[Closed] The Daily Mail plumbs the depths and reaches new lows...

I want those responsible for the he DM article jailed.

Don't be silly.

No one was jailed for the Sun's Hillsborough front page, and that was a pack of lies. The Daily Mail is probably more guilty of tastelessly exploiting the tragic deaths of 6 children to score cheap political points, than lying.

I actually pity them. Imagine being that cold hearted!

I recently went to see a film about Don McCullin, the acclaimed photojournalist. An man who has witnessed terrible tragedy right in front of his own eyes. And understandably, so brutalised by his experiences, somewhat detached from the full horror of it all to the extent that he could keep taking pictures of all that he saw. A man damaged by life. Yet McCullin still retained his humanity, and the ability to empathise with others.

The problem with people like DM journos, is that they are shielded from the reality of the situations they comment on, hence their lack of empathy or consideration for others, and for the effects of their words. They don't care. they probably all go back to their cost little bubbles, safe in the knowledge that they aren't affected.

Maybe they need to actually have a long hard look at reality, maybe that would give them a better perspective.

Or maybe, as in Melanie Phillips' case, they're just ****s.

A fabricated link to provide a counter-balance?

No. It happened.

Read an article yesterday taken from the Daily Mail in 1938. The headline "German Jews pouring into the country".

Coyote - Member

A fabricated link to provide a counter-balance?

No. It happened.

The crime happened, but the link to the Guardian doesn't exist.

It doesn't does it. Try this one :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/mar/28/stephen-seddon-jailed-40-years

It wasn't a fabricated link, it just didn't work for some reason. I'm surprised that you weren't able to figure that out.

[url= http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/apr/03/dont-get-mad-about-use-of-philpotts-tarnish-poor ]Another good write up about the DM article[/url]

The UK government's policy and treatment of Jewish asylum seekers thorughout the 1930s and during WW2 was often shameful, it wasn't just the Daily Mail.

No you're right; anti-semitism was rife in Britain during that time. But Associated Newspapers, which owns the Daily Mail, has a history of links with the far-right:

http://www.anitaroddick.com/readmore.php?sid=556

http://dailymail-rehab.livejournal.com/17709.html

Interesting that Melanie Phillips, who is Jewish, chooses to work for a publishing company with such a history.

I seem to remember that Ken Livingstone tried to articulate much the same point, pissed, at a party. It didn't go too well...

Yep. Let's not focus on the bankers and the career politicians. Let's not talk about China destroying the global economy by pretty much being all of the global economy.

Let's bash the poor. Divide and conquer.

The sympathy for further government regulation of the press is also misplaced, morally and practically. This type of story is more typical of a repressive press environment than a free(r) one. If the press is restrained, it is less likely to take a pop at the powerful, which leaves only the powerless as the target. (Not that the Daily F'ing Mail is speaking truth to power with that front page).

I seem to remember that Ken Livingstone tried to articulate much the same point, pissed, at a party.

How did you respond ?

it is an utter insult to the six innocent children who have lost their lives through the [i]ignorance of one man[/i].

I see Gideon is jumping on the bandwagon trying to make political capital out of this tragedy:

[url] http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-22025035 [/url]

Blaming the welfare state for the actions of this wicked individual is beneath contempt. And the evidence noted that both his wife and mistress both worked.

Maybe I read a different article to you Philby but this could potentially make a good verbal reasoning test. If I've read it correctly the article states:

[i]He [Philpott] has been branded a "vile product" of the benefit system by some newspapers.

Asked about such claims, Mr Osborne said "[b]a debate was needed about whether the state should "subsidise lifestyles like that[/b]"."[/i]

the article later attributes a second comment:
[b][i]
"Philpott is responsible for these absolutely horrendous crimes and these are crimes that have shocked the nation; the courts are responsible for sentencing him.

"But I think there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state - and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state - subsidising lifestyles like that, and I think that debate needs to be had."[/i][/b]

So he didn't actually pass comment other than to say the horrendous crimes have shocked the nation and that a debate is needed.

To me this falls quite a long way short of your "[i]trying to make political capital[/i]" claim or [i]"Blaming the welfare state for the actions of this wicked individual is beneath contempt. And the evidence noted that both his wife and mistress both worked. "[/i]. He just answered a question with a view...

What is quite noticeable in the article is the quote from Labour MP Andy McDonald who is said to have accused the chancellor of trying to make political capital out of an "appalling" crime and for "demonising" people seeking work by linking them to a convicted killer.

There's nothing in the article to suggest Gideon actually made any link at all between people looking for work and a convicted killer, but I'm sure this form of pretty lame political ping pong appeals to many.

Dear God!! Having read that Zoe Williams article, I wasn't aware that Paul Dacre was head of the Press Complaints Commission! It seems really surprising, knowing that, that press self-regulation has failed! 😯

Having read that Zoe Williams article, I wasn't aware that Paul Dacre was head of the Press Complaints Commission!

Are you now aware that he isn't head of the Press Complaints Commission?

Strange that! In the printed version of the article it says that he is. But that's been removed from the online version. I didn't think that he was.

@robdixon - Osborne is quite clearly is making a link by commenting on both Michael Philpott and welfare benefits which '[i]subsidise lifestyles like that'[/i]. Perhaps he shouldn't have mentioned both issues in the same speech - it is clearly political opportunism and pandering to the reactionary right. Did Philpott being on benefits cause the crime? It seems the fact that he is a deeply malevolent and evil individual is secondary to his benefit status to many people.

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Strange that! In the printed version of the article it says that he is. But that's been removed from the online version. I didn't think that he was.

Pretty sure he used to be.

To me this falls quite a long way short of your "trying to make political capital" claim or "Blaming the welfare state for the actions of this wicked individual is beneath contempt. And the evidence noted that both his wife and mistress both worked. ". He just answered a question with a view...

Oh come off it! Complety disingenuous to claim he isn't going along with the Mail's vile rhetoric. Plenty of other things he could have said if he didn't want to create that impression.

Maybe even something like - 'this is an awful situation but linking it to the benefits system is baseless, cynical, vindictive and immoral'.

Osborne is quite clearly is making a link by commenting on both Michael Philpott and welfare benefits which 'subsidise lifestyles like that'. Perhaps he shouldn't have mentioned both issues in the same speech - it is clearly political opportunism and pandering to the reactionary right

Writing DM headlines is just his hobby.

In the printed version of the article it says that he is

I've only got access to the online version - is there something you feel you should be telling us, binners?

Not really. The Zoe Williams article makes reference to Paul Dacre being head of the PCC, and therefore complaining to them would be pointless. In the online version linked, that reference has been removed

It wouldn't surprise me if the Mail had their lawyers straight on to the Guardian. Without a hint of irony, complaining about 'factual inaccuracies'. It's the way bullies usually tend to operate

Osbornes just happy to spout on about the one man in the country less popular than he is right now

in other right wing £*%$ news I see kelvin mackenzie has moved to the daily telegraph

Its just more of what we now expect from our hate-filled, nasty, gutter level, unregulated 'free press'
This is just part of the right wing presses continuing vilification of the poor, egged on by Downing Street press office, to justify this government's dismantling of the benefits system
It is a calculated, co-ordinated, cynical and ideologically driven campaign, waged through their friends in the press, that has had a very clear agenda right from the day this despicable administration took power

Bang on.

"But I think there is a question for government and for society about the welfare state - and the taxpayers who pay for the welfare state - subsidising lifestyles like that, and I think that debate needs to be had."

So he didn't actually pass comment other than to say the horrendous crimes have shocked the nation and that a debate is needed.

It's doublespeak - "having a debate" means we'll release some press releases, get some editorials printed in the right-wing press, then use those to say "the public" want something to happen.