Look At The Big Picture

15/04/2008

The Mosley Saga limps on. The News of the World seems to be running out of steam though my eye was caught by a headline in the issue of 13th April. F1 big four call on shamed Mosley to quit - Exclusive by Ian Gordon.

F1 Big Four, could it be that Ronzo was talking to Napoleon Todt? Had Bernie changed his attitude? Whither Sir Frank? F1 Big Four turned out to be Mike Gascoyne, Damon Hill, Derek Bell and Tony Brooks. As for it being an 'exclusive', The Sunday Times ran identical quotes from Damon. Derek and Tony, but had Jody Scheckter instead of Mike Gascoyne.

I know that Tony Brooks spoke only to Richard Rae of The Sunday Times. Mark you, he was chuffed to be considered one of the Big Four of Formula One since he last raced in 1961.

His response was measured. as was the response of all the others. They answered a question posed by The Sunday Times and found themselves quoted in an 'exclusive' in a razzle mag and their opinions became 'demands' that Max should quit.

To a certain extent, the Max thing is like discovering that the feared Maths master puts on a frock and heels at weekends and calls himself Lucy. It must alter one's perception of the man, but it is no excuse for not handing in your homework.

The trouble is that people believe NotW's interpretation whereas it can equally be seen as a standard S&M prison scenario. This has led to jokes on satire shows on both sides of the Atlantic. Max has become a subject for comedians though many a politician has ridden out worse and memories are short.

Some people will find Max's consorting with prostitutes offensive and, for others, it is against the teaching of their religion. Regardless of personal sensibilities, Max broke no law in Britain. The person who committed a criminal act was the woman who arranged the session because she then became a brothel-keeper. News of the World protects the identity of the criminal while exposing one who has committed no crime.

Max is suing the paper for invasion of privacy. Like many another Brit, I was surprised he could do this, but privacy is protected under the Human Rights Act, it is just that nobody has done it before.

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