In these immoral times of easy values and scant virtues, it’s good to see that moral arbiter Michael Gove picking up the mantle of Back to Basics and sticking it to lads mags like Nuts.
Writing on conservativehome he says:
“I believe we need to ask tough questions about the instant-hit hedonism celebrated by the modern men’s magazines targeted at younger males. Titles such as Nuts and Zoo paint a picture of women as permanently, lasciviously, uncomplicatedly available.
“We should ask those who make profits out of revelling in, or encouraging, selfish irresponsibility among young men what they think they’re doing.”
Indeed we should ask those who make profits from the wages of sin.
So Michael, perhaps you’d like to tell us why you took £2,000 in April 2005 and it seems you’re still ‘soliciting’ money from, a company that set up Nuts TV?
A look through the Register of Members Interests reveals Michael was elected thanks to payments to his constituency party from Red Fig Ltd.
Red Fig Ltd, which specializes in interactive television and promised “non-stop TV action,” provided their services for Miss World 2004 and helped to launch – yep, you guessed it, Nuts TV. You can read their very proud press release here.
It seems Gove’s still taking money too – according to his latest register of members interests entry, he says:
“Donations to my constituency association have been solicited or encouraged by me from:
Red Fig (company donation)”
Now we’re sure Michael wouldn’t like to be seen making ‘profits out of revelling in, or encouraging, selfish irresponsibility among young men’ so perhaps he’d consider paying back the good people at Red Fig.
P.S. Interesting to see that Shadow Foreign Affairs Spokesman Keith Simpson has suggested a summer reading list for his colleagues which includes David Runciman’s “Political Hypocrisy.” Looks like someone got an advanced copy!
So if you believe in political hypocrisy, press the Red Button NOW!
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that is just perfect, very funny monkey.
Merl said this on August 5th, 2008 at 10:39 am
You might also remind Mr G that the consumers of Nuts etc were raised in the Thatcher / Major years. No wonder they go for “instant-hit hedonism”….
Brian Hughes said this on August 5th, 2008 at 10:46 am
“Michael was elected thanks to payments to his constituency party from Red Fig Ltd.”
Damn, and I thought you had to get people to vote for you! Maybe I should go for this MP lark after all, if all you need to do is get a lads mag to send you some money.
I’m confused. Normally people complain about politicians accepting donations from companies and then subtly endorsing their donators. Now we’re complaining when Gove speaks out against one of his donators? It’s political hypocrisy because he’s not been corrupted by those who give him money.
Hmmm.
(incidentally, I appreciate the irony and the entertainment value, but this is sweeping its way across the blogosphere as if it’s some sort of corruption, and that’s not really fair.)
Stu said this on August 5th, 2008 at 10:53 am
Top work mate, will pay to see Gove’s face right now!
Londoner said this on August 5th, 2008 at 10:54 am
[…] oh dear! what happened here Mr. Gove? Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Michael Gove on the strength of ‘moral […]
Gove’s moral crusade « Forgesian Thinking said this on August 5th, 2008 at 11:01 am
This is a politically motivated flim-flam of a story. It’s aim is just to discredit Gove, not because he’s done anything wrong but simply because he’s a Tory. Stu is spot on about this: you really can’t sell as corruption the fact that Gove has criticised one of his donors. If he was standing on street corners, flogging lads’ mags like copies of the Big Issue, it would be a different thing. Until or unless that happens, I think you’re scraping the bottom of a very dry barrel.
JMM said this on August 5th, 2008 at 11:14 am
Good work!
tactical.voter said this on August 5th, 2008 at 11:16 am
Don’t forget Francis Maude’s financial links: http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=17851468%26method=full%26siteid=94762%26headline=true-blue-tory-name_page.html
Mark said this on August 5th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Duhhhh - so it’s OK to accept money from people or organisations that you don’t approve of, just so long as you’re consistent in slagging them off later? OK, so he’s not corrupt - just duplicitous. It staggers me that in this media age politicians don’t take the time to check the credentials of their donors…
Rich said this on August 5th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Quality work - what a total moron
Albert Shanker said this on August 5th, 2008 at 1:05 pm
[…] At least it wasn’t Nuts and Zoo! […]
RecessMonkey » Blog Archive » It’s a busy day…. said this on August 5th, 2008 at 1:23 pm
[…] Monkey unearthed Gove’s hypocrisy earlier today by highlighting his receipt of campaign funds from the company that set up NutsTV (which is […]
RecessMonkey » Blog Archive » Iain Dale takes cash for Nuts said this on August 5th, 2008 at 1:38 pm
Wonderfull work Monkey..gove is a slippery one but you have pinned him down,lets see how he wriggles out of this one.
simonmagnus said this on August 5th, 2008 at 3:32 pm
[…] from the company that set up Nuts TV. Is he going to give it back in protest now? (Hat-tip: Recess Monkey, via Guido) | Trackback link | Add to del.icio.us | […]
Pickled Politics » Make your mind up Michael said this on August 5th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Brilliant work. Keep exposing hypocrisy!
MBoy said this on August 5th, 2008 at 4:02 pm
Same as the guy drinking in the commons bar a while back.
First you as a citizens have to decide what you think about these magazines, and what you would like the position of the authorities to be. Who else agrees or disagrees with you should be irrelevant.
By the way, it’s great living in Europe where such matters are simply seen as not part of the role of government.
Richard said this on August 5th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
[…] Yesterday we had fun telling you how Michael Gove was elected with the help of money from the company that launched NutsTV. […]
RecessMonkey » Blog Archive » NutsGate - I’m a Cerebral Tory - Get Me In There! said this on August 6th, 2008 at 12:54 pm
[…] on Flickr and tell me that only a professional can take good pictures. Look at some of the political blogs and tell me that only Westminster lobby correspondents know what is going […]
Charlie Beckett, POLIS Director » Blog Archive » The myth of “the creative class” said this on August 9th, 2008 at 12:00 pm
[…] our story about Nuts and our follow-up that Vaizey, Gove and Grant Shapps were elected thanks to Red Fig, the company […]
RecessMonkey » Blog Archive » Nutsgate Exclusive: Vaizey fails to declare three-year old donation said this on August 10th, 2008 at 11:08 am
Oh, come *on*. Gove might just as easily be supported by his local newsagent, who also happens to sell the Guardian. Does Gove need to approve the Guardian’s content before accepting the money?
Philip Walker said this on August 15th, 2008 at 2:45 pm