Media Blunder over Former MP Watch Theft
08 August 2011 by Paul Rhoades
Some readers may have come across a story which broke over the weekend regarding former Scunthorpe MP Elliot Morley and the theft of a watch from him while in prison.
I briefly summarised the article on the VisitScunthorpe.com web site today, questioning the judgement of any one wearing such a high value item in prison.
Within minutes of publishing, I received a statement from Ian Cawsey, former MP for Brigg and Goole which stated on behalf of Mr Morley that no such theft had taken place.
Here is the statement from Ian in full:
Hi Paul
This story is not true. Eliiot called me yesterday and asked if I'd seen the story in the Mail on Sunday (I hadn't) but the fact is he's never owned a Rolex ever, let alone take it into prison. Nor has he been assaulted or frogmarched to his cell and asked to handover his watch as claimed in the MoS article. There has, apparently, been as issue in the prison with some prisoners wearing such watches but never involving Elliot.
No doubt someone got a nice fee from the Mail on Sunday and they didn't check whether it was true before publishing.
Happy to set the record straight.
Best wishes
Ian
Just goes to show that regardless of what you read in the main stream press, it can not always be accepted as being either true or accurate.
I'd like to apologise unreservedly for any undue distress caused by the publication of the original story which has now been retracted in full. I would like to reiterate my earlier appeal for information to go in the e-book I am currently working on which I intend to be a balanced and factual account of Elliot's political career both in Hull and Scunthorpe and would welcome readers stories telling of their involvement with the town's former MP.
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Comments
Hi Bernard,
Thanks for your observation on that though I'll take it as a complement (sort of I think!)
Does this mean Mail on Sunday can't boast a 'Trusted Source' rosette like the Scunthorpe Telegrapgh proudly awards it's own stories.
If it hadn't been of such a serious nature I was going to make a nice black rosette with a Jolly Roger in the middle and "Untrustworthy Source" emblazoned across it in big authoritative capital letters.
Decided to use Shoo's photo of Elliot instead.
Surely a bit rich to restrict any preaching to just the main stream press?! More so to perhaps imply that we can always accept what we read, in all other media and community forums, as being either true or accurate! Lols
Hi Bill,
As you quite rightly point out, its very difficult to verify or "trust" any source, mainstream or otherwise, particularly social media where there is no real way of verifying whats being said as and that quite often a single person can have multiple online identities, which inevitable means they just end up talking to them selves. What I will say is that when my mistake was pointed out to me it was quickly rectified.
You might find this article I wrote a when I first started the site of interest, I was questioning the establishment and the media both formal and informal back then (apologies for the format and lack of photo, it's been ported from the old database):
Thanks for the contribution to the group.
Ex lodger of convicted liar says naughty papers are lying.
Well done Visit Scunthorpe - is this your first scoop showing up the Mail on Sunday for printing a complete fabrication? Handled very sensibly by yourselves and Ian Cawsey, I hope this is a lesson to others!
Hi Scunny Boy,
Thanks for the nice message of support, and I hope you are enjoying the site.
If we do get things wrong then we try to correct the mistake as soon as possible, as we fit Visit Scunthorpe in around our day jobs then sometimes things go unanswered a little longer than I'd like, but sometimes that can't be helped.
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