Post by Teddy Bear on Jul 28, 2012 22:52:26 GMT
A few years ago I noted the BBC lack of enthusiasm for identifying heroics when performed by a Tory MP, at that time it was Boris Johnson rescuing a woman from yobs.
Today another Tory MP tried to make a citizens arrest on a man who was smashing a bus shelter, and got kicked for his trouble. The BBC interviewed the MP after the ordeal, so were well aware of the circumstances. and one would have thought praised the heroics in tackling this vandal, but not the BBC who headline the article thus
Peterborough MP attacked by bus shelter vandal
In the article itself one can determine what really happened, as well as the party affiliation of the MP involved, but there is no sense of heroics implied by the BBC. I can't believe if it had been a Labour MP instead that it wouldn't have been vaunted as a great deed of heroism. Funnily enough, I can't find an example of a Labour MP being heroic about anything to compare.
The Daily Mail spell out the event in a far truer light.
Today another Tory MP tried to make a citizens arrest on a man who was smashing a bus shelter, and got kicked for his trouble. The BBC interviewed the MP after the ordeal, so were well aware of the circumstances. and one would have thought praised the heroics in tackling this vandal, but not the BBC who headline the article thus
Peterborough MP attacked by bus shelter vandal
In the article itself one can determine what really happened, as well as the party affiliation of the MP involved, but there is no sense of heroics implied by the BBC. I can't believe if it had been a Labour MP instead that it wouldn't have been vaunted as a great deed of heroism. Funnily enough, I can't find an example of a Labour MP being heroic about anything to compare.
The Daily Mail spell out the event in a far truer light.
Have-a-go-hero: Tory MP injured after trying to stop a man smashing up a bus shelter
A Tory MP has been injured after challenging a man who was vandalising a bus shelter.
Backbencher Stewart Jackson said he tried to make a citizen's arrest after seeing the man smash the glass with a bottle.
But the culprit fled after kicking the have-a-go-hero in the chest.
Mr Jackson, who had been shopping with his wife and daughter in his Peterborough constituency this afternoon, posted about the incident on Twitter.
'Had set to with violent thug kicking in bus shelter in Broadway & suffered kick in side for pains,' he wrote.
He told the BBC: 'I thought any of the shards could have injured a woman or a child so I tried to make a citizen's arrest.
'He squared up to me and threw a few blows which missed but he swung a kick which made contact but I was not badly injured.
'He then ran away and my wife called the police.'
Cambridgeshire Police said a 20-year-old man was detained after officers were called to the scene at 3.10pm today.
The civic-minded MP's actions provoked a mixed reaction from his Twitter followers.
@orderlyplayer asked whether Mr Jackson should have let police handle the incident, tweeting: '@sjacksonmp perhaps you should have had some sense and call the police before you went in all guns blazing!'
But other users on the social network were quick to back Mr Jackson.
Daniel Hill, tweeting under the name @irdaniel said: '@sjacksonmp Great to see you taking a stand. Hope you're okay!'
Thug squared up to Peterborough MP Stewart Jackson then launched a flurry of punches and kicks
A 20-year-old man was detained by Cambridgeshire Police
A Tory MP has been injured after challenging a man who was vandalising a bus shelter.
Backbencher Stewart Jackson said he tried to make a citizen's arrest after seeing the man smash the glass with a bottle.
But the culprit fled after kicking the have-a-go-hero in the chest.
Mr Jackson, who had been shopping with his wife and daughter in his Peterborough constituency this afternoon, posted about the incident on Twitter.
'Had set to with violent thug kicking in bus shelter in Broadway & suffered kick in side for pains,' he wrote.
He told the BBC: 'I thought any of the shards could have injured a woman or a child so I tried to make a citizen's arrest.
'He squared up to me and threw a few blows which missed but he swung a kick which made contact but I was not badly injured.
'He then ran away and my wife called the police.'
Cambridgeshire Police said a 20-year-old man was detained after officers were called to the scene at 3.10pm today.
The civic-minded MP's actions provoked a mixed reaction from his Twitter followers.
@orderlyplayer asked whether Mr Jackson should have let police handle the incident, tweeting: '@sjacksonmp perhaps you should have had some sense and call the police before you went in all guns blazing!'
But other users on the social network were quick to back Mr Jackson.
Daniel Hill, tweeting under the name @irdaniel said: '@sjacksonmp Great to see you taking a stand. Hope you're okay!'