[Andy McDandy]

Johnson said that higher levels of obesity among children was the result of people being told that there were “paedophiles everywhere”.

And who was it who told them that? Murdoch media, that's who. That Rebecca Whatsherface of the News of the World was obsessed with them. So much that it led to the Brass Eye "Paedogeddon" spoof.

Murdochism needs a boogeyman. Dangerous dogs, hippies, trade unions etc all served in the role, but none were completely beyond the pale. They were either too obvious, or had a good support base despite the Sun's best efforts. Paedophilia though, that was a masterstroke. Nobody could seriously try to defend it*, and it appealed as much to those wanting to protect children as it did to those looking for a weirdo to pulverise.

*Unless you're Baroness Claire Fox. Or Rod Lidl.

[Youngian]

Speaking of Brass Eye my electricity company supplied me for free for most of Sunday because the grid is incapable of transferring or storing excess wind generated power on a very windy day. Heavy electricity is now a thing.

[mattomac]

This was presented as an exclusive….