do when caught short on a cold night? Wet himself and allow the stream to flow from his trouser leg? Or follow the example of the Danish astronomer Tycho Brahe, who refused to leave a banquet to relieve himself because it would be a breach of etiquette and, according to Johannes Kepler, died shortly after as a result?
If the council proceeds with this fine, I assume that it will also fine dog owners who allow their pets to pee in the street. This would be ridiculous, but no more so than what it intends doing with Mr Mandelson.
Doug Maughan
Dunblane, Stirling
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