Tabloid Trawl: July 14 2011 by shoutingatco.ws
Today, we take a walk through the front pages of the tabloids, and their daft, possibly untrue headlines.
A little while back, we found ourselves disappointed with the Daily Express for writing a headline so ridiculous and obviously untrue that it was actually insulting. Today, they’ve taken a similar approach, firing out:
BRITISH TEAMS FORCED TO WEAR EU FLAGS
Normally, you have to dig right to the bottom of the article to find out the truth, but Alison Little helpfully dispels her own rubbish myth in the first line: BRITISH sports stars could be forced to wear the EU flag on their kit.
Could be. Not forced to do it right now, but “could be”, at some vague point in the future.
This is all about “European Identity Through Sport” – a program that the EU are forced to undergo as part of the Lisbon Treaty. It says this:
The Union shall contribute to the promotion of European sporting issues, while taking account of the specific nature of sport, its structures based on voluntary activity and its social and educational function.
But the Express have taken that idea to its maddest possible conclusion, and padded out their outrage with the usual rent-a-quotes:
But leading Tory MP Peter Bone said: “This is the sort of nonsense that makes British people throw up at the thought of the EU.
Ukip deputy leader and sports spokesman Paul Nuttall said: “It is a complete and utter joke. Ukip will do everything it can to scupper this ridiculous idea for the sake of sports fans and our national identity.
I’m sure that having Ukip against the idea will have Brussels quaking. In fact, it doesn’t. Because Brussels agree:
But a commission spokesman has rubbished the claims, saying, “Of course, if a club or national team wants to wear the European flag next to its own flag or emblem, that’s entirely up to them.
“But the commission has no authority to impose such a decision and nor would it wish to. We are united in our diversity.
So that’s people getting angry about a policy that doesn’t exist, has never existed and for the foreseeable future… won’t exist.
They round off the article with some unrelated Euro-baiting guff:
Brussels already has the power to fine organisations in certain circumstances for not flying the EU flag.
Recently it emerged that the University of Northampton was fined more than £56,000 for not displaying the EU logo to acknowledge it had received funding from the European Regional Development Fund.
How dare they give money out to a University and then get pissed off for not receiving pre-agreed recognition?
We’ll also award a bonus point for being a Typical Express Reader to this guy, who loves Britain so much that he, er, moved out.
You know what will happen if this regulation is passed…. All UK sport will wear and show the EU flag because the great leaders we have are frightened of Brussels. But the rest of Europe will simply tell Brussels where to go and ignore it, and nothing will be done. Such is the Gt Britain we live in today, on it’s knees with no back bone, so sad!
• Posted by: philipspain
In the Mail, they offer up the boring anti-furrin:
Iain Duncan Smith was RIGHT: Foreign workers took three in four new jobs in Britain in the last year
We haven’t got any figures in front of us, but we’ll bet anything you like that Iain Duncan Smith was WRONG. Admittedly, that sounds like a ridiculous pre-judgement on our part, but given the general track record of figure fudging over this sort of thing… we’ll take your money.
The Daily Star’s front page – while nothing to do with upsetting foreigns – shouts out: BECKS BOY IS KNIFED TO DEATH
It’s inaccurate, sensationalist and fucking tasteless, devaluing the death of a child by pretending that it’s one of Beckham’s kids. What is wrong with them? (There’s also an equally misleading ‘Cheryl’s one night stand’ story – anonymous sources reckon she might fly back to see ex-husband Ashley Cole for an evening.)
The Sun roll with the equally offensive:
Don’t breastfeed in here, you’ll upset Muslims. Council staff ban mum.
Direct quotes that prove the headline is true: Zero.
Indirect, snide, weaselly quotes: Three.
Officials told Emma Mitchell, 32, it would “cause an uproar” in the multi-cultural building.
A woman receptionist told her: “Oh no, we don’t allow that here. We’ve had many complaints.”
Emma, from Shaw, Oldham, said: “There were five or six people in the room, mostly Asian like her.”
So the Asian receptionist isn’t speaking on behalf of the Council, where she works, she’s talking on behalf of all Muslims everywhere. Whether or not the Council’s policy is a bit rubbish (it is) is irrelevant. As is the religion of the lass on reception.
All in all, a proud day for the tabloid press.
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Does Tory MP Peter Bone actually have any evidence of the British public literally vomiting at the merest thought of the EU? Is it some disease insane Europhobics gets?
“Three in four workers” claim is guff and the ONS has finally taken steps to stop the misreporting – http://fullfact.org/blog/foreign_worker_statistics_ons_clarification-2815
How thoroughly, and dismally, predictable.
If the Sun one is from today, they have copied the Daily Fail who did it yesterday: http://pressnotsorry.wordpress.com/2011/07/13/misleading-muslim-mail-headlines-with-daily-mail-reporter/
Bloody infuriating!