Editorial comment from Matthew Steeples.
Our editor tells it like it is and he rarely minces his words
Is it right that Amanda Platell faces a police investigation for looking at child porn?
Amanda Platell, the former press secretary to William Hague, wrote an article in yesterday’s Daily Mail in which she examined how easy it is to access child pornography. Later in the day, Mark Williams-Thomas, the “child protection expert” who exposed Jimmy Savile, reported her to the Metropolitan Police and now Ms Platell faces a police investigation.
A Conservative MP sensibly suggests that this week’s killing in Woolwich was not terrorism
In the days since the terrible murder of Lee Rigby, 25, in Woolwich, the BNP, the EDL and other racists have leapt on the description of it as “terrorism”.
Proof that Prince Harry is Prince Charles’ son
It’s done the rounds for years. It’s a rumour that has failed to have been quashed and newspaper reporters have even tried to snatch pieces of his hair to test his DNA in their quest to prove it. This week, however, a photograph of Prince Harry convincingly proves that he’s the son of Prince Charles.
A tribute to Robbie Curtis (1965 – 2012)
The property tycoon Robbie Curtis was a man often confused with Robbie Williams. His black Bentley, which bore the number plate “ROB BIE”, was often seen in The Royal Borough of Kensington & Chelsea and also in Mayfair and many thought that it belonged to the popstar.
Why do the press continue to refer to the Duchess of Cambridge as ‘Kate Middleton’?
Two years ago yesterday, Catherine Elizabeth Middleton married Prince William. Euphoria reigned throughout the land and 26 million are said to have watched the ceremony in Britain alone.
The overuse of the word “pop-up”
On Radio 4 this morning, a presenter commented: “I refuse to call it a ‘pop-up’. If we have any more of them, I’ll pop”. At a lunch yesterday I debated the description with a number of others and was surprised to find that the majority felt that it hadn’t quite reached the realms of “gastropub”. (more…)
The Right Honourable The Baroness Thatcher of Kesteven LG, OM, PC, FRS; Margaret Thatcher (1925 – 2013)
She cleared our rat-infested streets and she beat the unions. She taught people that “anything was possible” and redefined the role of the state in our lives. Britain’s first female Prime Minister stood firm in the Falklands and she came of age there. “No surrender” was her guiding force both in that war and in Europe and to this groundbreaking pioneer “rights” were inextricably linked with “responsibilities”.
Kevin Waldrum and his mobile: a pair who should be parted
Our picture of the week comes from today’s Mail Online. Featured in it is a former security guard named Kevin Waldrum, along with a letter from his mobile phone provider Vodafone demanding £91,184 in unpaid call charges for a period of just three months.
Mr Waldrum claims the bills stems from his having been depressed after his girlfriend left him and that he felt a “special bond” with a girl named Hannah. Despite an initial bill of £19,333.63, Mr Waldrum continued to call. He claims he “could not give up”.
Matthew Steeples bemoans an overused word
They’re everywhere: you’ll find them on magazine covers, on the television and at events. They stalk out the cameras, they behave badly and make utter fools of themselves. In fact, they’ll do just about anything to keep in the “media eye”. Allegedly, Lindsay’s one, Katie’s one and Justin’s one too. They’re forced upon us so much that they don’t even need surnames anymore. The “celebrity” is the force de rigueur and they and the word that describes them has spread like cheap margarine throughout the land.
At a book launch this week, a photographer I spoke with complained that he had become bored of tiresome and pointless individuals who consider themselves famous. The truly famous, instead, just want privacy. There are now, indeed, “celebrity stylists”, “celebrity chefs” and even our Prime Minister, David Cameron, has a “celebrity personal trainer”.
Fame used to be the reserve of the truly iconic. Frank Sinatra is, without doubt, deserving of the accolade, as are Marilyn Monroe, Michael Jackson and Madonna. The cast of The Only Way is Essex and Tulisa are not.
Please could someone just put the word “celebrity” back in its box?