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OMG, think of the children. Labour MP in photoshop scandal
Quote:
NHS trust faked MP visit picture
An NHS trust has admitted superimposing an image of a government minister into a publicity photograph for a hospital building project.
Culture Secretary James Purnell was late for the photo at Tameside General Hospital in Greater Manchester, turning up after three other MPs had to leave.
The MP agreed to have his photograph taken in the same spot, but says he did not agree to the images being merged.
The trust has apologised to anyone who may have been misled by the picture.
The image was sent out to a number of local newspapers in Greater Manchester and was published in at least one.
Local MPs David Hayes, Tom Levitt and Andrew Gwynne all turned up in time for the photo call, organised by the Tameside and Glossop Hospitals NHS Trust.
They were photographed at the construction site for a new hospital building alongside trust chairman Kevin Corscadden and chief executive Christine Green.
But Mr Purnell, the MP for Stalybridge and Hyde, was late for the photographer because of his "hectic ministerial schedule", the trust said.
'Good opportunity'
"All four of the local MPs of Tameside and Glossop have been highly supportive of the new building project, which will greatly improve facilities for patients and staff at Tameside General Hospital," said a spokesman.
"Unfortunately, due to his hectic ministerial schedule James Purnell was late for the photo-shoot, and arrived shortly after the other MPs had to leave.
"All the MPs had gone to great efforts to show their support, and as we would not be able to stage a repeat of this historic day for the hospital, we decided to take a photograph of Mr Purnell in the same spot very shortly after, and merge it with the earlier photograph, to which Mr Purnell kindly consented.
"We apologise if anyone feels misled by this, but we took the judgement that the image of all our MPs on site supporting this excellent new project, was too good an opportunity to miss."
Mr Purnell's spokesman said the mix-up happened after the minister arrived late at the hospital near Stalybridge.
How can broadcasters be expected to clean up their act if the Secretary of State is telling people to doctor photographs?
Jeremy Hunt, shadow culture secretary
"He had assumed it would be made clear he had not been there at the same time as the other MPs," the spokesman said.
"The photo was the result of a misunderstanding, with the hospital believing it was doing the best thing by putting out a picture of all the MPs together."
Mr Purnell, 37, was appointed Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport in Gordon Brown's first Cabinet in June 2007.
During the 2005 election, the Conservatives were heavily criticised by Labour after one of their candidates doctored a campaign leaflet.
The Shadow Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt called for an apology and said the picture row made Mr Purnell's position untenable .
"Here is cast-iron proof that Labour ministers are quite happy to 'fake it' if they think they can get away with it," said Mr Hunt.
"Mr Purnell went public with this picture. He must now make a public apology at the very least."
Unbelievable non-story. What does it matter? If the picture had been fabricated to give him an alibi for some dirty goings on, then fine, hang him out to dry. But he was late for a photocall and they added him in. I'm missing why this is anything but a sensible bit of work by someone at the hospital. For the Tories to say his position is untenable is pretty much the stupidest thing I've read all day, and I've spent a large portion of that day in OTF, which says a lot.
09-28-2007, 07:20 PM
OMG, think of the children. Labour MP in photoshop scandal Post #2
Unbelievable non-story. What does it matter? If the picture had been fabricated to give him an alibi for some dirty goings on, then fine, hang him out to dry. But he was late for a photocall and they added him in. I'm missing why this is anything but a sensible bit of work by someone at the hospital. For the Tories to say his position is untenable is pretty much the stupidest thing I've read all day, and I've spent a large portion of that day in OTF, which says a lot.
Agreed, it does seem a lot of fuss about nothing. If someones position is untenable it's the bloke who actually edited the photograph. The fakeness of the picture is obvious, even to someone without much of an eye for the little details.
09-29-2007, 09:24 AM
OMG, think of the children. Labour MP in photoshop scandal Post #5
Originally posted by DJ:
<BLOCKQUOTE>"Here is cast-iron proof that Labour ministers are quite happy to 'fake it' if they think they can get away with it," said Mr Hunt.
"Mr Purnell went public with this picture. He must now make a public apology at the very least."
FFS </BLOCKQUOTE>
That's ****ing brilliant. Wonder how the Daily Mail will run it.
OMG, think of the children. Labour MP in photoshop scandal 
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