Libertarian Alliance press release: Telegraph says ‘f+ck off’ to criticisms of ‘Free Country’ campaign
Responding to criticisms of his media group’s “Free Country”campaign, a Telegraph journalist has told Sean Gabb of the Libertarian Alliance to “f+ck off”.
The Libertarian Alliance, which is Britain’s most radical civil liberties and free market policy institute, has criticised The Daily Telegraph’s “Free Country” campaign on the following grounds:
· That it lacks focus
· That it consists of short, unconnected articles unlikely to shift pubic opinion
· That it lacks the passion and commitment of campaigns run by the leftist media
· That, despite talk of “building alliances”, no effort has been made to recruit allies
for the campaign from outside the Conservative shadow cabinet and a few “well-connected mediocrities”
Dr. Gabb, a Libertarian Alliance Executive Committee member, made these criticisms in an article sent out on the Internet on Monday the 6th May 2002. He sent copies with a covering letter to various journalists working for the Telegraph group. His covering letter reads:
Dear Sir,
I send herewith an account of a debate between me and your Editor. Though the debate was cut to pieces before being broadcast, the account has been posted all over the Internet.
Yours ever,
Sean Gabb, London, 6th may 2002
Posting at 8:15am, Patrick Barclay, who is football correspondent for The Sunday Telegraph, e-mailed as follows to Dr Gabb
Dear Mr Gabb,
Would you please f+ck off?
Yours very sincerely,
Patrick Barclay
Commenting on the e-mail, Dr Gabb said:
“This is a surprising communication from a media group that claims to uphold certain standards of civility in journalism. I have no doubt, however, that it is the only response I shall get. I also believe it accurately reflects the general attitude of the Telegraph group to criticism from its readers”
Also commenting, Dr Chris R. Tame, Executive Director of the Libertarian Alliance, said:
“While we have no objection to even robust media treatment, this sort of foul-mouthed response to a very polite e-mail is unacceptable from a media group that is always willing to denounce others for impoliteness. The message was sent from an official Telegraph e-mail address (patrick.barclay@telegraph.co.uk), and must be taken as an official Telegraph response to our criticisms. We call on Mr Barclay’s manager for an explanation and apology.”
