Cliff/Rotherham: Bad News

So South Yorkshire police did everything it could to stop the Times reporting the Rotherham sex abuse scandal, yet this month the very same force had been "working with a media outlet" to publicise a raid on Cliff Richard's house. What's the lesson from this? That the media is only tolerated if it can help get a celebrity conviction?

The mishandling of the Cliff operation can't even be put down to a rush for justice. It was a full 18 months ago that we remember police sources starting to brief journalists that they had Cliff Richard in their sights. Hacks had even started checking out Heathrow whenever Cliff entered the country, to see if anything was happening. So, it's unlikely this raid was done on a whim.

What started out sounding like over-eager gossip is now looking more like the police's attempt to get the media to help build the case. With the BBC's coverage of the Cliff Richard raid, they may have got their wish. But all they've managed to succeed in doing so far is making us feel bad for a man who released Livin' Doll and lends his house to Tony Blair.

And that's truly unforgivable.

Popbitch, Silly Season Gets Serious - thanks for joining the dots. x

One celebrity scalp is clearly worth more than 1,400 working-class girls.

From the Battle of Orgeave to Hillsborough and now this shitstorm, this gang of crooks called South Yorkshire Police should be locked up.

Cliff Richard: Innocent Until...

"The allegations are completely false. Up until now I have chosen not to dignify the false allegations with a response, as it would just give them more oxygen.

"However, the police attended my apartment in Berkshire today without notice, except it would appear to the press."

Statement.

Something about this story smells funny.

The media-friendly raid on Cliff Richard's house in BERKSHIRE was carried out by officers from the SOUTH YORKSHIRE police force!

Still, after Hillsborough there's no reason to doubt what they say, is there?

PS Expect to see lots more guff like this in the papers; Sir Cliff Richard Profile: Decades of speculation over life of the bachelor boy. Daily Telegraph. Where knowledge and research are replaced by seeing what comes up if you type 'Cliff Richard gay' into Google.

And more nudge-nudge wink-winkery like this in the Mail; Priest who's become Cliff Richard's rock: As he faces biggest crisis of his life, there's one man he can rely on - Father John, who quit Church to be 'Man Friday'.

World Cup: Fuck It

The Royal Mail has declined to distribute the current edition of The Drum magazine because a swear word appears prominently on the front page.

Delivery of the latest edition will now be delayed while the packaging is changed to ensure that the word "fuck" is not visible.

The cover highlights a competition the magazine ran for readers to design a World Cup poster. Based on one of the entries from designer Steve Price it said: "Fuck it football is shit. When is Downton back on."

Editor Gordon Young said: "Oh for fuck's sake. This magazine is a subscription only business-to-business title with a tightly defined readership. The sort of language our readers come across day-to-day is probably not dissimilar to the sort of language used in a Royal Mail sorting office and I reckon it is unlikely they will be offended...

A Royal Mail spokesman said: "All mailings we handle must comply with our general terms and conditions and must not include offensive, obscene or threatening language."

Press Gazette - via Melon Farmers.

In an heroic act of self-sacrifice, Fagburn has decided to boycott watching any World Cup matches as a protest against something or other.

And finally, now for some good news...

Postmen at a Royal Mail branch are set to defy bosses by refusing to deliver copies of The Sun newspaper.

The posties at the Skelmersdale office will walk out this week after managers said there was no option but deliver it.

The paper, which remains controversial over its coverage of the Hillsborough tragedy, approached Royal Mail to deliver 22m copies across England as part of a World Cup promotion campaign.

The Sun said it would not deliver copies in Liverpool. But some areas of Merseyside – such as Wirral – have the Chester postcode, while Southport has the Preston postcode and Skem shares the Wigan postcode...

Liverpool Echo. 

The Sun: Who's Sorry Now?

That's right, blame the cops.
Like your job isn't telling lies for a living.
Please accept out sincerest hypocrisy...