Daily Mail 'hatchet job' on Falinge

Goverment minister James Purnell visits Falinge

Daily Mail journalist Tom Rawstone is very late off the mark with his 'hatchet job' on the Falinge area of Rochdale. Rawstone regurgitates news that Falinge is the "sickest place in Britain" in a lengthy piece. Rawstone has gone to the trouble of seeking out and interviewing a local Congolese couple on benefits to add to the story but the picture editor of the Mail Online has clearly lost the plot choosing to illustrate the story with a photo of tower blocks in Manchester!

Rawstone uses the tired old hack of juxtaposition: this time of a supersize flat screen TV in Celestine Sejemani’s flat with the fact he is collecting incapacity benefit. Rawstone continues to lay it on thick with his description of the families living accomodation: "The family live in a neatly decorated three-bedroom flat, which is dominated by the massive Philips colour TV". It would appear Rawstone has a problem with sick people watching TV, however in this case, Mr Sejemani explains: "I couldn’t see a small one".

Only at the foot of the article does Rawstone explain that Mr Sejemani fled the war-torn Republic of Congo in 2001 after his father and sister were murdered for their ethnic origins.

His eyesight suffering because of the lack of light in his cell during a year in a Congolese jail.

Mr Sejemani, who is a trained mechanic, said he wants to work, "but unfortunately I have vision impairment as a result of being in the prison with no light".

Rawstone also does a skilful hatchet job on Mr Sejemani's long-term partner and carer, effectively scorning the additional allowance paid to her to help look after him, and the tax credits and child benefits and paid-for council accommodation the family receive. He totals a sum of £12,000 for the family with three children and presents it as an unacceptable burden.

A resident of Falinge who wishes to remain anonymous said of the report: "Perhaps Mr Rawstone would like to try living on £12,000 with three children whilst being well, never mind whilst sick! And even without his eyesight problems, if they want to watch a large TV why should they not just because he is sick?"