Telegraph obituary headline describes titan of Welsh politics as ‘saviour of a heifer’
A pro-devolution campaigner and titan of Welsh politics was described as the “saviour” of a “heifer” in the headline of his obituary in the Telegraph.
The right-wing London-based paper chose not to refer to the most enduring legacy of Lord Elystan Morgan in the title of the article to mark his passing, aged 88, and instead trivially focused on how he saved a cow from being slaughtered.
The former Labour MP and minster, who was also a candidate for Plaid Cymru at four general elections, led the campaign for devolution in 1979.
On the news of his passing, the First Minister, Mark Drakeford said: “My thoughts are today with Lord Elystan-Morgan’s family following the sad news of his death – a fierce and dedicated campaigner for devolution, who’s tireless work laid the foundations for the Senedd we have today.”
Plaid Cymru MP Ben Lake also paid tribute.
“Ceredigion has today lost one of her brightest sons. Lord Elystan Morgan was a rare figure in the political world: a statesman of intellect and integrity,” he said.
However, the Telegraph went with a different take, with a headline that said: “Lord Elystan-Morgan, lawyer who became a Labour minister and the saviour of a prize heifer – obituary”.
‘Childish nonsense’
Journalist Andy Bell responded to the obituary headline, saying “Respect is what is needed in an article ‘in memory of’, not childish nonsense like this by the @Telegraph.”
The Telegraph article went on to say: “At Westminster he voiced scepticism over Europe, and pressed for Britain to pull out of the Concorde project.
“Assured by ministers that the Anglo-French supersonic airliner would not cause any ‘unusual noise problems’, he was appalled when a test flight over the Irish Sea in 1970 broke constituents’ windows and caused a cow to miscarry.
“Another cow – a heifer – gave Morgan the biggest headlines of his career. In 1966 Pride Moreta of Thorn, owned by a Cardigan butcher, won the supreme championship at Smithfield.
“Under Show rules she was to be slaughtered for Christmas beef, but thousands of television viewers declared her ‘too beautiful to die’.
“Her owner offered to give her away if the Show commuted the sentence, and Morgan secured a reprieve for her from the Minister of Agriculture, Fred Peart.”
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That revolting rag just sinks lower and lower as each day passes. Clearly it is courting the hateful jingoists that voted Brexit, harassed a crying German girl and abused black footballers.
it’s history of genuflecting to genocidal fascist regimes in the 20th century is also not forgotten
Can “brexiteers” actually read? Most seem not to have heard about the ongoing trade and employment disaster.
The Telegraph article went on to say: “At Westminster he (Lord Elystan Morgan) voiced scepticism over Europe…….” It’s not only Brexiteers who cannot read.
Oh we can read. Unlike Brexiteers we can process context though. Whether he was a fellow quitter or not, he was still given an obituary by a hateful Torygraph hack
I think the comment about the heifer has been misconstrued. Anyway, whether you like it or not Wales voted to leave the EU, it’s now a fait accompli.
Yes “misconstrued”
The Torygraph – a far-right lie factory.
Can you imagine the hurt his family would have felt if they’d read that insulting nonsense, let alone the sheer offensiveness to Wales generally?
Bird cage carpet!
The important thing was Elystan’s last contribution – explaining Dominion Status for Wales – see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-RI89GrVPQA&t=1s
Rich and persuasive voice in the Welsh wilderness, where people who want Indy often don’t know how to get Indy, and don’t try very hard to work it out.
Style note – it is common and usual for obituary writers to find something endearing or humorous to say about the departed. Raising a gentle smile when a man has died might help a family – or nation – when grieving.
True, however John Winton (pen name) and Edward Bishop would be ashamed of what this paper has become…
Style note. This revolting hatchet job is certainly not endearing or humorous.
I would not pi55 on its author if he was on fire. Although I might if he wasn’t.
Telegraph is a journalistic Herpe we would be better rid of
The point is that the writer of the obituary deliberately chose to make no reference to Morgan’s part in the campaign for devolution and talked instead about a cow — in an obituary!
Nothing surprises me regarding the Telegraph. It’s the cesspit of journalism.