Wicked Witch's lachrymose plea of mitigation

[thedaffodils]

Hi! What does 'Wicked Witch's lachrymose plea of mitigation' refer to? Is it related to Land of Oz? I've watched the film but I forgot it.

Thank you!

Yet as late as yesterday morning she was still protesting her innocence, even though the paying public didn't want to listen to her sophistry, no matter how hard done by she considers herself.

And it is the self-pity which is so nauseating. She wrote a ludicrous, self-serving, self-justifying piece in The Times, effectively protesting that she was only being victimised because she was a working mum.

It reminded me of the Wicked Witch's lachrymose plea of mitigation when she was caught using a convicted conman to buy two cut-price flats.

Littlejohn: Nice legs Julie, shame about the expenses | Mail Online

[MrPedantic]

Hello Daffs,

I believe it refers to Cherie Blair's tearful press conference in 2002, in defence of her decision to buy two flats in Bristol on the advice of one Peter Foster. The latter was characterised in the media as a "convicted conman".

Best wishes,

MrP

[thedaffodils]

Hello Mr Pedantic,

Thank you for your reply.

What did the columnist use 'Wicked Witch' to describe Cherie Blair if you have some idea? Is Wiched Witch a figure in some fairy tale? Why is it capalitalised?

[Anglika]

IOn the Oz books, the Wicked Witch of the West was the baddy. Cherie Blair (partly through her own behaviour and appearance, partly through the way in which she was perceived by journalists) was tagged as the Wicked Witch. In the context of the newspaper story, it would have been quite clear to the reader who was meant.

[thedaffodils]

Anglika, thank you very much for your help.