Double Trouble

‘TONY Blair should be warned that agreeing to be questioned by mimic Jon Culshaw doing an impression of the Labour leader might not bode well.

Meeting your doppelganger is a prelude to imminent death rather than an invigorated political life. And then there’s the title of Culshaw’s TV show: Dead Ringers.

But assuming Tony presses ahead with the show, what will Culshaw ask him in this TV summit?

Tony Culshaw might like to ask Tony Blair why he’s taken to appearing on TV shows other than the news. Just recently Tony was on Football Focus. What next for Tony the celebrity? A stint on Strictly Come Dancing? A speaking part on EastEnders? A presenting gig on Songs Of Praise?

Culshaw might also like to ask Tony what he thinks of the Sun’s campaign to get its readers to back the new “Terror Laws”. Surely Tony would support the paper’s drive to get people on his side.

“TELL TONY HE’S RIGHT,” demands the Sun’s front page. “The Sun today calls on its army of readers to back Prime Minister Tony Blair and DEMAND 90-days detention for terror suspects.” The paper gives a number readers can dial to vote for Tony.

And if you don’t know what it is you’re in favour of, take a look at the Sun’s cover page. The sight of a bandaged and bloodied man looking numb with shock after the outrage of the July 7th bombs in London should get you dialling.

Not that Tony’s having it all his own way. Over in the Mirror, Baroness Kennedy, “lawyer and civil rights activist”, puts her “90 DAYS: CASE AGAINST” argument.

“The police claim they need 90 days to delve into computers, translate documents and make inquiries… What they really want is to have longer to interrogate,” says she.

Hmm. She makes a good point. But looking at the Sun’s front page, some readers might wonder what’s so wrong with that. Better perhaps if the cops dealt in a bit of light torture to loosen the suspects’ tongues. The quicker they speak, the quicker they can go, and the quicker the next suspect can be dealt with.

But Kennedy’s argument has substance. “A person’s mental resilience can be broken down over a long period of detention. But the innocent break down as readily as the guilty,” she says. She goes on: “And once on the statute books, laws tend to remain there. Terror laws usually expand to other areas of crime. So this law could be used against YOU tomorrow.”

That doesn’t sound too good. Especially if you’re innocent and just look like a suspect. Imagine if Culshaw turned out to be a rabid religious fundamentalist. Tony could end up in choky.

Crikey! It doesn’t bear thinking about…’

Posted: 8th, November 2005 | In: Tabloids Comment | TrackBack | Permalink