The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists

Rick Coyle is the Unite regional officer for the Burton on Trent and Uttoxeter District

Last Tuesday (September 13th), I was quoted on the front page of the Burton Mail regional newspaper. The Daily Mail’s website picked up on the story the next day, and from then on, the story went global. By Wednesday afternoon, the story had had several hundred comments, whilst a number of Eastern European websites has now started covering the Mail’s version, along with a few hard-right “white power” websites.

On the Thursday my quote from Tuesday’s Burton Mail was on page 2 of the Daily Express and page 13 of the Daily Mail. My phone did not stop. At 12.15 I was live on the Adrian Goldberg show on BBC WM.

I was asked onto a live debate for the BBC World Service at 1.30, and at 6.30 pm I was taking part in a live debate with a Human Rights Barrister in BBC 5Live.

So what was the story?

Unite has been running a union recognition campaign at the Waterstone’s national distribution centre in Burton on Trent. I am concerned that the employer is looking to use very dubious and possibly illegal ways of getting around the new Agency Worker Regs.

Agency workers were telling me that they were being asked to work directly for Unipart (the company running the warehouse for Waterstone’s). The new contracts would be at the minimum wage, a pay cut compared to the Agency rate. The Burton Mail contacted me about this on the monday and I gave them a quote.

I’d also been told that a petition was doing the rounds in the Warehouse in response to a management dictat that all conversations between workers during works time must be in English. This is a workforce that speaks English.

A number of workers felt that the ban was over-bearing. Others thought it was there to send a message that the employer didn’t want anyone talking at all. I called the ban “ridiculous” – my view being that if person A speaks to person B regarding a non-work issue, then that is no business of any employer, and the individuals can speak any language they want.

The Burton Mail covered both aspects to the story, but what the Daily Mail did next was very clever. Sinister, but clever. Without reference to me or to the Burton Mail, the Daily Mail decided that Foreign workers at Waterstone’s made to speak English claim ‘human rights abuse’.

By placing “human rights abuse” inside quotation marks, the Daily Mail deliberately misled readers. The quote was not attributed to anybody. It could not possibly have attributed the quote to anybody, because this was not said by anybody at the warehouse. The first person to cite “human rights abuse” was a journalist working for the Daily Mail.

They had hijacked this local news story and twisted it to suit its political agenda. A staunch cheerleader of the Conservative Party, this “story” was an opportunity to help bring its readers to their own conclusion that foreigners in this country don’t want to learn English, don’t deserve benefits, and that human rights and unions are somehow a bad thing.

As for the Daily Express, check out its website and search human rights or unions – honestly, they have one “story” on these subjects every day of the week! And all of them as twisted as this one example I’m talking you through…

I can’t complain that I’ve been misquoted. But my comment “ridiculous” was fair and appropriate to what the story actually had been - less so for what it had become.

As for the Daily Express, they did call me to check accuracy, but still went with the “human rights abuse” angle - in quotes - in the first sentence of its page 2 report. By the time I was introduced on BBC Radio 5Live that evening, the presenter wanted a debate about whether non-english speaking workers had a human right not to bother to learn English. Shortly after I put the presenter straight, the debate was hastily brought to a close.

What really disturbs me in all this is the obvious power of the Daily Mail to shape the reporting of the news. I’m dismayed that different parts of the BBC all accepted at face value the lies and distortions of the Daily Mail. The BBC made no attempt to check whether workers had made any “accusations”. No attempt was made to check if “human rights” had been even mentioned. No attempt was made to check if my quote had been applied in context.

Now let’s take a look at the the Editors’ Code Of Practice, as per the Press Complaints Commission (PCC):

1. Accuracy

i) The Press must take care not to publish inaccurate, misleading or distorted information, including pictures.

[...]

iii) The Press, whilst free to be partisan, must distinguish clearly between comment, conjecture and fact.

It is perfectly clear that the Daily Mail and Daily Express have deliberately breached section 1.1 and section 1.3 of the code. It is also perfectly clear that this deliberate and skillful distortion of the truth is something that takes place throughout these and other right-wing newspapers day in, day out in Britain today. This is a poison within our national life, and I can think of no good reason why decent people should continue to put up with it.

I’ve now submitted a formal complaint to the PCC, and I encourage Trade Unionists to do likewise with every single distortion and lie that hits us daily. Share this article online and bring it to your next union meeting.

There is a vicious anti-union war being fought against unions every single day in the right-wing papers. They do so because they continue to get away with it. I believe Twitter can be a game-changer for truth. I will be tweeting this article with the hashtag #distortion. I look forward to working with you in cyberspace – let’s start nailing these nasty lies about our people and our movement.

See also:

• Express and Mail fail the migration stats test – Sunder Katwala, August 26th 2011

• Daily Mail cherry picks data to bash life-saving speed cameras – Daniel Elton, August 24th 2011

• Iain Duncan Smith is not “daring to tell the truth” about migrant workers – Ruth Grove-White, July 2nd 2011

• Hurrah for the climate deniers: How the Daily Mail swallowed enviroscepticism whole – Tim Holmes, June 9th 2011

• Mail masks Thatcher’s true legacy: Unions busted, hours extended, productivity held back – Daniel Elton, May 5th 2011

http://twitter.com/malarky67/status/117175602041200640 StephenH

The Daily Mail's poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/3v7Z3EQh writes @Rick_Coyle
http://twitter.com/dougrouxel/status/117176350384717824 DougRouxel

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/0QwLQl7h <-Ban this sick filth.
http://twitter.com/scnnr/status/117177912876212224 scnnr

The Daily Mail's poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/3v7Z3EQh writes @Rick_Coyle
http://twitter.com/punite/status/117177969209917440 pauline doyle

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/hcMfd4i9
http://twitter.com/bowlingatvinny/status/117178521935294464 Rick Walton

The Daily Mail's poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/3v7Z3EQh writes @Rick_Coyle
http://twitter.com/hornseakr/status/117180199006769152 Zack Wilson

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/wrCQz3Lx #distortion
http://twitter.com/unitetheunion/status/117181035149664256 Unite the union

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/mclaXQPV #distortion
http://twitter.com/redvark/status/117181394660229121 Richard Hardy

The Daily Mail's poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/3v7Z3EQh writes @Rick_Coyle
http://twitter.com/mariannepowell/status/117181741902467072 Marianne Powell

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/mclaXQPV #distortion
http://twitter.com/jw365/status/117182438203064320 John Wood

RT @leftfootfwd The Daily Mail's poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/jZstUsYE writes @Rick_Coyle
http://twitter.com/amandakendal/status/117183672389611520 Amanda Kendal

The Daily Mail's poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/3v7Z3EQh writes @Rick_Coyle
http://twitter.com/peckhampulse/status/117185989113413632 unionworkeruk

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/mclaXQPV #distortion
http://twitter.com/rossybeary/status/117186288142135296 Adam Garratt

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/mclaXQPV #distortion
http://twitter.com/richardexell/status/117218191188557824 Richard Exell

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/mclaXQPV #distortion
http://twitter.com/luketotd/status/117223327067676672 Luke Beesley

http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/09/daily-mail-trade-union-lies-must-be-fought/
http://twitter.com/technolad/status/117225997442613248 glenn crawford

The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/f7J84gWE #distortion
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/117226508849913856 Daniel Elton

The Daily Mail's poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/Kc8G1J6e writes @Rick_Coyle @SamTarry @lukeakehurst
http://twitter.com/danielelton/status/117226884319809537 Daniel Elton

The Daily Mail's poisonous lies mustBfought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/Kc8G1J6e on @leftfootfwd @NigelStanley @owenjones @leftylisa
http://twitter.com/norbet/status/117228784733786113 NORBET

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/xZW41I05
http://twitter.com/yrotitna/status/117233887700201472 Juan Voet

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail's poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/qXtU9lE8 writes @Rick_Coyle
http://twitter.com/robert0461/status/117241126796271617 Robert Beard

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/D3f8Zr8Q
http://twitter.com/chrisbbgray/status/117355869037006849 Christopher Gray

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/yfAQMWfe
http://twitter.com/tjm_77/status/117368216275255296 Tim Martin

Reminder of how the news media distorts stories to fit their own agenda on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/7EmbkAfD #distortion #DailyFail
http://www.blacktrianglecampaign.org Black Triangle

Join the club!

The Daily Heil has been misreporting like this in their hate campaign against the sick and disabled to shore up the Welfare Cuts agenda for ages.

Solidarity!

Black Triangle
Anti-Defamation Campaign
In Defence of Disability Rights
http://twitter.com/chrisstiles10/status/117701770737762304 Chris Stiles

Reminder of how the news media distorts stories to fit their own agenda on @leftfootfwd: http://t.co/7EmbkAfD #distortion #DailyFail
http://twitter.com/londoniww/status/117871669003030530 London IWW

The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/AxAs2iCy | #labour #unions
http://twitter.com/osheagreen/status/117876022304718848 OShea Green

The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/AxAs2iCy | #labour #unions
http://twitter.com/primevalmudd/status/117897979674886144 Dave Plummer

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/dyefkTWP
http://twitter.com/pcs_euston/status/117898023312437248 pcs_euston

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/dyefkTWP
http://twitter.com/liverpoolmrmac/status/117899846660272128 chris mcdermott

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/dyefkTWP
http://twitter.com/tangent69/status/117900272851890178 Graham Allport

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/dzEpN2Ie
http://twitter.com/hlcheathrow/status/117929114081570817 Jon Purdom/Paco Saez

The Daily Mail's poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/3v7Z3EQh writes @Rick_Coyle
http://twitter.com/mpmrommel/status/117948165436608512 Lexin

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/HX1JRsYN
http://twitter.com/rick_coyle/status/118219361168265216 Rick Coyle

@uponnothing http://t.co/GN6C141U
http://twitter.com/uponnothing/status/118236037137969152 Kevin Arscott

VIA @Rick_Coyle Daily Mail with more poisonous lies: http://t.co/f8QCjBmF
http://twitter.com/yorkierosie/status/118237277125226496 #pressreform

VIA @Rick_Coyle Daily Mail with more poisonous lies: http://t.co/f8QCjBmF
http://twitter.com/waxnip/status/118237844727808000 waxnip

VIA @Rick_Coyle Daily Mail with more poisonous lies: http://t.co/f8QCjBmF
http://twitter.com/bravenewmalden/status/118237914185465856 Kevin Mills

RT @uponnothing: VIA @Rick_Coyle Daily Mail with more poisonous lies: http://t.co/FT10Rrz9…
http://twitter.com/peterward2008/status/118239312868409344 Peterward

VIA @Rick_Coyle Daily Mail with more poisonous lies: http://t.co/f8QCjBmF
http://twitter.com/mrgareth1976/status/118240085383712769 Gareth J Jones

VIA @Rick_Coyle Daily Mail with more poisonous lies: http://t.co/f8QCjBmF
http://twitter.com/jon_s/status/118240628013404160 Jon

VIA @Rick_Coyle Daily Mail with more poisonous lies: http://t.co/f8QCjBmF
http://twitter.com/5chincrack/status/118240636896944129 5 Chinese Crackers

VIA @Rick_Coyle Daily Mail with more poisonous lies: http://t.co/f8QCjBmF
http://twitter.com/daffsnp/status/118263208258699264 David Smith

VIA @Rick_Coyle Daily Mail with more poisonous lies: http://t.co/f8QCjBmF
Molson Coors

Why is Steve Adcock still union convenor at MolsonCoors ? We the membership are not happy with him, We have launched various petitions etc asking him to resign. So why if the members dont want him in power why is he still their. The union at Molsoncoors over the years has dissolved and is now nothing more then a managment mouth piece. The members at Molsoncoors need a proper union to help them. RICK you know what we are up against and yet you and Adcock do nothing to help us. Get a new convenor on site and lets start sticking up for the members. it’s only a matter of time before the 600 strong membership leave the union.
http://wheresthebenefit.blogspot.com DavidG

Welcome to our world! The Hate Mail’s attacks on disabled people as universally benefit frauds and scroungers have become so pervasive over the past several years that they’re now accepted wisdom for much of the population and can be tracked in the disability hate crime stats. The Express is actually worse, while having so much contempt for the PCC that it doesn’t even bother to listen to it any more (it’s parent group withdrew from the PCC at the start of the year, there is no mechanism to compel their membership).

All these stories, both the incident described above and the attacks on disabled people, are in direct contravention of Article 9 of the NUJ Code of Conduct: “Produces no material likely to lead to hatred or discrimination on the grounds of a person’s age, gender, race, colour, creed, legal status, disability, marital status, or sexual orientation”, and yet they are presumably written by journalists who are members of the NUJ, edited by sub-editors who are members of the NUJ and written and commissioned by editors who are members of the NUJ. Time for the NUJ to start taking its code of conduct seriously?
http://twitter.com/afclhoratio/status/118721695174508544 June Hall

RT @leftfootfwd: The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists http://t.co/Vuz7J1vU
Robert the crip

Well said sir…..
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/10/steve-coogan-newsnight-phone-hacking-daily-mail-leveson-inquiry/ Coogan: “If the Daily Mail went to the wall tomorrow I’d be delighted” | Left Foot Forward

[...] The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists – Rick Coyle, September 23rd [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/11/john-witherow-sunday-times-joint-committee-on-privacy-and-injunctions-31-10-11/ Sunday Times Editor: Newspapers take the PCC “very seriously” – Really??? | Left Foot Forward

[...] The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists – Rick Coyle, September 23rd [...]
http://twitter.com/stedevine1965/status/148375864252432385 Stephen Devine

The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists: http://t.co/z8i7AwLI
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/09/look-left-23-09-11/ Look Left – “Six weeks to save the euro” warns Osborne | Left Foot Forward

[...] The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists – Rick Coyle, [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2011/12/richard-branson-cuddly-union-buster/ Exposed: Richard Branson the cuddly union-buster | Left Foot Forward

[...] The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists – Rick Coyle, September 23rd [...]
http://www.leftfootforward.org/2012/02/paul-dacre-daily-mail-leveson-inquiry/ Dacre recalled to Leveson over Grant ‘mendacious’ claim | Left Foot Forward

[...] The Daily Mail’s poisonous lies must be fought by all trade unionists – Rick Coyle, September 23rd [...]