The trouble with this country is the Daily Mail

The trouble with this country is the Daily Mail

23 Apr 2003

The panel debate the motion 'The trouble with this country is the Daily Mail'. Chaired by Richard Lindley.

Mary Ann Sieghart criticises the Daily Mail for 'oozing hatred' and attempting to bring out the worst in the British character. Among the Daily Mail's targets are asylum seekers, cohabiting couples, homosexuals, and even stay-at-home mothers. The Daily Mail is also unashamedly misogynistic: famous women are regularly singled out in the Mail and unfairly criticised for their actions or their appearance – the same treatment is not extended to men.

Tom Bower begins by responding to earlier comments by Mary Ann Sieghart. The reason why Sieghart dislikes the paper, he believes, is because it is so much more popular than her own paper, The Times. As he explains, the Daily Mail has a readership of around four times that of the broadsheets. Bower says that the Mail, unlike many other newspapers in Britain, is not controlled by Rupert Murdoch, and is free to work without an agenda. It is therefore free to expose the corruption and greed of politicians and celebrities.

Francis Wheen criticises the paper for attacking those who lack the means to defend themselves. He points out that, despite claiming to be the voice of common sense, the Daily Mail is a sucker for anything to do with astrology, tarot cards, or aliens. Overall, Wheen believes that British people are generally tolerant, decent, and hard-working, but that the Daily Mail tries to turn them into mean-spirited bullies.

Peter Oborne begins by criticising the speeches of his opponents Francis Wheen and Mary Ann Sieghart, describing the latter's beliefs about the Daily Mail as the ‘delusions of a fevered mind'. He believes that people like Sieghart and Wheen don't understand the Daily Mail because it covers problems that do not affect them – whilst its content will not resonate with a media executive in London, it will resonate with a newsagent in Manchester or Birmingham.

First vote: 306 For, 185 Against

Final Vote: 318 For, 201 Against

The motion is passed by 117 votes.