Radio 1’s politically-correct Pogues U-turn

Radio 1 controller Andy Parfitt has announced a U-turn on his policy to censor Christmas hit Fairy Tale of New York by the Pogues. Yesterday, the decision was announced to bleep out the word "faggott" from the 20-year-old song as members of the audience might find it "offensive". The word is sung by the late Kirsty MacColl in one line of her duet with Pogues frontman and celebrated drinker Shane MacGowan (pictured): "You scumbag, you maggot/ You cheap lousy faggot/ Happy Christmas your arse/ I pray God it's our last."
 
Parfitt said that after "careful consideration" he had decided the decision to censor was wrong, saying: "While we would never condone prejudice of any kind, we know our audiences are smart enough to distinguish between maliciousness and creative freedom." Reaction to the original decision was particularly scathing as Radio 1 has played the song unedited since 1987, and sister station Radio 2 was intending to play the full version this year as usual.
 
Kirsty MacColl's mother Jean was quick to enter the debate, saying: "I think it's pathetic, I really do. It's absolute nonsense." She also pointed out that the line is sung in character. Her singer daughter died in a speedboat accident in Mexico in 2000.
 
Last year, Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles caused outrage by using the word "gay" to describe a ringtone he didn't like. BBC governors defended the mouthy presenter, saying that the word had changed its meaning for young people and signified something "rubbish" or "lame". ·