After 41 years of public broadcasting, This Morning presenter Phillip Schofield resigned from ITV after admitting he had lied to the broadcaster, his colleagues and agency about an “unwise but not illegal relationship with a younger male colleague.'' Schofield has accepted both full responsibility and the repercussions of his actions, admitting he lied and expressing his profound regret for the situation an 'innocent' young man now finds himself in due to their relationship. It is noteworthy that his lengthy career was faultless and his reputation unblemished until he revealed he is homosexual.  

In a recent interview, he described he has had thoughts of suicide following relentless media coverage and scrutiny in print and online, saying: “If my daughters hadn’t been there, I wouldn’t be here'' and stating he understood how Caroline Flack had felt. Speaking on Newsnight, Flack's mother spoke about Schofield's ongoing public scrutiny. ''He’s lost his job, he’s lost his world. I think that’s enough. I think that’s enough for anybody.” 

But for the sake of balance, let's compare his actions with those of other well-known TV presenters and public figures. Piers Morgan, a famous figure in British media, has a trail of scandals and mistakes behind him stretching back over a 25-year period. He has been fired, censured by regulators, investigated by government authorities, rebuked by a judge and questioned by police.  His former tabloid boss Kelvin MacKenzie is quoted as saying: "When you think of all the scrapes he has been in you would think he would be pushing a broom outside Aldi by now. In fact, there will be a queue a mile long to hire him."

Morgan is not alone.  Jeremy Clarkson's 35-year broadcasting history is filled with controversy.  TV personalities are not alone.  Boris Johnson has demonstrated that those to whom we have entrusted our security,  government policy and decision-making affecting all of our lives on a daily basis, have repeatedly lied, often resulting in little more than a slap on the wrist; and, in some cases, with no repercussions at all.

Why then has Schofield been so vilified and punished? Has he breached OUR trust any more than other public figures? Perhaps the sexual nature of his lie is more serious, more egregious, than repeatedly lying to the British public and Parliament, using racist and homophobic terminology in a public forum and breaking laws.  Does the media now have greater control and influence over us and our opinions than our own common sense?  Perhaps Schofield is correct in his claim that media denigration is driven by homophobia.  Why have we forgiven some for repeated offences and condemned others for a few?  

I am no longer willing to silently witness such unilateral treatment of public figures, indeed any individual, whipped into a frenzy by the media and internet chat in my name. Whilst I wholeheartedly defend freedom of speech and the press, I refuse to be indoctrinated. I believe in fair and equal treatment of all, regardless of sexual orientation, colour or creed. Schofield's misjudgments and lies are minuscule in proportion to those committed by others, including elected representatives of this nation, and Schofield should therefore be immediately reinstated to ITV.  

Please sign this petition if you also believe in equal rights and fair treatment of all members of our society.