The former newspaper of record has been dragged down the path of Murdoch bias
Take a look at these pictures. They show the front page for the Times newspaper for Monday, Tuesday and today. Notice anything strange?
If you’re still stumped, recall that this was the week the two – that’s two – main parties released their election manifestos to the country.
Yet the Times newspaper, thought to be less partisan than other papers, could find no space on its front pages for the Labour manifesto – not even as a smaller story or tiny short at the bottom of the page.
Monday’s headline, ‘Passionate Cameron outlines his Tory dream’, speaks for itself, while Tuesday’s ‘Right to buy for £1.3m families’ hails the Conservatives’ flagship policy.
Today’s paper leads with ‘Brussels vows to block Cameron on EU treaty’, about the prime minister’s valiant but futile stand against the European juggernaut.
While Labour does get a mention in the ‘right to buy’ story on Tuesday, it’s only to highlight criticism from the Institute for Fiscal Studies and shoot holes in Labour’s campaign. (There’s also a cartoon at the foot of the page of a toothy Ed Miliband saying: “Will I make life tough enough? Hell yes!”)
So, what gives? No headlines? No stories? It’s not as if Labour’s manifesto release lacked new policies, from freezing rail prices to expanding childcare services, or surprise moves like placing deficit reduction and fiscal responsibility pledges at the front of the document.
It’s as if these covers were printed in an alternate Tory universe where only one party is running, or at least with any chance of success. And this in what was once the newspaper of record.
You would expect this sort of thing from the openly conservative newspapers. (The Daily Mail for example also ignored Labour on its covers.) But the Times is still considered to be a more serious and objective newspaper, both here and around the world, despite being swallowed by Rupert Murdoch’s News UK in 1981.
How can anyone honestly look at these front pages and call them an authoritative or honest account of this week’s news?
Adam Barnett is a staff writer at Left Foot Forward. Follow MediaWatch on Twitter
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24 Responses to “Missing something? No room for Labour manifesto on the Times front page”
Gerschwin
Quite right, with you all the way Cole old chap Guardian and Indy certainly know no facts… they’re back to backing the Labour PIErty now after their brief love in with the Lib Dems in 2010, but that was never gonna be a long term love once the LibDems went into coalition with fabulous DC.
Peter
On the day of Labour’s manifesto launch, the BBC’s News at
Ten gave air time to a considerable amount of other party leaders to slag of
Labour’s manifesto. On the day of the Tories launch, the BBC failed to give
such an opportunity for other party leaders to slag of the Tory manifesto. Yes
it seems, the BBC has been intimidated
by the Conservative Party.
Leon Wolfeson
What rot. Studies have shown they’re subservient to the government.
Guest
Keep highlighting how you’re so proud to be worse than Labour, and your love of crime.
JoeDM
Clearly the Times has got its priorities right !!!!
Well done The Times.