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…and say it proud.

(Unless you’re an MP on their ‘list of shame’, in which case you should sue for libel. It is your duty as a public servant to ensure that reckless newspaper editors cannot get away with such things. We – your constituents – could be next in the firing line.)

The Sun carries on with it’s ‘traitors’ campaign today, but it is relegated to Page 2 (where they generally keep stories that they wish to soft-pedal). They’re on the back foot because Rebekah Wade stepped way, way over the line with yesterday’s actionable hissy-fit – but firm action is still required to bring this reckless editor to heel.

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Pledgebank – Report Rebekah: I will spend an hour researching, drafting and submitting an independent complaint to the Press Complaints Commission about Rebekah Wade’s conduct and/or material published by the Sun before and after the 90-day terror law vote, but only if 100 other people do the same.

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Ideally, we need 50 pledges by this afternoon, as such things need to be acted on swiftly (especially as many complaints – if sent by email – will require a link to the offending article(s), and the Sun takes these offline after a few days). If anyone requires scans or photocopies – that may be requested by the PCC following your complaint – then I have copies of most offending issues of the Sun right here on my desk. All you need do is ask.

Your complaint may relate to any or all of the following:

– The misrepresentation of John Tulloch’s views on this front page.
– Acting without sympathy and discretion over the personal grief or shock of any victim of the 7/7 atrocities, listed under ‘losers’ in yesterday’s Sun.
– The misguiding use of an ‘opinion poll’ with only one answer.
– The labelling of MPs who voted against the proposed legislation as ‘traitors’ in yesterday’s Sun (see also: front page from that same edition) and again today on Pg 2.
– Their use of conjecture/opinion presented as fact, relating directly to claims that the proposed legislation was supported by the majority of the public and this claim that; “As you made your voices heard in near-record numbers, senior Tories began to buckle – and Labour rebels started drifting back to the Government side.”

Let’s get to it…. if the PCC Code of Practice is any guide, John Tulloch is owed a full front-page correction and apology, and so are many MPs.

Press Complaints Commission – Online Complaint Form

Press Complaints Commission – Code of Practice (extract):

1 – Accuracy

In cases involving personal grief or shock, enquiries and approaches must be made with sympathy and discretion and publication handled sensitively. This should not restrict the right to report legal proceedings, such as inquests.

I’m sure I don’t need to include instructions:

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traitor

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Right, that tears it.

I am now formally calling for Rebekah Wade’s immediate resignation.

Guardian – ‘They have given me somebody else’s voice – Blair’s voice’: When Tuesday’s Sun featured one of the iconic images from 7/7 alongside the headline ‘Tell Tony He’s Right’, the implication was clear: the victim backed the PM’s tough anti-terror measures. There was just one problem: John Tulloch doesn’t… Tulloch, who has professorships at both Brunel and Cardiff universities, is appalled by the way the photograph was used. “This is using my image to push through draconian and utterly unnecessary terrorism legislation. Its incredibly ironic that the Sun’s rhetoric is as the voice of the people yet they don’t actually ask the people involved, the victims, what they think… While he may be “cross” and “appalled”, Tulloch is not surprised. “This is a classic piece of media manipulation demonstrating the cronyism of New Labour and the Murdoch press. You don’t even have to be a sophisticated analyst to see what they are doing with the visual rhetoric and verbal anchorage…

The Sun – Terror bill defeat: TREACHEROUS MPs betrayed the British people last night by rejecting new laws to combat terror. They IGNORED the wishes of the vast majority of Britons and HUMILIATED Tony Blair by inflicting his first Commons defeat. Gutless Tory MPs were joined by up to 47 Labour rebels as they wrecked the PM’s bid to hold terror suspects for 90 days without charge.

‘Vast majority of Britons’…? I though we’d settled that. And ‘traitors’…? Them’s *actionable* words, surely (as Scaryduck points out here).

Anorak: Hold on a moment, that’s a bit strong. Can you really call the MPs who voted against the Government’s new laws to combat terror, and the plan to hold terror suspects for 90 days without charge, enemies of the state? … What happened to “We are not afraid” and all that post July 7 desire to carry on unchanged? Does giving the State more and more power help us? Or is it the behaviour of a country gripped by paranoia and fear? The Sun then does something pretty appalling. Under “LOSERS” it mentions six victims of that heinous attack on London who the paper says have lost again with Tony’s defeat. We say appalling because only one of the six, who are all pictured, actually expresses an opinion on the matter. June Taylor, who lost her 24-year-old daughter in the outrage, calls for terror suspects to be held for 900 days if necessary.

Sadly, Rebekah Wade hasn’t made full use of the Page 3 editorial space today *and* she does not call her readers to account for failing to call her ‘yes to 90 days’ hotline in greater numbers… so (as you’ve probably already noticed) I’ve taken care of that for her.

Also, for some strange reason, she has not published the final tally from her hotline adventure.

I’ll add to links between power-naps today. As you’ve probably guessed, I was up a bit late last night this morning…

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A great headline from Peter Gasston. The traitor.

Davblog: The Sun is at its most vitriolic this morning, labelling the MPs who defeated the government as “traitors” on its front page. It goes on to claim that they ignored the wishes of the vast majority of Britons and humiliated Tony Blair. In a bizarre piece of reporting, it also says the “the limit was slashed to just 28 days”. Did you see that? “Slashed”! Since when was “slashed” a synonym for “doubled”?

Another good headline. From another traitor.

Have you beaten your spouse today?