The McCanns, journalism, spin and politics

With the mainstream British media remaining generally sympathetic to the McCanns, it is fascinating to see links with the political world emerging

The Observer reports that the McCanns have been in touch with Foreign Secretary David Miliband. Now

they are hoping he might help head off any decision to lay charges against the McCanns on the basis of what one relative branded as 'repulsive' suggestions they were involved in their daughter's disappearance.

Meanwhile, the Portugese press have had a pop at ours. According to the Sunday Telegraph,

In the tabloid Correio da Manha, columnist Octavio Ribeiro takes aim at the British press pack to make a wider point about national characteristics. He says the media has been overly enthusiastic in believing the McCanns’ story from the beginning.

“The behaviour of the English press in the Maddy case is the symptom of a serious disease. The way that the mass of British papers ­ and not just the tabloids ­ militantly kept to a fixed idea of what had happened, goes against the principles of good journalism.

“I remember the hysteria about the ‘secret dossier’ that was the basis of the decision to invade Iraq. And Blair: safe, sound and popular too after it was revealed as a deception.

“The way that Maddie has until now been treated by the English press shows that any agile press spokesman has an easy job.”

I don't think I could have said it any better myself.