Archive 8 - Imagine the headlines…

Publicans flee from hate mob

‘Sunday diners tell of “screaming rage” of political thugs’

‘I thought they would hurt my family’

’10 year old tells of her fear as father was besieged by hate mob’

One of the hardest points I always struggled to teach high school students was how the press are not only biased, they also condition the weight, severity and amount of fear they place on events they hear about. The usual example I give is the safety of air travel compared to driving.

dailymail.co.uk

I discussed yesterday how a self-proclaimed group of “LGBT, Breast-feeding women, immigrants and ‘climate guys’” (they couldn’t actually find a proper tag for that last section) descended upon a family pub on a Sunday in Kent to terrorise the family of Nigel Farage and his children, aged 10 and 15 years old. The mob deliberately chose the time and location based on Nigel’s family habits, knowing his offspring would be present. As the family tried to flee, at least one protester jumped on their car. All this in the name of showing UKIP how wrong they are, you understand.

The strange thing was, the incident bought very little in the way of mainstream media coverage. Compare it to the outcry over the incident with Chelsea fans in Paris, the latest UKIP member who said something innocuous but silly or other tiny incidents. Yet a politicians family – including a ten year old child – being blatantly intimidated, forced away from a family meal and having their car damaged as they tried to flee barely makes news.

Imagine if the roles were reversed. Suppose the LGBT group, the “immigrant” group or the ‘climate guys’ (no, seriously) were the victims and UKIP members had done the assaulting (actually UKIP employers a higher proportion of non-white, non-heterosexual and female MEPs than any other party, but the left never let the truth get in the way of a chance to be thugs). Who wants to bet against these headlines screaming from above the fold?

Immigrant man tells of pure terror as UKIP hordes assault his family
‘Their hate was shocking’ says bystander

Ten year old child flees in terror as hate mob surround country pub
PM promises a full police investigation

Britain’s shame: far right mob attack politician’s family
Police to seek maximum jail time for evil thugs

“Family horror as UKIP thugs invade country pub”
‘PM condemns ‘Nazi like’ behaviour

A new low for England – family terrorised by far right scum
‘Kick it Out’ warn of ‘return to Nazi days’