Just finished reading ‘Stick It Up Your Punter’ by Peter Chippindale and Chris Horrie – a fantastic book on the history of The Sun newspaper and the impact it’s had on modern journalism. It’s absolutely hilarious.

From Larry Lamb to Kelvin MacKenzie, the book charts the rise and rise of the paper from the late 60s, clearly outlining Murdoch’s strategy to monopolize the media of the working classes. I haven’t a clue how much is true, so it perfectly represents the subject it covers.  

It’s also of personal interest to me because, besides telling me how Page 3 was invented, it also describes the political history of the UK and how Murdoch’s papers curried favour with the ruling parties, moving from Labour to the Conservatives and back to Labour in 1997. Sounds familiar?

Back in the 60s my dad used to be a printing compositor working in Covent Garden. I’ve never really understood how someone who once benefited so much from the trade unions could have become so pro-Thatcher in later years. Reading this book, I think the penny has finally dropped.