Tuesday, April 12, 2005
Dodgy doings in Dorset
You have probably heard about Ed Matts and his doctored photographs. The Tory candidate for Dorset South has been caught out. He altered a picture showing him and Ann Widdecombe protesting against the deportation of a family.
In the original photograph he was holding a picture of the family and Ann Widdecombe was holding a sign saying "Let Them Stay". In the version he printed in his election leaflet he is holding a notice saying "Controlled Immigration" and Ann Widdecombe's now says "Not Chaos & Inhumanity".
Only in the modern Conservative Party would a candidate feel the need to cover up an act of decency like defending a local family from deportation.
But all this has made me look at Mr Matts' leaflets with a more quizzical eye. Take his photograph captioned "Rolf Harris helps Ed Matts collect signatures for a petition in Swanage High Street".
It may be Rolf, but I have a strong suspicion that someone has drawn a beard and glasses on that photo of Ann Widdecombe with a black marker pen.
I also have grave doubts about the one showing Groucho Marx canvassing in Weymouth.
In the original photograph he was holding a picture of the family and Ann Widdecombe was holding a sign saying "Let Them Stay". In the version he printed in his election leaflet he is holding a notice saying "Controlled Immigration" and Ann Widdecombe's now says "Not Chaos & Inhumanity".
Only in the modern Conservative Party would a candidate feel the need to cover up an act of decency like defending a local family from deportation.
But all this has made me look at Mr Matts' leaflets with a more quizzical eye. Take his photograph captioned "Rolf Harris helps Ed Matts collect signatures for a petition in Swanage High Street".
It may be Rolf, but I have a strong suspicion that someone has drawn a beard and glasses on that photo of Ann Widdecombe with a black marker pen.
I also have grave doubts about the one showing Groucho Marx canvassing in Weymouth.
