Guy Aitchison (London, OK): So how has the media reacted to Gordon Brown's announcing he will take a new approach to the constitution (quoted below)? Well, put simply, it hasn't. It would perhaps have been too much to expect rigorous and detailed discussion of Brown's various proposals, but you'd think they might at least get a mention. Instead what we're offered is only soap opera politics. Who's in, who's out. How did Gordon greet Tony? Who clapped for Harriet? Harman and Brown's handshake (not a kiss!). Its not that soap opera is unimportant or unpopular, it is just that there is more as well, such as the future of our government. The Sun ignores the issue completely, preferring to indulge in a bit of ‘Harperson'(because she's so PC!) -bashing. Brown cannot give her a cabinet role, the Sun informs us, "because of her Leftie views". The Mirror gives us Gordon, The Man. In his "frankest interview ever" we learn how Brown likes to order lemon Chicken take-away during those late nights at the Treasury, and how he takes time to relax in front of - what could also be his next campaign slogan - "Britain's Got Talent". The Mirror goes on to assure us that "it is the people, rather than a gaggle of spin doctors, which will inspire and guide the next PM", but don't ask a Mirror journalist to tell us how this remarkable guidance will take place. The Daily Mail joins the Sun in both denouncing "Harperson" the "ice-cool feminist" and demanding an EU referendum. The Mail has personal profiles of "Mr Chalk" and "Mrs Cheese" (or Brown and Harman), including what they listen to on their ipods and what their "enemies say", but not one mention of the C word!
Yes, yes, you may say, but that's the redtops surely we can expect better from the, er, quality papers? Well actually, no. In fact their readers would be forgiven for not knowing that a new settlement is of any concern. The Guardian offers its readers a summary of the main issues covered by Brown's speech and briefly reports the promise of a "new constitutional settlement" under the heading ‘Labour Party'! The FT and the Times fare slightly better and speculate that Jack Straw may take charge of the process as the new Minister of Justice. The Telegraph, meanwhile, lays out Brown's main "Policy Pledges" in a format similar to the Guardian, though unlike the Guardian it manages to make the subtle, but not entirely insignificant distinction between the "constitution" and the "Labour Party". The Indy makes some mention of voters being "more directly engaged with decisions that impact on their lives", but as an afterthought and not expanded upon.
Are the media in active denial (a theme touched on before at OK). Personalised politics, intrigue and speculation over election dates all sell papers - they think. But as sales are going down maybe there is another reason, it's just too comfy on the sofa!
