David Cameron’s sweary outburst on the radio this morning has the unmistakable hallmarks of a media strategy about it. In an attempt to sound “edgy” – and presumably because the Absolute Radio Breakfast Show hits the numbskull demographic that Cameron’s advisers want to hit this week - the 42-year-old, Eton-educated Tory leader was heard to say the word ”twat”. (Audio here.)
The whole thing – and a second outburst in which Cameron says the public are “pissed off” about politicians - sounds spookily scripted. And “twat” is used in relation to Twitter - surely a deliberate calculation, since it generates comment on Twitter itself and among the mainstream media, who remain mysteriously obsessed with the social networking platform.
Problematically, Dave’s “people” appear to have underestimated the general offensiveness of the word “twat”. The Times has already published a stern comment piece describing his “puerile language” as “pathetic”. Indeed, it’s difficult to see how swearing on the radio when kids are likely to be listening could possibly be seen as a good idea. Tory aides have been forced on to the defensive to claim that “twat” is not defined as a swear word under radio guidelines. Which, of course, is complete nonsense. Can you imagine the furore if Chris Moyles or Jonathan Ross had said it?
The obvious deduction one has to make from all of this is that David Cameron just isn’t very bright. Using fruity language on a laddish radio programme might have seemed like a good idea back at Tory HQ. But actually, in the cold light of day, it just makes you look like a twat.
Added 4pm: Subsequent comments from Cameron and his press secretary indicate he wasn’t actually aware that “twat” could be seen as offensive. So, for his benefit, here’s a list of offensive phrases he might want to avoid in future. “Twat”, it should be noted, is especially disliked by “British Asian females and women from some other groups”.
The Conversation {2 comments}
I personally think DC apologising has just given this story ‘legs’. No-one with a treble-digit IQ seriously regards the word ‘twat’ as having its original meaning, any more than they would the word ‘berk’. Both were originally ‘taboo offensive’ but the world – and especially common English usage – has moved on. Unfortunately I note that the Times has its pedantic and linguistic head firmly stuck up its bottom; you’d think they’d have had more sense. I expect a flurry of comments in the Saturday Feedback section.
I also think that we should henceforth regard ‘twat’ as a useful synonym for all those saddos whose lives seem to have been taken over by Twitter (Sarah Brown and Stephen Fry spring to mind).
Pretty much exactly my thoughts. I described it elsewhere on the web as Cameron’s attempt at a Mondeo Man moment.
The sheer crapness of the swearing tells me this was scripted for the show’s listeners from the get-go. Another reason Cameron is rubbish and over-rated – Blair would never have made this mistake.
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