I would imagine very few ConservativeHome readers would have picked up the waste of trees that is the Daily Mirror this morning, but you may have seen the story we linked to from the frontpage about Nicolas Sarkozy apparently snubbing David Cameron. It won't surprise you that the Mirror got it wrong.
It was based on an article Denis Macshane, former Minister for Europe, wrote about Sarkozy in the Observer last weekend:
"A frequent visitor to London, he and his wife have met the Browns and Blairs. He has spoken at the CDU summer school in Germany alongside Merkel and is close to the liberalising centre-right EU Commission president, Jose Manuel Barroso. Sarkozy has refused to meet David Cameron as the Conservative policy of quitting the association of centre-right parties in Europe - driven by the Eurosceptic William Hague - has provoked anger in the new ruling parties of the European right."
As you will see from the comments below it, the article was full of inaccurate and misleading assertions. The CCHQ press team have asked both papers to make corrections, saying:
"Denis MacShane claims in his article that Nicolas Sarkozy "has refused to meet David Cameron." Odd, then, that Sarkozy welcomed David Cameron to Paris on his first visit overseas as Leader of the Conservative Party over a year ago, that they met again in London in September and that Sarkozy gave a supportive video address to the Conservative Party Conference in October. Denis MacShane likes to consider himself as informed about European developments. Perhaps, once again, he has conveniently overlooked the facts?"
The second and final round in the French presidential elections between Sarkozy and Royal takes place on Sunday.
Deputy Editor
It's definitely Sunday then?
Posted by: UK Daily Pundit | May 02, 2007 at 14:30
Yes...
Posted by: Deputy Editor | May 02, 2007 at 14:34
I presume Sunday was emphasised for the benefit of Mr MacShane, who doesn't know what day it is.
Interesting interpretation also that leaving the EPP is being driven by Hague..."implemented very cautiously" might be a fairer way of putting it, although plenty on here can now doubt find more robust ways of putting it.
Posted by: Londoner | May 02, 2007 at 14:55
What will be the name of our new grouping when it happens?
Posted by: Peter Hatchet | May 02, 2007 at 15:36
If UKIP were serious, they would be going after the likes of MacShame, rather than depriving Eurosceptic Tories of seats and letting in Europhile Lib Dems through the middle.
Posted by: Andrew Woodman | May 02, 2007 at 16:08
Peter Hatchet:What will be the name of our new grouping when it happens?
Ah ha. That sounds like an invitation. I'll open with BOING - Better Off In a New Grouping.
Posted by: William Norton | May 02, 2007 at 16:08
Stop it now, William. This ended up in The Telegraph last time!!!
:-)
Posted by: Editor | May 02, 2007 at 16:23
the waste of trees that is the Daily Mirror
A bit uncalled for IMHO. The Mirror isn't intended to appeal to a broadsheet audience, and proberbly carries more hard news than the Sun or Star.
If it is because it supports Labour 80% of the newspaper market has traditionaly backed the Tories, so you can hardly feel hard done by.
Most people who read a tabloid wouldn't read a paper at all if tabloids didn't exist, and even more people would turn off from politics and current affairs generally.
Posted by: comstock | May 02, 2007 at 17:01
I could say the same about those papers to be fair, "the waste of trees that is -insert name of tabloid newspaper-", but I grew up in an area where absolutely everybody read either the Daily Mirror (or the Liverpool Echo), and as its perspective is so different from mine my ire for its negative and misleading stories is much more pronounced!
Posted by: Deputy Editor | May 02, 2007 at 17:19
I seem to remember a filmed message of support from Sarkozy at the Bournemouth conference last year. Some snub.
Posted by: Cllr Paul Johnston | May 02, 2007 at 17:25
From a Conservative point of view, the Red Tops' editorial slant is shite. But it is usually very crisply written.
Posted by: Don Hoyle | May 02, 2007 at 18:00
What the Mirror says, and what Sarkozy says, is far less important than what Cameron said several times during his leadership campaign - a clear pledge to withdraw the Tory MEPs from the EPP, without any caveat about first forming another group. Now none of us know whether we can trust anything he says.
Posted by: Denis Cooper | May 02, 2007 at 18:10
"If UKIP were serious, they would be going after the likes of MacShame, rather than depriving Eurosceptic Tories of seats and letting in Europhile Lib Dems through the middle." (Andrew Woodman 1608)
EXACTLY!
Posted by: Philip | May 02, 2007 at 20:05
"Ah ha. That sounds like an invitation. I'll open with BOING - Better Off In a New Grouping."
Movement of Intelligent Reformists Against a Greater Europe?
(Sorry Editor.)
Posted by: Daniel VA | May 02, 2007 at 20:15
Don't isolate yourself in internal discussions. Vote online about the future of Europe at www.FreeEurope.info - one liner: "Human development in its richest diversity" (John Stuart Mill)
Posted by: William Humbold | May 03, 2007 at 07:37
I wouldn't waste my time voting on anything which claims to be “By the people
of Europe, for the people of Europe” when I know that should be "peoples".
Posted by: Denis Cooper | May 03, 2007 at 11:36