- Original Home Page
- All Contents of Site – Index
- This blogger does not rate The Daily Telegraph in particular
- And this one shares my thoughts on MOST if not ALL of them
A quick mention. That’s all it deserves: John Kampfner (aka The Spectator) apologises … (sorry – WRONG kind of language) … IS FORCED TO APOLOGISE for his “mistake” with reference to Alastair Campbell in his Spectator article. This is the Spectator article so highly praised in the Daily Mail article below. UGLY looks in the mirror and admires what it sees. This Blair supporting site reports this in detail and links to Alastair Campbell’s blog.
Comment at end
28th June, 2009
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
THIRD – THE UGLY
THE ‘BRAINWASHED’ PUBLIC & HOW THEY GOT THAT WAY
Part 3 of 3
See also -
THE TORY DAILY MAIL IS FRIGHTENINGLY UGLY
Brainwashing, biased, hypocritical and frequently guilty of spin.
The Daily Mail has got to be, without comparison, THE most anti-Labour paper in Britain. Not exactly surprising. It has always made this plain for as far back as I can remember. (I’m not a Labour voter, btw, but presently an abstainer.)
My gripe with the Mail is this – its policy for public COMMENTERS.
It NEVER or at least very seldom prints comments that do not go along with its political line. And it seldom prints ANYTHING in praise of Blair, even though many Tories still think he was the leader they never had. I know. I’ve tried. The consequence is that the Mail actually INFLUENCES and even in some ways CONTROLS the voting intentions of many. People assume that no-one admires, appreciates or sees any merit in the opposition.
Apart from that it can be particularly sensationalist and doesn’t report but opines LOUDLY.
The other nationals print ALL opinions, even if The Guardian alone is unmoderated at the time of commenting.
I consider The Mail the lowest of the low for its blatant CENSORSHIP. It is supposed to be a national paper, not a Tory party publication.
For an example of its style read the article below and then glance at the comments it has published.
Balanced? I think not.
Daily Mail article & comments follows, below links.
RELATED – Blair ‘TRIAL’ posts
Mandelson ‘did deal with Brown to neuter Iraq inquiry in bid to protect Blair’s name’
By Tim Shipman, Daily Mail
Last updated at 12:45 AM on 25th June 2009
Lord Mandelson stitched up a deal with Gordon Brown for a tame Iraq inquiry to protect Tony Blair, it is claimed today.
The Business Secretary persuaded the Premier to pick a panel of establishment figures who would probe the conflict in secret – in exchange for his support heading off a Cabinet coup against Mr Brown.
But with the original plans blown out of the water following a public outcry, the Government yesterday engineered yet another U-turn.
Scheme: Lord Mandelson allegedly pushed Gordon Brown to hold a private inquiry to protect his friend Tony Blair in return for his support against a Cabinet coup
Foreign Secretary David Miliband said for the first time that the panel chaired by Sir John Chilcot will be able to name, shame and blame those involved in the worst foreign policy disaster in half a century.
He also said it would be possible for witnesses to give evidence on oath – another reversal of the original plans.
The concessions were made in a bid to stave off a revolt by Labour backbenchers during a Commons debate on the inquiry.
The Government’s majority was still slashed by almost half, to 39, on a Tory motion calling for MPs to vote on its terms of reference.
An authoritative report in The Spectator magazine today lays bare how the Prime Minister and Lord Mandelson tried to protect the reputation of Mr Blair, and, by association, their own.
Lord Mandelson had played a similar role in recommending Lord Hutton as a compliant figure to investigate the death of weapons scientist Dr David Kelly.
His report cleared the government but was widely derided as a whitewash.
John Kampfner, a journalist close to senior Labour figures, writes of the latest deal: ‘Mandelson – on Blair’s behalf – set down specific conditions for the Iraq war inquiry.
The deal, I am told, was explicit. Not only would the hearings be fully in private, but the committee would, as with Hutton, be manageable.
‘Brown was instructed to ensure that the members of the inquiry would, in the words of one official “not stir the horses”. Brown readily acquiesced.’
Last night a senior MP who knows Sir John Chilcot said ‘He is vulnerable because he agreed the inquiry could be private and anodyne. Since he’s seen the public furore he’s now flowing with the tide.’
The reason for the nervousness at the highest reaches of government was laid bare during yesterday’s debate by a member of the Butler Inquiry, which probed the intelligence in the run-up to the war.
Tory MP Michael Mates said secret papers on the legality of the war, which Tony Blair concealed from his Cabinet, would make people’s ‘eyes water’ if they were published as part of the new inquiry.
He said he had seen all the memos and indicated that Mr Blair was warned that regime change would not be a legal basis for war. Details of the legal advice have never been published.
During heated exchanges in the Commons, Shadow Foreign Secretary William Hague derided Mr Brown’s handling of the affair.
He said: ‘The Government have engaged in a series of climbdowns, a U-turn that was executed in stages as painful to watch as those of a learner driver doing a six-point turn having started off the wrong way down a motorway.’
LibDem Greg Mulholland, who marched against the war in 2003, said: ‘Once again the Prime Minister has taken his blunderbuss and shot himself broadly in both feet.’
A Downing Street spokesman, asked about Lord Mandelson’s role in selecting the members of the inquiry, said: ‘We consulted with a lot of people.’ He denied the panel were establishment stooges.
Lord Mandelson’s spokesman called the Spectator account ‘untrue from start to finish’.
Mail article continues on PMQs – Peter Mandelson’s Questions
Mail article follows.
You will notice that there is only ONE pro-Iraq war commenter published here, and that one is American. This is the ONLY way the Mail ever tries to “balance” its commenters – by showing that only neo-conservatives in the USA support their/Blair’s war. You CAN read between the lines, can’t you? All of this notwithstanding the fact that the Conservative party SUPPORTED Blair on Iraq, and many still do.
Note also the cover-up, whatever the Inquiry produces allegations made by some commenters. See comments 14 & 18 for their open-minded “fairness”. “Minds” already made up.
31 comments at time of putting this post together
1. Ooh! Surprise surprise!
- Lin, London England, 25/6/2009 8:29
2. Brown and Mandelson deserve each other
- Doreen Richards, Berrow, Somerset, 25/6/2009 8:29
3. mandelson is as big a liar as blair devious untrustworthy immoral in fact he fits in perfectly with labour
- william gould, torrevieja spain, 25/6/2009 8:26
4. What a load of despicable lowlife this rabble are! Let’s all make sure at the next General Election that the Labour party can NEVER return to drag this Country further into the abyss.
- chris, glos, 25/6/2009 8:25
5. What difference does any of this make? Not one of this rotten lot will be in power after next year.
- Roger Jennings, London, 25/6/2009 8:18
6. I cannot believe what is going on in my parliment with these appalling people.How dare they do what they do.
I want a General Election to have the chance to get rid of these people. And before we vote I want to see all those who have abused the system and who have not been elected ever, got rid of. Just for starters.
- E Atkinson, Wolverhampton, 25/6/2009 8:06
7. I find it hard to believe that those voted into power and now refusing to go to the country for any kind of mandate to continue government have sunk so low.
They witter on about how they are in their jobs to serve but in truth they serve only themselves. They talk of a new constitution and new rules and change but the only change I feel would be most appropriate is that some way was granted that we could call the election and not the man in charge.
I am shocked, sickened and appalled at what feels like treasonable actions by these greedy self serving crooks with their lies and half truths, spin and sleight of hand actions and cover ups.
I wish I felt more confident about those in opposition or the rest of them and they are going to have to work much harder before they get my vote. It seems to be a choice between bad and awful at present- they have lost my trust completely and I actually don’t want my life dictated by any of them.
- ag, Cheltenham Glos, 25/6/2009 8:04
8. We have an unlected leader who is running around like a headless chicken and an unelected crook who is leading him to self destruction for his own secret agenda..
- John Smith, London, England, 25/6/2009 8:02
9. The return of “Lord” Mandelson spelled, for me at least, the death knell of the Labour government. He and Blair really are amongst the most ugly faces of our so-called Government!!! Let’s dispatch them with haste – and let’s hope we DO get an open inquiry into the Iraq debacle!!!
- Sue Shaw, Morpeth, UK, 25/6/2009 7:21
10. Mandy is running this country – the truth is coming out and Brown is his puppet. Mandy is unelected yet has more power than any MP it would appear, this must end now with a General Election. Unfortunately, we will still be stuck with Mandy (and any other unemployed MP after the next election) in the House of Lords still on the gravy train. We the people will be stuck with a huge debt for the foreseeable future, thank you NuLabour
- Helen, crewkerne, 25/6/2009 7:20
11. Couldn’t Brown, for once, do the right thing, and allow a Public Inquiry into how the Iraq War was started, who wanted it, and why.
We don’t need to know Defence Secrets, (other than why our Soldiers were not given the right equipment, but bonuses were paid to people in the Ministry of Defence}, so it is no excuse to deny a Public scrutiny because of national security.
Gordon Brown has wrecked our Economy, been part of the removal of our Democracy, Freedom of Speech the break-up of the UK, and Sovereignty of our Parliament. Here is his chance to behave honourably. Let the people know the real truth.
- Gerry, England, 25/6/2009 7:15
12. Whilst if true this should come as no surprise to any of us it begs the questions What do they have to hide and what are they afraid of?
- Frank Spence, Maidstone, England, 25/6/2009 7:11
13. Mandy has a lot to answer for, just look at his track record, this man cannot be trusted.
- ray smith, Alicante, Spain, 25/6/2009 7:09
14. TEFLON WILL REMAIN FIREPROOF FROM ANY RESPONSIBILITY, Whatever the enquiry results. He is running scared of what will be revealed if held in public and obviously has much to hide Time for the electorate to demand a total transparency so that our ex dictator feels the full force of the British venom for his actions over many things including the Iraq issue.
- J R L G, Derbyshire U K, 25/6/2009 7:00
15. Are you suprised, after all Gormless is only prentending to be leader of the Labour party
- Terry Stride, Tamworth great Britain, 25/6/2009 6:54
16. Can’t wait for the whistle-blower who lets us in on what Peter Mandelson has on Blair and Brown.
- Ken, France, 25/6/2009 6:39
17. Is this any surprise that Lord Sleaze tried to protect Blair? Any enquiry which does not find Blair 100% guilty is a lie.
- John Smith, Gillingham Kent, 25/6/2009 6:34
18. They think we do not know that! We went to war on a lie and deception both Blair and Bush knew this but Brown is not protecting Blair but himself! He was in the cabinet as well so do not be deceived yet again. One day the truth will come out and it will shock the world, Blair was a deceitful, our troops were killed and civilians slaughtered if there was nothing to hide why keep it secret
- neil, amsterdam holland, 25/6/2009 6:32
19. Lord Mandelson stitched up a deal with Gordon Brown for a tame Iraq inquiry to protect Tony Blair, it is claimed today. Elsewhere it would be called a conspiracy!
- DURHAM DUCK, Durham England, 25/6/2009 6:15
20. IF mandy was a well respected, well liked, intelligent, a good at his job man ..then I could understand brown’s eagerness to “elevate” him to the power he now seems to have… WE the people of this country have “the measure” of mandy but brown in his usual blundering inept fashion has jumped straight out of the frying pan and into the fire by “bowing and scraping” to this odious man..Its so obvious that mandy now is the one “pulling the puppet strings” that are firmly attached to brown
- Beverley, Chichester, 25/6/2009 6:05
21. This shows that Mandelson is still up to his old tricks, and should not be part of any government. He is not to be trusted by anyone and should by rights be kicked out of any position of power if he is unelected, but Brown hasn’t got the bottle, the morals or the backbone.
- antipolitician, uk, 25/6/2009 5:55
22. I’ve got an idea that most of us ‘out here’ knew.
- hilary, preston, 25/6/2009 5:33
23. it is time that this dictatorship (for that is what we have has a govenment, the leader and a number of ministers have not been elected in to those positions by the people) was brought to an end – time for the people to look to a new brand – time for a new party of good thinking and true British citizens to take a place in westminster and make the changes that the MP’s dont wish to happen – time to make this Country of 4 Nations a better palce and once more a United Kingdom -
- Anderso, Malmesbury UK, 25/6/2009 5:33
24. why is mandelson so powerful? He has not been elected so therefore does not represent anyone. Jobs for the boys maybe?
- jim, NI, 25/6/2009 5:28
25. Bringing back the corrupt and odious ‘Mandy’ and making him a life peer shows us just what Gordon Brown is anyway.
- D Shaw, Derby. England, 25/6/2009 5:26
26. Is anybody going to be in the least surprised?. This Bliar character new precisely what he was doing in siding with suppliers of dodgy information. It’s called feathering your nest. What a phoney. I await the day for the truth to be revealed that Bliar(and Nu Liebour) are shown for what phonies they are.
- jim, Wirral,UK, 25/6/2009 4:40
27. Roll on the election, then the conservatives can order a new open enquiry and we can all see what liars Mr Blair/Brown/Mandelson really are.
- Donna D, london, 25/6/2009 4:07
28. Is there a single person in this country who thought otherwise?
Unfortunately for Mandy and Co there is now very little they can do to turn the tide of public opinion, and the enquiry will be more or less (though not 100%) an open affair.
Who knows, we may yet see Teflon heading for the Hague to answer to the Tribunal. Even his glib tongue would not be much help there.
- Bwj, Uk, 25/6/2009 2:42
29. So, the Iraqi invasion was a mistake was it?
Well, considering it has introduced the concept of democracy to the Middle-east I think that the war was a very nice means of revenge on the region for 9-11.
Now whilst that concept is going to take years/decades to take root, the seeds are sowed. Congratulations Iran….
Oh – and the fabricated WMD are irrelevant really! But I wish that we could have a defence secretary who had served in the Armed Forces (which won’t happen under Labour obviously).
- Tim, Nr. Milwaukee, 25/6/2009 2:28
30. This is why no one trusts labour and Gordon. There are far too many deals that are done behind closed doors. These people work for us and for the country. Not themselves.
Mandelson is nothing but slime. He should never have been brought back to government.
All we want is a general Election NOW.
- eric victor, uk, 25/6/2009 1:25
31. Nothing surprises me about any of the corrupt Labour crooks, Mandleson, Blair ,Brown, and Alistair Campbell . But will they ever be caught ? doubt it.
Tags: Daily Mail, Iraq inquiry, John Kampfner, press good bad ugly, Spectator, The Mail, The Spectator, Tim Shipman, Tony Blair, Trial of Tony Blair
June 29, 2009 at 10:59 am |
[...] See ‘The BAD’ & ’The UGLY’ [...]
June 29, 2009 at 1:26 pm |
[...] the other one. « THE GOOD: (Press & Comments) – Aaronovitch, The Times The UGLY: (Press & Comment) – The Mail & Spectator [...]
July 6, 2009 at 2:45 pm |
[...] commentary from a duped public abound. Thus many of my recent posts on the press’s Rights without Responsibilities. [...]