THE STIRRER AND BOB PIPER

15-12-2006

It's been a mixed week for Bob Piper. The Sandwell councillor wascaught up in a controversy over his racially insensitive David Cameron satire, but he's persuaded colleagues to introduce the first “no casino” policy in the country. Oh yes, and he's got the hump with The Stirrer.

The reason for Bob's unhappiness with us isn't due to the fact that we broke the story about his anti-Tory "black and white minstrel spoof."

We think he recognises that this was proper journalism, and led to an important debate even if that was personally painful for him.

No, his beef is that we ran a background article, profiling some of the more controversial moments from his career (check it out here). Stirrer editor Adrian Goldberg spoke sympathetically to Bob on Sunday afternoon before that piece was published and - as he details on the messageboard - used theword “mate”five times.

After that he didn't think it was very “matey” of us to drag up his old misdemeanours, especially as they have been seized on by political opponents. The implication of his attack is the The Stirrer is a false friend who can't be trusted.

That's his opinion and he's entitled to it, but we disagree. The article which offended him actually praises his blog for being outspoken and witty; what's more its contents can hardly have been unknown to hisenemies.

Does Bob think we should have asked his permission before publication? I certainly hope not, and perhaps on reflection he will see it in a different light in a few days time. We believe we were simply helping our readers to understand more fully a "man in the news."

It's all part of our service - which is to providea unique news and comment service for ourarea.

Ina similarway, a few days earlier, we exclusively forecast - quite correctly - that Sandwell would become the first local authority in the country to ban new casinos (see it here). That initiative, for which we have considerable sympathy, was championed by none other than Bob Piper.

The Stirrer's ethos is to be free and fearless. We want to champion the best of the West Midlands and criticise the worst.

As a media source that champions the underdog and shows a true “indy” spirit, we reckon we've got more in common with Mr Piper than he would currently care to admit.