This is from the editorial column of the Mail today:
Of course there's a load of nonsense in there: this is the Mail.
And equally there is a message worth noting. It is that the Mail no longer trusts this government with freedom of the press.
Even the Tories' natural allies now think that they are a threat to a freedom that underpins democracy.
First they came for the Opposition, and The Mail rejoiced.
Then they went for the judges, and The Mail sang along.
After that they went for the civil service, and The Mail joined in.
Then they went for press freedom and The Mail never saw that coming despite all the precedents in the USA.
There are moments to despair. And moments to be angry. And moments to worry. And there are moments for all three.
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A light slap on the wrist for the government, but this still comes loaded with Tory propaganda, a dig at Labour and even a let-off for BoJo by blaming Cummings!
Just as well I’ve facebooked it directly from the GOV.UK website under ‘Foreign Secretary announces announces free speech funding’ thereby bypassing Mail propaganda and highlighting the speech itself. It’s true what they say about liars needing very long memories.
This is a very cunningly written, and duplicitous piece of Boris celebrity branding.
On top of the bogus press selection process, (sheep this side goats that side, please) it sets-up Boris with the opportunity to be the champion of an already fiercely right-wing dominated ‘free press’.
Hoorah! for the tousle-headed hero.
It’s brilliant. You’ve got to admit it’s brilliant.
‘This is a very cunningly written, and duplicitous piece of Boris celebrity branding.’
That’s exactly what I wanted to say too Andy and you have expressed my feelings far better than I could myself.
1) Promoted Boris Johnson with use of flattery – tick
2) Denigrated Labour – tick
3) Appears to uphold the principle of press freedom – tick
In an era of growing distrust of the MSM all publishers need to up their game. This doesn’t quite do that. I doubt the Mail ever will.
..and if only we had a free press that told truth to power and held the executive to account rather than cheering them along. And wasn’t in the hands of right wing oligarchs.
Thanks for this, Richard.
I love that little aside “We expect such bullying behaviour from Labour, who have long loathed the free press.”, which is such a good example of the right wing press in their “There’s no lie like a big lie” mode.
The gratuitous follow up, “We expect better from Boris”, sets the seal on the proof, if ever needed, that most of the virulent right wing press is a fundamentally irony-free zone.
I agree!
It’s staggering stuff
Ah, so, Johnson, in his magnitude, is a victim…again….of duplicitous machinations from his naughty naughty advisor, Dominus Cummings, accuses the Mail.
If even the Mail is getting fidgety, Cummings must be getting in their way.
Oh dear. Who will win the stand off?