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Legionnaires’ outbreak: Sturgeon to blame

Posted on June 07, 2012 by

At least, that’s the impression you’d get from today’s Guardian. Not one but two pieces by Severin Carrell are both illustrated with pictures of the Deputy FM this morning – one in front of a Saltire for good measure – with very little justification to be found in the text below.

The first piece, which is prominently displayed on the front page of the Guardian website doesn’t even feature a quote from the Health Secretary – she gets just a single passing mention in the fourth paragraph – while the second at least does include a couple, but not until seven paragraphs in.

You can’t avoid pictures of Sturgeon whichever of the paper’s four articles on the outbreak you choose – every single one has her image on either the story or itself or the “related” column, sometimes doubled up. It’s clear that the reader is meant to associate the outbreak with Sturgeon, and while it’s a slightly more nuanced approach than Carrell has adopted previously, there’s no mistaking the intent, especially when it’s backed up by innuendo from reliable Labour rent-a-quotes:

The first case of Legionnaires’ Disease in Edinburgh was identified on Sunday, and the 16 cooling towers thought to be responsible were discovered and sterilised on Sunday night and Monday morning, despite the public holiday. We’re not sure how much more rapidly Lord Foulkes imagines the Scottish Government could have acted, but with the help of friendly media the subtle smear will seep out anyway. The Scotsman’s first “SNP accused” headline can surely only be hours away.

3 to “Legionnaires’ outbreak: Sturgeon to blame”

  1. Scott Minto (Aka Sneekyboy) says:

    Less than 24 hours from discovery to identification and rectifying action and that’s a long time to foulkes?

    Man needs to retire!

    Reply
  2. MajorBloodnok says:

    Mabe he was just tweeting in Beau Geste?

    I’ll get my capote.

    Reply
  3. Dál Riata says:

    Severin Carrell as a journalist is a fraudster. He is allowed to promulgate his version of Scottish ‘news’ by the Guardian which rarely let his reports be opened up to comments. He then goes on Twitter to spout his true feelings on events, doing Scotland and independence down at every opportunity. An MSM Unionist troll is all he is.

    Reply


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