There was always going to be a lot of warmth in the room when Norman Lamb appears on stage to give his speech to Liberal Democrat conference this morning His actions in government to transform mental health and care services touch every single one of us. If we don’t need these services ourselves, someone we know does and he has made life easier for so many people.
A story in the Mirror today lays bare some of the details of the personal pain that lies behind his determination to build a mental health system that makes sense and works for people. We in the LDV team are struggling to see the public interest in publishing such a story about a very private matter about the health of Norman’s son, Archie. We particularly question the rather lurid headline and the inference that Norman was in any way worried about his own career. His own words are pretty clear to me that it’s Archie’s career that they were worried about. Norman has spoken to the Mirror and it’s his words we quote here:
He says: “I have talked openly and publicly that our family has been touched by mental ill health but I haven’t, because I have to protect his interests, said anything about Archie’s situation.”
He was diagnosed at the age of 15 with obsessive compulsive disorder and has been on medication ever since.
“He’s carried a heavy burden with his ill health. He wants to be open about his mental health as this is the source of the problem. We have had a very traumatic 10 years in many ways.
“He’s had amazing success in the music business and he’s also had very dark periods and that led to him drinking too much and, as we understand it, getting into bad company and drugs.”
But Mr Lamb insists Archie – who discovered Tinchy Stryder as a young music producer – is now clean.
“We are immensely proud he has escaped from that. He’s rebuilt his career and is doing very well – this is what is so tragic about this blackmail.”
The blackmail tow which he refers involved a man who, for a time, shared Archie’s flat. Archie wanted this man to leave and Norman took legal advice as to how to deal with this. As a result:
Mr Lamb says he offered to clear Archie’s debt and pay extra cash if he quit the flat on March 4.
But within two days of signing an agreement to leave, the man was putting pressure on Archie by threatening his career in the music industry.
“He wanted all of the money then up front, not waiting until he left the flat.
“Then I discovered he said ‘I am not leaving the flat’ and at that point I concluded we were being blackmailed and we had to go to the police,” Mr Lamb says.
He spoke about how his personal knowledge and experience motivates him to make sure people get the support that they need:
Here am I the mental health minister on a personal mission to achieve justice for people with mental ill health, but my insight into my family’s situation makes me want to fight for every family who suffers the nightmare of mental ill health.”
This situation has clearly been horrendous for the whole Lamb family. People will, I think, admire the honest and dignified way that Norman has responded to the Mirror’s intrusion into his family’s life. I speak for the whole team when I say that we send our very best wishes to the Lambs.
I’m sure that you’ll appreciate the need for sensitivity on this deeply personal matter, so we will be pre-moderating all comments on this post.
* Caron Lindsay is Editor of Liberal Democrat Voice and blogs at Caron's Musings. You can find her on Bluesky at caronmlindsay.bsky.social
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20 Comments
As you say, there was no need for those deeply personal details to be published. I think Norman is doing a brilliant job of raising the profile of mental health issues. I doubt whether there are many families who have not been affected by mental health problems at some time. I know a lot of very good, principled journalists but I wonder how some in the profession can bear to look in the mirror.
Caron, can I just make clear there was no “intrusion” by the Mirror. Norman agreed to talk to us and had checked with his family first before doing so. I would not have put my name to the story otherwise.
My heart goes out to Norman and his family at this time. Norman is doing the right thing in government, his quest for social justice is self evident to any who look…
I would just like to wish Norman, Mary and the boys all the best at this very difficult time. Hopefully, after the election is over, they will be able to have some overdue private family time together.
I haven’t seen the article but, as someone whose own child lives with a very mild OCD disorder I would like to extend my good wishes to Mr Lamb and his family.
My heart goes out to Norman and his family.
That reads to me like a fairly sympathetic piece from The Mirror. And credit to them, they have been one of the few parts of the media that has been campaigning positively on mental health issues for a long time now.
@Jason Beattie
Thanks for commenting. By way of clarification, did you;
a) approach Norman and say you were going to publish the story, but would welcome his involvement ; or
b) you say you were going to publish either way?
Top man Norman Lamb for standing up to bullies and being so family-oriented . The front page tabloid story brought a tear to my eye on Mother’s Day. It’s even spurred me on to find out more about the Lib Dems as a lifelong adult Tory voter. Good luck to Archie and all your family, but with such a caring patriarch at their helm they can’t go too wrong.
@Jason Beattie: The fact that Norman has never spoken about his family before now suggests that the story was more intrusive than you are making out. I just wonder how you feel that this can be justified when the editors’ code of conduct says:
) Everyone is entitled to respect for his or her private and family life, home, health and correspondence, including digital communications.
ii) Editors will be expected to justify intrusions into any individual’s private life without consent. Account will be taken of the complainant’s own public disclosures of information.
Presumably Caron checked this out with Norman Lamb before publishing the story?
Very best wishes to Norman and his family.
Mental health affects everyone and it is why I don’t think it is the minority cause that is often made out.
This is a good website for anyone experiencing difficulties. It has helped me in the past:
http://www.moodjuice.scot.nhs.uk/
I would just like to add my voice to those who are wishing the best to Norman Lamb and his family. Whatever the reasons for these disclosures by the Mirror – and I note Jason Beattie’s comments above and the subsequent pertinent question put by ATF – it cannot have been an easy thing for Norman to talk about publicly. He has done so courageously, frankly and with great humanity. If doing so helps others suffering from mental health problems, or gives some succour to their families, there will be a real silver lining to the loss of privacy. I hope that Archie, who is clearly a talented young guy with a bright future, is able to resume his road to recovery and find peace and fulfilment.
Norman’s wider campaign to raise the profile and priority given to mental health is one of the most creditable – and hopefully enduring – things that any Lib Dem minister has contributed to this government in my opinion.
“Stephen Donnelly 15th Mar ’15 – 2:20pm
Presumably Caron checked this out with Norman Lamb before publishing the story?”
Yes. By coincidence, the LDV team present at conference were having our annual meal together when we became aware of this story. Caron was adamant that we would not cover it unless and until we received Norman’s permission. Caron exchanged early morning emails with Norman, who confirmed that he was happy for us to cover the story and thanked us for asking him.
Caron Lindsay 15th Mar ’15 – 1:31pm
@Jason Beattie: The fact that Norman has never spoken about his family before now suggests that the story was more intrusive than you are making out.
I agree Caron.
@ATF – Very reasonable questions ‘AT’ and the Mirror or someone else should confirm the sequence of events leading to this story.
As a minister in the government Norman Lamb will no doubt have been advised by media officials in his ministry, as well as (one hopes) by our own party communications experts. Norman’s son – who I believe is 27 years old – and working in the media-savvy music industry was hopefully able to get advice from his own media professionals on how best to deal with this story. This intrusion seem particularly hard on him.
No family wants to suffer such media intrusion. It is a shame that Leveson seems to have come to nothing. This story, following hot on the heals of the Mirror’s phone-hacking admissions, might suggest they have not learned the lessons of the earlier episodes.
Without knowing the answers to the questions put to Jason Beattie, we will remain in the dark about the origins and motivation for publishing this private story.
I was very impressed by Norman’s speech and public comments, especially as it is clearly a difficult time. I’ve come away from conference with enormous respect for him, and gratitude for what he is doing.
My heart goes out to Norman Lamb and his family. A similar occurred to a member of my family, it resulted in a tragic death.
Out of bad has come good. A man who knows what is needed to deal with mental health needs
Rather belatedly, to follow up Paul Walter’s point. As it happens, I was the platform aide for Norman Lamb’s speech yesterday. That meant I had to attend the rehearsal for his speech at 8am and it gave me another opportunity to offer support and sympathy from the LDV team and check he was happy with our intended coverage.
I look forward to Norman Lamb serving in a shadow cabinet, in an opposition party, under Tim Farron’s leadership.
Now, now Stephen, that is cheeky 😉
No, Alex, cheeky would have been suggesting he be given the portfolio for promoting the decriminalising of possession of Cocaine, a Class A drug, currently an offence carrying a maximum of 14 years in jail.