#Mandy4Strictly « Labour Uncut

Posts Tagged ‘#Mandy4Strictly’

Mandelson tells friends he would love to do Strictly

24/11/2010, 08:35:11 AM

Scandal! Peter Mandelson has told close friends that, contrary to reports, he has never been approached to appear on Strictly Come Dancing.

According to a close confidente of the granddaddy of the Labour movement, if Peter were to be invited to trip the lacquered boards he would readily accept.

This news directly contradicts assurances given to Uncut by the BBC that the dark lord of the dance had been given a chance to embrace his inner Widders.

Something here is amiss. Someone is being economical with the actualité.

Whom does one trust? Lord M, renowned the world over for his candour. Or the BBC? Less an aunty, these days, than a punch-drunk uncle.

Uncut is on the case. Our intrepid journalistic team will leave no stone unturned. We have a source close to the heart of the controversy. We shall call him Brucethroat. We will follow the sequins.

Uncut vows to get to the bottom of Strictlygate. There will be no whitewash at White City…

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BBC rules that Strictly will stay a socialist-free zone. No Christmas Mandelson.

22/11/2010, 10:54:24 AM

From: Kate Toft, BBC

To: Dan Hodges, Labour Uncut

Sent: Fri, 19 November, 2010 16:50:27

Subject:

Dear Dan,

I’m responding to your email to Daniel Maynard and your question around political balance on our entertainment show Strictly Come Dancing.

The BBC’s obligation is “due impartiality”. Due impartiality is defined in the BBC’s Editorial Guidelines: “The term ‘due’ means that the impartiality must be adequate and appropriate to the output, taking account of the subject and nature of the content, the likely audience expectation and any signposting that may influence that expectation.”

Strictly is not a political programme it is an entertainment show. The “subject and nature of the content” and “the audience expectation” is rather different.

Both Ann Widdecombe and Vince Cable are huge fans of the show and of ballroom dancing, as is Peter Mandelson, although he declined an offer to take part in the show.

I have no comment to make on reports that Labour MPs are planning to table a House of Commons motion criticising the BBC, if indeed these reports are true.

Regards,

Kate Toft
Head of Communications, Entertainment & Comedy

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Cometh the hour: the nation needs Mandelson on Strictly Come Dancing

17/11/2010, 10:00:11 AM

Today, Uncut launches our campaign to end a cruel injustice: “Mandy4Strictly”.

Widders. Cable. Both invited by the national broadcaster to grace (we use the term in its loosest sense), the stage of Strictly Come Dancing.

But there is, it seems, to be no place for the people’s party. No shadow cabinet member, nor Labour back bencher, will be slapping on the fake tan, or donning the sequins. At least not in public. Strictly, is to remain a Labour free zone.

Uncut will not stand idly by. We have rights. We were not born in chains. We choose to tango, jive and rumba on our feet, rather than live on our knees.

There is one man with poise, grace and elegance to lead us to our Canaan, (The Tower Ballroom, Blackpol). That man is former Labour party communications director, European commissioner, secretary of state for business and Uncut contributor, Peter Mandelson.

For too long he has lived in the darkness. Now is the time for him to step into the light. Tony Blair said his mission would not be complete until the Labour party had learned to love Peter. Uncut’s mission will not be complete until the entire nation takes him to its heart.

Write. Phone. Lobby. Petition. Spread the word. “Mandy4Strictly”.

We put the BBC on notice. We are the people who forged the welfare state. Rebuilt a country bloodied but unbowed by nazi bombs.

Mandy shall have his moment. We shall have our moment. We will not be denied.

Mandy4Strictly. Yes we can-can.

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