Maybe it was incompetence or maybe it was a stoke of foresight, but last night on the BBC Ten O'Clock news Dermot Murnaghan first of all called Lord Levy Michael Levy, and then Mr Levy. Should the good Lord be charged and then convicted he will (unlike Lord Archer) be stripped of his Peerage. Strange that the BBC should already have done that themselves!
Incompetence = BBC
ReplyDeleteNothing new.
This is typical of the BBC, they frequently refer to peers as "Lord David Putnam" or "Lady Elizabeth Butler-Schloss" for example. As far as I know Lady Butler-Schloss is not a Lady of the Garter or the daughter of an Earl, Marquess or Duke, she is a Baroness.
ReplyDeleteThis post reminds me of a passage in the memoirs of Lord Deedes, where he describes his dealings with a Post Office employee who writes his name down as "Mr Lord William Deedes".
That law firm that represented Diana - Julius something, I think - out out a press release, obviously written by a Polish plumber. They're acting for Heather McCartney, and they referred to her as Lady Heather Mills McCartney. Four words, two medga errors. And this is a law firm that acted for The Princess of Wales.
ReplyDeleteverity - these are 'errors', but not 'accidents'. Deliberate conflation in the public mind of Heather Mills as being a 'lady' [hmmm...] and still getting the positive branding of being a McCartney...
ReplyDeleteThey are trying to hike the divorce settlement by pi$$ing Sir Paul off to the extent that he will pay more than he would originally countenance to get rid of her.
Accident or manipulation - you be the judge..
Anonymous - Oh, for sure! And with an eye on American publicity, the Americans not understanding titles, but thinking more names imply more importance. Jaqueline Bouvier Kennedy - as though it was some important lineage that should always be referred to.
ReplyDeleteMaybe the lawyers felt,in Heather's case, they had to make up with names for the weight of the missing limb. Get the balance. (Although, as Jonathan Ross said, she's such a shyster it wouldn't surprise us to find out she really has two legs.)
But yes, I agree about the law firm.
Call me paranoid, but...
ReplyDeleteBAE corruption investigation is halted following claims of national security and national interest...
Bliar jets off to save the Middle East...
Is there a missing link? Will Goldsmith drop any prosecution or investigation of Bliar as "not in the national interest" due to his "pivotal role" at a crucial moment in international relations, with implications for national security?
Jerss the dog - Yes. Of course. So what's new?
ReplyDeleteI used to wonder how dictators and vastly corrupt rulers like Marcos and then we got an illustration of the methods used right here in the comfort of our own homes. Brass neck and a population that has been cowed into acceptance.
At least the Romanians took matters into their own hands. What I like about the Romanians and the Ceaucescus is, the Ceaucescus thought they were being called out onto their balcony to receive love and adulation.