Little Things
‘TABLOID rule No. 352b: whenever possible all stories should be illustrated by a picture of a character from the infantile TV show Little Britain.
|
|
|
Young taxpayers |
So on page 2 of the Sun, a report on the Governments plans to ban under-18s from buying cigarettes is accompanied by a shot of the aforesaid shows Vicky Pollard.
For those of you not au fait with this show think the Grumbleweeds meets Freddie Starr the Sun tells its readers that Vicky epitomises the trend that sees a quarter of all 16 and 17-year-olds smoke.
Pollard the character goes on to feature in the Suns cartoon. There she is standing before a Questions Time-style TV audience uttering her catchphrase: YEAH BUT NO BUT YEAH BUT… A man in a suit turns to his colleague and says: WE EXPECTED A FIERCE DEBATE ON THIS ONE.
Fierce? Perhaps. Sensible? No chance. The idea of raising the legal age for buying fags might smack of the actions of a nanny state, but surely such legislation would prevent some young teens taking up the habit – even the ones who want to look as cool as a cross-dressing TV comic dressed as an overweight chav.
But the Express sees only a smokescreen. This is all a cynical plan, says Deborah Arnott, director of ASH, the anti-smoking group. Its an attempt to divert attention from the Governments failed attempt to introduce a total ban on smoking in pubs.
The Mail says its a move savaged by critics. Labour MP Jeremy Corbyn says it seems like very odd timing. He goes on: They [the Government] seem to be tying to deflect attention away from the ludicrous partial ban but I have to tell them it will not work.
For sure. When it comes to stopping teenagers taking up the evil weed, few things do work – including Vicky Pollard…’
Posted: 5th, December 2005 | In: Tabloids Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
