Private Eye: Degrees of gullibility (OR ‘You can’t hide your lyin’, Eye’*)
*With apologies to fans of The Eagles.
The new issue of Private Eye (1449, dated July 28-August 10) features a cartoon by Ken Pyne indicating that he – and the magazine’s editorial staff – are as gullible as everyone else who believed the Tory lie about Jeremy Corbyn and tuition fees.
The illustration (above) is doubly inappropriate in that it confuses the issue it is trying to ridicule.
As you can see, it shows two students discussing a third, who is holding a “Degree in Gullibility”. One is saying, “He believed Nick Clegg AND Jeremy Corbyn”.
The implication is that both Mr Clegg and Mr Corbyn have lied.
But the only liar is Mr Clegg (and the Eye, for publishing the cartoon).
The subject matter is clearly university tuition fees. Mr Clegg promised to cancel them if the Liberal Democrats were elected in 2010 – but instead, after going into coalition with the Conservative Party, he and the Liberal Democrats voted to triple them. So he lied in the run-up to the election.
In the 2017 election, Mr Corbyn also promised to cancel tuition fees, if elected. But he wasn’t elected so he couldn’t do so.
Perhaps Mr Pyne has confused tuition fees with student debt. Why not? After all, that’s what the Tories did.
Even then, Mr Corbyn isn’t a liar. Despite the claim that he promised to cancel student debts, it is clear that he never did, and it is the Conservatives who are the liars in that respect.
So perhaps the caption should read, “He believed Nick Clegg AND Theresa May”?
Either way – at least where Mr Corbyn is concerned, it seems nobody should believe Private Eye for the time being.
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I have to say I have never been a fan of private eye, they sneer a lot but everyone is their target, if I want regular information I follow sites like this, because facts matter.
Private eye is a public school rag that aspires to be something that it is not, thanks to social media we don’t need the likes of Hislop to explain the world as seen through an elitist window.
Private Eye is now hugely disappointing. I often vow to stop buying it, but the investigative journalism lures me back . Its editorial position long ago slipped from satire into full blown false news rabid attack dog reportage aimed at Corbyn. So very sad to see this previously mighty organ now a limp excuse that would have Peter Cook turning in his grave.
Perhaps, Mr. Clegg didn’t lie. My understanding is that the Yellowbellies didn’t think that they would get anywhere near government so, it didn’t really matter what they put in their Manifesto. Perhaps, it was a genuine pledge; however, on getting his feet under the table, he went back on his word. Does that make him a liar, or something else. Either way, it is not clear that he actually lied during the election campaign. What is clear is that he cannot be trusted.
The Lib Dems made their deal with the Tories in March 2010, according to a book by one Tory MP of the time. I would suggest that this puts a different complexion on it.
I’ve done some digging and it would appear that a month before the Pledge was signed, secret plans were drawn up that, in the event of a hung parliament, the yellowbellies would abandon the Pledge. Mr. Clegg is not mentioned as being a member of the secret team, however, he was leader of the Party and should have been party to the meetings and the decisions that were made therein. This does, indeed, put a somewhat different complexion on things.
Why are people still giving them air?
A window on Libdems thinking prior to the 2010 election comes from the Orange Book here is a review by amazon, trying to sell it of course, but there are clear hints as to the content, introduction of NHS fees for example:
Leading Liberal Democrats re-examine traditional Liberal ideas and come up with fresh – and surprising – ideas for the LibDem revival. In this stimulating collection, the next generation of Liberal Democrat leaders, including MPs and MEPs David Laws, Edward Davey, Vince Cable, Steve Webb, Chris Huhne, Nick Clegg and Mark Oaten, proposes a vigorous future for the party and its policies. Building on traditional Liberal values and principles, they bring new and often provocative thinking to every area of social policy. Topics include the rejection of ‘nanny state’ liberalism, a fairer tax system and promotion of social justice, the need to encourage and support stable and secure families, a tougher prisons regime and stronger local government – as well as proposals for global governance, healthcare choice and pension reform, better incentives for environmental protection, and a balanced approach to EU reform and integration. Up-to-the-minute, original, and persuasively argued, the thinking in this book demonstrates the Liberal Democrats’ vitality and social commitment, and gives a valuable insight into how the party will move in the future. With a foreword by Charles Kennedy, The Orange Book is published in association with the Liberal Democrats to coincide with the 2004 party conference..
It’s new hashtag time!
#FakeToons
I agree totally with Florence who got in before me. Hislop has had it in for Corbyn since he was first proposed for leader and is still doing it, even after his obvious support by the public. Investigations have become sloppy and Peter Cook would be embarrassed to have his name used in some of the awards these days.