The Sun switches. Watch out BBC.
So, with characteristically impeccable timing, the Sun has dumped Gordon Brown and thrown its weight behind David Cameron. Brown will be hurling staplers and mobiles across his hotel room tonight.
But, if I was still working for the BBC, I would be more than a little worried as well.
Cast back to April 1997 when Tony Blair was desperately seeking the Sun’s support for his bid to defeat John Major, and Rupert Murdoch was desperately trying to stop Britain joining the euro.
On 1 April Blair told businessmen in Derby: “We would not join in any fudged single currency or one not in Britain’s interests.
“We have already pointed out the formidable obstacles that lie in the path of joining in the first wave, if indeed that happens on schedule.
“To protect Britain’s interests, it is right that the option remains open that we can influence events.”
Sixteen days later, he gave the Sun the following pledge: “I know exactly what the British people feel when they see the Queen’s head on a £10 note. I feel it too.
“There is a strong emotional tie to the pound which I fully understand.
“Of course there are emotional issues involved in the single currency. It’s about the sovereignty of Britain and constitutional issues, too.”
The Sun backed Blair who later wrote to the editor saying: “You really did make a difference.”
Now, what are Rupert Murdoch and his son James obsessing over today? It’s the BBC and, in particular, its website which they claim is distorting the market and making it impossible for their newspaper sites to make an honest buck.
Fill in the rest yourselves……
You do realise Nick that Downing Street has more than once denied that the PM is prone to office equipment propelling rages?
Guido: would being an alcoholic, banned from driving, qualify you as a “mentalist”? Would it qualify you as mentally ill, even?
Hey, it didn’t stop George Bush…
Where is the evidence of Brown’s supposed mental illness?
Do you acknowledge that your blog was where this story first gestated?
Do you recognise a difference between allegations of rage and allegations of mental illness?
Do you acknowledge that rumour is no substitute for evidence, or is that the salient difference between the right-wing blogosphere and the rest of the Mirror?
Do you acknowledge the irony in your campaign against Damian McBride and your insinuations of mental illness?
Oh please, don’t be ridiculous Guido. To compare the two (allegations of a temper / allegations of a “pill-popping” “mentalist”) is nothing short of disingenuous.
As it stands, there is plenty of evidence of Brown’s rage. Check his biographies. As it stands, there is no evidence (read that agin, Guido, say it out loud, and it might start to bed in) that the PM has been on anti-depressants; plus, we have an on-record denial of that from the PMOS from weeks ago.
Nice to see that within a few mins of your post, the mouth-breathers (who you tolerated peddling this unsubstantiated slur in your comments, without censure, because it suited your skewed purposes) turn up here to do your dirty work for you.
There is no story here, yet YOU continue with it, hiding behind elaborate sophistry (“when I say he’s bonkers I refer only to his behaviour, not his mental health”) and outright lie (“the story began on another blog”… it first cropped up in your comments and then some no-mark blogger without a shred of evidence chips in with a “story” based on DIETARY REQUIREMENTS??).
Where was your blogpost when Nick wrote his on Marr’s ridiculous questioning? Couldn’t be bothered, I assume, but you can today – as you have magically conjured a peg on which to hang your criticism.
Seriously, Guido, you’re embarrassing yourself with this nonsense – and the good work your blog has done in the past is at risk of being overshadowed.
Well now, guess who wrote two days ago: “Dale, for example, did the old trick of criticising those who were attacking Brown on the basis of his alleged ill-health, stating, if the story was true, the Prime Minister deserved sympathy not ridicule. It ensured the story got another good show in the blogosphere and, inevitably, was then taken up by the mainstream media.
So, here is a classic example of a dark, unsubstantiated rumour about the Prime Minister’s personal life that owes its existence entirely to a single blog. The fact that it fitted the narrative about Brown’s character only ensured it gained even greater exposure.”
Oh, yes, it was you, Nick.
And who is today writing : “Brown will be hurling staplers and mobiles across his hotel room tonight.”
Oh, it’s you, Nick.
What a hypocrite!
Come on. The Sun ditched Labour as soon as Blair left Downing Street. Yesterday they did it formally and what good timing. Are you suggesting that Murdoch & Co are getting assurances and or winks from Cameron for future BBC policy. Sorry I do not think you know what you are suggesting on this one.
I’m afraid I’m with Guido here – unless there’s evidence of Prime Ministerial illness then the “hurtling” allegations must remain merely that … anything along the scale from the fevered imaginations of a blogger to “fact”.
First the Labour party, then the BBC. Thanks KRM, if you pull it off, we’ll all owe you one…
“Brown will be hurling staplers and mobiles across his hotel room tonight.”
Nick, that looks like an unsubstantiated smear to me. Do you have any evidence that the PM is prone to uncontrollable rages and throwing office equipment around the room? The clear implication of your line is that Gordon is a bit of a mentalist. If you carry on like this I am afraid I am going to have to resign from your panel of readers.
The Sun wouldn’t be doing this unless there was a motive for the Murdochs. This isn’t about Brown, it’s about what will benefit the Sun’s paymasters. Spot on.
Don’t forget the free holidays Dave gets as well. He is not going to bend over to Murdoch and give him everything without a free holiday….wait there he has already had that one.
Free holidays? Is that not compulsory after Saint Tony’s trips, and Mandlehoons yachting and lunching? This is a government that has to give a twice disgraced serial trougher a bloody peerage and put him in the cabinet without any electoral mandate as deputy PM in all but name, to get him to play kingmaker for Gordon and keep him in power to the bitter end. If it gets rid of Mandleson Dave can have more holidays than Thomas Cook for all I care!