‘I believe we need to ask tough questions about the instant-hit hedonism celebrated by the modern men's magazines targeted at younger males. Titles such as Nuts and Zoo paint a picture of women as permanently, lasciviously, uncomplicatedly available. The images they use and project reinforce a very narrow conception of beauty and a shallow approach towards women.’The above was said in a speech by Michael Gove, former Times journalist now Shadow Education minister. I saw an advance notice of his speech and, not quite trusting my own astonishment, held back from saying anything. I am glad to say it has not been well received. Here is blogger Mr Eugenides:
‘Men do not like tits because they buy Zoo. Men buy Zoo because they like tits.We can demonstrate this by means of a simple thought experiment. Zoo was launched in 2004. Hands up if you ever thought about tits before then. Yes, one hand will do.’
But it is something else which concerns me. All politicians make mistakes and say something they subsequently wish they hadn’t: they have ‘off’ moments. In these off moments they revert to type, to a default position, a classic case being that of the late Nicholas Ridley losing it about Europe in an interview with the Spectator.
The point I wanted to make about Mr Gove is that if this is his default position, making the content of perfectly legal publications a matter for politics, thinking it a politician’s job to ‘ask tough questions’ about publications he doesn’t like, then Mr Cameron needs to replace him, now. He is not suited to high office.
If that’s not the type of person he is, he should come out and explain himself.
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