Newspaper exonerated!

+Here’s two headlines from the paper of record, the Daily Express (11/02/24):
'Game on!' Reform being tipped to 'shock the political world' with by-election victory’
On what ’tip’ is this shock result predicted? The only pollster quoted in the article had this to say:
‘Respected pollster Andrew Hawkins told Express.co.uk: "I don't think Reform can win Wellingborough but I do think they can beat the Conservatives."’

Well, that’s a bit of a let-down for Reform UK isn’t it? Anyway, here’s another Express misleading headline:
Brianna Ghey's mum Esther breaks silence on trans row whipped up by Keir Starmer
The key quote in the story is:

‘Esther Ghey, who was in the chamber to attend a debate on mindfulness with her MP Charlotte Nichols, broke her silence with a comment on her Peace & Mind UK Facebook page. She said: "I don't wish to comment on reports of wording or comments recently made. My focus is on creating a positive change and a lasting legacy for Brianna.’ And later we hear from: ‘Brianna's father Peter Spooner [who] yesterday called on Mr Sunak to apologise for the "degrading" and "dehumanising" comments.’ (emphasis added) Hence Esther Grey wasn’t actually 'breaking her silence' on a row ‘whipped up by Keir Starmer.’

I’m not convinced that some of the contributors (I won’t call them journalists) at the Express understand English, no matter how proud of being English they are. But the key point here is with attention spans in rapid decline many people will read the headline and nothing else—it’s like well, that’s just what I thought and I’m not going to bother reading the rest of it. I must emphasise I don’t say this in a condescending way, because I find myself doing the same thing often enough, not least with headlines about yet another Starmer u-turn. How many times do you want to read the actual story to reinforce your opinion?  The thing with these Express headlines though is that they are deliberately misleading, designed to reinforce existing prejudices rather than invite any further questions. ‘Grab a headline’ is now more important than ever (not least for a dying press). Yes, I pick on the Express (it is an egregious example) but this behaviour is common across the media, and especially so in response to the new rabid ‘news’ channels with whom the legacy outlets think they are in competition with. It’s a zero sum game and it’s been fully engaged.
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+Retired Admiral Lord West has remarked on the failure of our aircraft carrier HMS Prince of Wales to sail to take part in a NATO exercise saying that this is why we need two aircraft carriers (in case one fails). The earlier departure of HMS Queen Elizabeth was also cancelled due to some mechanical issue. So Admiral Lord West is clearly wrong. This episode tells us that we need four aircraft carriers, just like we have four Trident subs. Everything in the MoD’s realm should be multiplied four times, to be on the safe side. And then doubled again. After all, Putin The Great is lurking off Spurn Point, just waiting to take control of Withernsea.