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Journalists must fight for facts – and ignore Boris Johnson’s tea party Journalists must fight for facts – and ignore Boris Johnson’s tea party
(6 months later)
When I was a teenager and went hitchhiking around Europe, my mother would say ominously: “Be careful what you do for a loaf of bread.” She was full of such sayings, which I assumed must be something to do with the war. Did she mean “Don’t be a prostitute”? I don’t know, but it came to mind when I saw Boris Johnson trying to “charm” journalists with cups of tea. They are selling themselves not even for sourdough, but for tea with the bag still in. Who would do that?When I was a teenager and went hitchhiking around Europe, my mother would say ominously: “Be careful what you do for a loaf of bread.” She was full of such sayings, which I assumed must be something to do with the war. Did she mean “Don’t be a prostitute”? I don’t know, but it came to mind when I saw Boris Johnson trying to “charm” journalists with cups of tea. They are selling themselves not even for sourdough, but for tea with the bag still in. Who would do that?
Too many hacks, it seems. He didn’t answer a single question, just spouted the “man of the people” waffling that still impresses God knows who.Too many hacks, it seems. He didn’t answer a single question, just spouted the “man of the people” waffling that still impresses God knows who.
I have often referred to Johnson as Borisconi, because his understanding that politics is the media, that the medium is the message, fits the antipolitics mood that now veers to the extreme right. People mistook his ability to transgress, to make us laugh, as freeing, but he only ever lusts after power. His gospel is that of self-interest. He thinks other people don’t matter. A quip about women in burqas was that just that: a quip. There are no consequences that touch him. Moral vacuity is not a crime in Steve Bannon’s world; it is merely flexibility. Borisconi will do what he does. These words do not punish him, for he sucks up all attention into a void, of which we occasionally get a glimpse. And it is an ugly, ugly place.I have often referred to Johnson as Borisconi, because his understanding that politics is the media, that the medium is the message, fits the antipolitics mood that now veers to the extreme right. People mistook his ability to transgress, to make us laugh, as freeing, but he only ever lusts after power. His gospel is that of self-interest. He thinks other people don’t matter. A quip about women in burqas was that just that: a quip. There are no consequences that touch him. Moral vacuity is not a crime in Steve Bannon’s world; it is merely flexibility. Borisconi will do what he does. These words do not punish him, for he sucks up all attention into a void, of which we occasionally get a glimpse. And it is an ugly, ugly place.
Uglier still is feeling that my profession is flailing around as the deceit comes thick and fast. The headline on any Trump story could be “Lying liar lies”. Dishonesty has become normalised. As have “alternative facts”. This has not happened suddenly; it has been going on for many years. We can blame postmodernism, we can blame social media, we can blame distrust in journalism following the phone-hacking scandal. The responsibility to speak truth to power is so warped these days that individuals now think it is their responsibility to speak their own fact-free truth to the media, not the polity.Uglier still is feeling that my profession is flailing around as the deceit comes thick and fast. The headline on any Trump story could be “Lying liar lies”. Dishonesty has become normalised. As have “alternative facts”. This has not happened suddenly; it has been going on for many years. We can blame postmodernism, we can blame social media, we can blame distrust in journalism following the phone-hacking scandal. The responsibility to speak truth to power is so warped these days that individuals now think it is their responsibility to speak their own fact-free truth to the media, not the polity.
Hence the relentless denouncing of the mainstream media by the far right and the far left. In some ways, they are not wrong. The former foreign secretary has as much power as a columnist as he does as a backbencher. As he lives for attention without responsibility, he is right where he wants to be.Hence the relentless denouncing of the mainstream media by the far right and the far left. In some ways, they are not wrong. The former foreign secretary has as much power as a columnist as he does as a backbencher. As he lives for attention without responsibility, he is right where he wants to be.
Every time a new height of madness is reached – was Jeremy Corbyn’s hat photoshopped by the BBC? – it is topped. My own teenager screams: “You are the MSM!” when I disagree with the latest news she gleans from YouTube. But many adults are the same. Once we understood how news could be manipulated by spin doctors, the fourth wall broke and trust leaked away. What power does Bannon have apart from that which the media gives him? Fascists thrive on publicity. How else would we know about Tommy Robinson?Every time a new height of madness is reached – was Jeremy Corbyn’s hat photoshopped by the BBC? – it is topped. My own teenager screams: “You are the MSM!” when I disagree with the latest news she gleans from YouTube. But many adults are the same. Once we understood how news could be manipulated by spin doctors, the fourth wall broke and trust leaked away. What power does Bannon have apart from that which the media gives him? Fascists thrive on publicity. How else would we know about Tommy Robinson?
Journalists have to give up the notion of balance. We are fighting a war about information and it is subjective. We are not outside this process, but facts do exist. Meanwhile, people fall for lies because lies work. What else was austerity? The poorest paying for the mistakes of the rich? This was ideology dressed up as economic fact. It was false.Journalists have to give up the notion of balance. We are fighting a war about information and it is subjective. We are not outside this process, but facts do exist. Meanwhile, people fall for lies because lies work. What else was austerity? The poorest paying for the mistakes of the rich? This was ideology dressed up as economic fact. It was false.
The truth is that if journalists can be bought for a cup of tea, what they would do for a loaf of bread doesn’t bear thinking about.The truth is that if journalists can be bought for a cup of tea, what they would do for a loaf of bread doesn’t bear thinking about.
Out of sight, out of mind – the Tory approach to homelessnessOut of sight, out of mind – the Tory approach to homelessness
There is nowhere in London that is not infected with cranes and boxy flats being sold as dream homes. I went past some in Camden the other day that bore the legend “Decadent living”. Oh really, I thought, as developers continue to tear up Soho. And then there are all the names. Fish Island? What’s that? Near Hackney Wick? South Tottenham has become SoTo. I still haven’t got over De Beauvoir and I have lived in Hackney for ever.There is nowhere in London that is not infected with cranes and boxy flats being sold as dream homes. I went past some in Camden the other day that bore the legend “Decadent living”. Oh really, I thought, as developers continue to tear up Soho. And then there are all the names. Fish Island? What’s that? Near Hackney Wick? South Tottenham has become SoTo. I still haven’t got over De Beauvoir and I have lived in Hackney for ever.
My daughter says the plan seems to be to move 'rough sleepers' out of London. They are considered an eyesoreMy daughter says the plan seems to be to move 'rough sleepers' out of London. They are considered an eyesore
Sometimes, though, I think I mostly look upwards to avoid looking downwards. There are so many “rough sleepers”. Even in the recent heat, they were passed out on pavements in sleeping bags. I never know if they are dead or alive and I feel guilty and helpless. I already know too much, for my daughter works with such people. Sometimes she tells me they want to die and I understand why. She says the plan seems to be to move them out of the centre and then eventually out of London altogether. They are considered an eyesore.Sometimes, though, I think I mostly look upwards to avoid looking downwards. There are so many “rough sleepers”. Even in the recent heat, they were passed out on pavements in sleeping bags. I never know if they are dead or alive and I feel guilty and helpless. I already know too much, for my daughter works with such people. Sometimes she tells me they want to die and I understand why. She says the plan seems to be to move them out of the centre and then eventually out of London altogether. They are considered an eyesore.
Not like the Park Modern development, built on the site of a former hostel. The cheapest flat there is £2m, while the penthouse is priced at £30m. It overlooks Kensington Gardens. How lovely. The government knows it has to be seen to be doing something about this visible inequality. As such, the Tories have committed to halving rough sleeping by the end of this parliament and ending it altogether by 2027.Not like the Park Modern development, built on the site of a former hostel. The cheapest flat there is £2m, while the penthouse is priced at £30m. It overlooks Kensington Gardens. How lovely. The government knows it has to be seen to be doing something about this visible inequality. As such, the Tories have committed to halving rough sleeping by the end of this parliament and ending it altogether by 2027.
Yet it is their policy of hostile environments, a lack of rehab facilities and insufficient mental health services that has added to this. Their strategy includes £50m to move many to homes outside of London. Of course it does. Out of sight, out of mind. They are spoiling our views.Yet it is their policy of hostile environments, a lack of rehab facilities and insufficient mental health services that has added to this. Their strategy includes £50m to move many to homes outside of London. Of course it does. Out of sight, out of mind. They are spoiling our views.
Nits: more interesting than some of the men on TVNits: more interesting than some of the men on TV
I never thought I would find myself reminiscing about nits, but I found myself doing so with Philippa Perry, the brilliant therapist who was talking about bonding with children not being about the big birthday parties but the small things you do together, and I realised I have spent years of my life combing out nits. My middle one liked hers. My youngest announced at nursery that she didn’t have them any more as “the dirty feckers have fecked off”. Once, on live TV, I was so bored by the men talking that I distractedly found one in my hair and squashed it between my thumb and forefinger. The offers will be pouring in now, I am sure.I never thought I would find myself reminiscing about nits, but I found myself doing so with Philippa Perry, the brilliant therapist who was talking about bonding with children not being about the big birthday parties but the small things you do together, and I realised I have spent years of my life combing out nits. My middle one liked hers. My youngest announced at nursery that she didn’t have them any more as “the dirty feckers have fecked off”. Once, on live TV, I was so bored by the men talking that I distractedly found one in my hair and squashed it between my thumb and forefinger. The offers will be pouring in now, I am sure.
Boris JohnsonBoris Johnson
OpinionOpinion
HomelessnessHomelessness
Social exclusionSocial exclusion
HousingHousing
PovertyPoverty
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