There is a friend of mine, who if forced to try and present certain dismal situations in a more positive light than they deserve, is often heard to say "The problem is you see..... you just can't polish a turd". Newham Borough Council, through the medium of this article, appear to have managed to varnish their's.
It is an incredible piece of spin, one that Alastair Campbell would have been proud of, but I wonder if the good residents of Stratford would recognise their own home town from this description - especially as many of them have been written, or even photographed, out of the description.
The article has a photo with evidence of 3 white residents within the cafe, probably 4 non-white outside - strange photo for an area promoting cultural diversity, and no mention of the social problems of poor education and long term unemployment, which was swept under the carpet, but funniest of all, London Transport described as 'fast and fantastic' - I had to re-set my irony meter.
I need to re-read the chapters, but Part 2 would seem to be about the claiming, manufacturing & presenting of identity through language and associations.
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