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Adam Price MP

In Monday’s Independent Newspaper, reporter Genevieve Roberts in an article entitled “MP attacked by youths as he delivers presents” wrote:

“A prominent gay MP needed stitches after he was attacked by a gang as he delivered balloons to his parents for their 50th wedding anniversary. Adam Price, the Plaid Cymru MP for Carmarthen East and Dinefwr, and a friend were treated in hospital after the assault by four youths in Worcester on Saturday.

“Mr Price’s spokeswoman, Heledd Fychan, said he received facial cuts and was unable to attend the party. “A gang of youths set upon him randomly. They had no idea who he was. It was an unprovoked attack. He is a bit battered and bruised and has a black eye, but no broken bones.” She said that while Mr Price, 40, and his friend were walking to the party, some youths were being cheeky. “He didn’t respond,” she said. “But then the group of youths started hitting him and his friend in broad daylight.”

“A police spokesman said: “Mr Price and his friend were taken to hospital for treatment. Four male suspects were arrested.” He said the attack took place at 5.10pm on Saturday, near Brown’s restaurant in Worcester.

“Richard Everton, the owner of the restaurant, said: “It’s disgraceful really. Let’s hope the gang get everything they should get.”

I would like to apologize on behalf of the Independent for this shoddy piece of reporting which made a totally irrelevant reference to the sexuality of a victim of an unprovoked assault. As I have pointed out in my letter to the Independent’s news editor (below), their own report states that it was a random attack, and that the attackers had no idea of the identity of the person they were attacking. So where does the “gay MP” epithet fit into their report, other than to suggest – when the evidence was to the contrary – that the attack was because of Adam’s sexuality?

Would we refer to the Independent’s news editor as “Heterosexual editor Oliver Wright who yesterday had his car stolen” or to “Lesbian reporter Genevieve Roberts who was a victim of credit card fraud”? I have no idea of, nor do I care about the sexuality of these two people. They should be equally uninterested in the sexuality of others, unless it is central to a story.

It’s sad that even a so-called “quality” newspaper such as the Independent cannot resist the temptation to insert irrelevancies into its reporting of a pretty mundane story in order to try and catch the waning attention of its readers.

Sir/Madam,

I refer to your article: “MP attacked by youths as he delivers presents”.

The nonsensical inclusion of the victim’s sexuality in the first line of this article could be expected from the Sun or Mirror, but from the Independent I hope for something more mature and considered.

How ridiculous it would appear if the first paragraph read:

“A prominent heterosexual MP needed stitches after he was attacked by a gang as he delivered balloons to his parents for their 50th wedding anniversary”

So why is it less ridiculous to refer to “A prominent gay MP”?

Are you perhaps claiming that that the attack on Adam Price was in some way related to his sexuality? Yet you state that the attackers could not have known it as “They had no idea who he was. It was an unprovoked attack”. You cannot have it both ways. Or do you have scene of crime evidence that you are choosing not to print? In which case you should be making a statement to the police.

I believe you owe Adam Price an apology.

Jeremy Clulow

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