Comments on: Prepare to give Metro a hammering http://cambriapolitico.com/2009/07/prepare-to-give-metro-a-hammering/ News, Issues & Comment on Welsh Politics & Economy Sun, 14 Mar 2010 01:18:22 +0100 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: cambriapolitico http://cambriapolitico.com/2009/07/prepare-to-give-metro-a-hammering/comment-page-1/#comment-2598 cambriapolitico Tue, 07 Jul 2009 21:07:14 +0000 http://cambriapolitico.com/?p=1234#comment-2598 It's a pity that not many Cardiff journalists can see beyond the obvious left-wing line which damns all capitalists and blames the paper's closure on a sudden lack of money. The Mirror never gained the massive circulation that some in London hoped for. In any case, too many of the readers in the North were "blow-overs" from Lancashire who are terrified of anything Welsh. They forced the paper to cut back its Welsh content and maintain its input from centres of cultural significance such as Bacup and Bury. It was thus easy to close down when London Labour saw that their party's death in Wales was no longer imminent. Politics was probably more important than finance. But don't be too hard on Starling. He was certainly no closet Welsh Nat. But the way he pulled apart the Labour minister Andrew Davis - a very vicious attack - must have caused several worries for the paper's lawyers. It’s a pity that not many Cardiff journalists can see beyond the obvious left-wing line which damns all capitalists and blames the paper’s closure on a sudden lack of money.

The Mirror never gained the massive circulation that some in London hoped for. In any case, too many of the readers in the North were “blow-overs” from Lancashire who are terrified of anything Welsh. They forced the paper to cut back its Welsh content and maintain its input from centres of cultural significance such as Bacup and Bury.

It was thus easy to close down when London Labour saw that their party’s death in Wales was no longer imminent. Politics was probably more important than finance.

But don’t be too hard on Starling. He was certainly no closet Welsh Nat. But the way he pulled apart the Labour minister Andrew Davis – a very vicious attack – must have caused several worries for the paper’s lawyers.

]]> By: CASTRO http://cambriapolitico.com/2009/07/prepare-to-give-metro-a-hammering/comment-page-1/#comment-2597 CASTRO Mon, 06 Jul 2009 19:29:10 +0000 http://cambriapolitico.com/?p=1234#comment-2597 When the Mirror had a short-lived Welsh edition from 1999 to 2003 (to combat the success of Plaid Cymru after the first Assembly election) it was totally anti Welsh language and nationalism. Having done its job its chief (anti) Welsh reporter, Paul Starling, was promptly sacked ! The London Press either ignore Wales completely, look down at the little "principality" (ych - I hate that word) with patronising contempt or, as in the case of Starling, are openly hostile to all things Welsh bar sport (bread & circuses). This is one of the greatest reasons for the public's ignorance regarding the workings of devolution here ......... and why Scotland is moving ahead so quickly: they have their own Press! When the Mirror had a short-lived Welsh edition from 1999 to 2003 (to combat the success of Plaid Cymru after the first Assembly election) it was totally anti Welsh language and nationalism. Having done its job its chief (anti) Welsh reporter, Paul Starling, was promptly sacked !
The London Press either ignore Wales completely, look down at the little “principality” (ych – I hate that word) with patronising contempt or, as in the case of Starling, are openly hostile to all things Welsh bar sport (bread & circuses).
This is one of the greatest reasons for the public’s ignorance regarding the workings of devolution here ……… and why Scotland is moving ahead so quickly: they have their own Press!

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