The Tories still dont get it

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Howard's concerns over Doherty
Celebrities should teach kids to say no to drugs, says Mr Howard
Tory leader Michael Howard is urging pop stars and celebrities to be positive role models to children as he outlined his party's policies on drugs.

He said it was surprising that rock singer Pete Doherty should dominate the newspapers despite his alleged drug taking and recent time in jail.

"Here you have a man who takes drugs and gets locked up - yet ends up on the front pages," said Mr Howard.

He also said the Conservatives would move cannabis back to a class B drug.

Mr Howard also gave his support to Conservative MP Nigel Evans's Private Members Bill which would give drug dealers an automatic seven-year minimum sentence on their third hard drugs conviction.


Here you have a man who takes drugs and gets locked up - yet ends up on the front pages
Michael Howard

"Today, more than ever, we need responsible role models for our children - professional athletes prepared to say drugs are wrong, pop stars willing to say drugs aren't cool, actors who make clear that drugs ruin lives," said Mr Howard.

"Because we all know that youngsters are more influenced than ever before by the celebrities they see on TV, the musicians they listen to and who are featured in magazines.

"Some in the media give the impression that drug-taking is cool - is it any wonder that children believe this?

"I think many parents will have been rather surprised by the celebrity coverage given to Peter Doherty over the last month."

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/4294011.stm

Ahhh yes. Election season again; let's see how the two main parties of this fine country outbid each other in an orgy of "THEY ARE SELLING DRUGS TO OUR KIDS! THROW THEM IN JAIL AND EAT THE PADLOCK!"

I'll have a pint of lager, Michael, you ****ING ignorant hypocrite

TBH, Howards comments are the funniest thing I've read all day:lol:. I genuinely find his idiocy hilarious.

Maybe I should steer clear of you lot, coz you always pound me into the ground with your extreme knowledge of politics and all that, but I can't see anything wrong with it. Surely it's a good thing to teach kids that drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes, aren't "cool"?

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"Here you have a man who takes drugs and gets locked up - yet ends up on the front pages," said Mr Howard.

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Um...hello? Is it really a revelation to him that bad behaviour by famous people sells papers?:lol:

Rich :¬)

Probably not, sounds like he's making a point, and one that should be changed. The tabloids shouldn't be able to print that sort of stuff on the front page...

So you're saying that free speech is bad...? Anyway - don't blame the papers - if it didn't sell they wouldn't do it so if you want to change it you need to change society (and good look with that!)

Edit: And anyway - Mr Howard is only doing the same thing - telling (or should that be selling?) people what they want to hear... Some real politics / something to differentiate them from the same old kaka would be nice.

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Originally Posted by Allen

Maybe I should steer clear of you lot, coz you always pound me into the ground with your extreme knowledge of politics and all that, but I can't see anything wrong with it. Surely it's a good thing to teach kids that drugs, including alcohol and cigarettes, aren't "cool"?

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Well said.

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Originally Posted by Vaul

Well said.

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Tell me, what do kids do when grown-ups tell them not to do something?

My Dad told me not to smoke, drummed it into me it was a mugs game, told me that its expensive, your clothes stink, your breath stinks. Stopped me smoking, I'm 24, and have never smoked a ciggy.

If done correctly, parental guidance works. Or would you disagree? Your parents never tought you right from wrong? Of course they did.

Well, my dad said similar things Vaul... and look at me...


Screw it right, prople take drugs because they are fun or they are bored or whatever, there are a million reasons why somebody might but I seriously doubt that anybody takes drugs because "famous people" do.

Drugs is a cultural problem (if I was to belive its actually a problem) I dont think pop stars say no to drugs campaigning is gonna change things either, so why bother?

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Originally Posted by Vaul

My Dad told me not to smoke, drummed it into me it was a mugs game, told me that its expensive, your clothes stink, your breath stinks. Stopped me smoking, I'm 24, and have never smoked a ciggy.

If done correctly, parental guidance works. Or would you disagree? Your parents never tought you right from wrong? Of course they did.

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Ditto here, never smoked a ciggy in my life, never needed to, never wanted to, mainly due to what my mom and dad drummed into me.


I see your point, it could have spurred me into thinking oh, well he said dont do it, so I must do it to be a rebel, but once he told me that my nan nearly died because of it, because she stunk like a ****house and that she spent 50 quid a week on it. The hard and honest truth it was, maybe your telling your kids the wrong things?

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Originally Posted by Swafeman

Ditto here, never smoked a ciggy in my life, never needed to, never wanted to, mainly due to what my mom and dad drummed into me.

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Exactly. If done correctly, it works and the message gets across. Simple and effective.

The point is that the tabloids are clearly NOT saying that Doherty is any kind of role model. The whole point of all their stories is that he's a messed up wreck who can't stay out of trouble. To act as if they're somehow glamourising drugtaking is absurd.

There's a good summation of the whole Doherty/tabloid affair in the Private Eye this week. Have a look folks, free at Mr W.H. Smiths Magazine Library;).

Rich :¬)

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Originally Posted by Rave

The point is that the tabloids are clearly NOT saying that Doherty is any kind of role model. The whole point of all their stories is that he's a messed up wreck who can't stay out of trouble. To act as if they're somehow glamourising drugtaking is absurd.

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It might on some, but it wont wash with me, I never thought the Libertines were any good, I dont class him anywhere near being a role model, infact, from all this hard drugs business it just makes me think more and more hes ****.

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Originally Posted by Rave

The point is that the tabloids are clearly NOT saying that Doherty is any kind of role model. The whole point of all their stories is that he's a messed up wreck who can't stay out of trouble. To act as if they're somehow glamourising drugtaking is absurd.

There's a good summation of the whole Doherty/tabloid affair in the Private Eye this week. Have a look folks, free at Mr W.H. Smiths Magazine Library;).

Rich :¬)

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So! Your one of those loafers that block the stands and never buy anything, I just dont understand why they dont put a loitering notice up and charge you lot with vagrancy..... :p

:lol: Private Eye is the one magazine I actually do buy.