Our thanks to Graham for this. He writes:

“A Daily Star masterclass in narrative framing.

Apparently the central antagonist isn’t the repeat offender with a growing list of convictions, it’s the “taxman.”  

Curious branding, in an era where most workplaces nudge staff toward gender-neutral language; “tax authority” or simply HM Revenue and Customs, would seem the more appropriate terminology.

The details are more interesting than the headline spin:

26 years old, six convictions, 11 offences (over half for theft/attempted theft); On police bail at the time (for something conveniently “undisclosed”); Initial denial only revised when CCTV said otherwise. All indicators of personal responsibility. 

We’re also told the “financial pressure” comes from tax debts tied to a former business — which would, presumably have been her own responsibility. And yet the headline framing leans toward “driven to it,” with a vaguely personified “taxman”. 

The result is an inventive piece of storytelling. It shows how wording alone can tilt where readers place responsibility, framing accountability into a fictionalised, top-hatted, Dickensian antagonist, drafted in from the Victorian era to take the blame.

Outcome: £162 fine + costs + compensation — no jail time.”

—————————-

If you’d like email notifications of our new blog pieces, please enter your email address in the box near the top of the right-hand column and click ‘Subscribe’.

We shall shortly be posting this piece on our X channel.

Our YouTube channel is here.