Here/not here

One of my international readers, who takes a keen interest in British politics, unearthed this letter (below) in the recent release of documents from the National Archives. Clearly, it’s a document that had to be kept under wraps for 23 years (Is it a 20 year rule now?) So, good old Photoshop. When Photoshop became a wee bit notorious, Labour made a bit of hay over a 48-sheet poster of Cameron which appeared on our streets in some election or other. When you want to show somebody’s face at that magnification, you’ve got to have Photoshop! Not a pimple to be seen! But before the days of Photoshop it took more effort. I remember a leaflet from the 1970 general election  delivered in the Haltemprice (East Yorkshire) constituency of Tory MP Patrick Wall. He appeared in a photo to be standing with a group of other men inspecting some road improvements. Except he didn’t appear to be all that engaged. And unlike the others, he didn’t have a shadow. I suspect at the time that he was probably present at this historic event, but nobody could be bothered to take a picture. Which tells me his contribution wasn’t so historic after all. But MPs hate not to be seen in their constituencies. This wasn’t always true. Once upon a time, constituencies were simply sources of voting fodder and MPs were remote—literally in many cases. Churchill comes to mind. All of this predates fake news! At least we Brits don't employ doubles.

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