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| TV's Snow rejects 'poppy fascism' | TV's Snow rejects 'poppy fascism' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow has sparked controversy by refusing to wear a Remembrance Day poppy on air in protest at "poppy fascism". | Channel 4 newsreader Jon Snow has sparked controversy by refusing to wear a Remembrance Day poppy on air in protest at "poppy fascism". |
| Writing on a Channel 4 blog, Snow admitted the absence of a poppy on his lapel had prompted viewer complaints. | Writing on a Channel 4 blog, Snow admitted the absence of a poppy on his lapel had prompted viewer complaints. |
| He said he respected the armed forces and wore a poppy off-air but did not believe in wearing symbols on air. | He said he respected the armed forces and wore a poppy off-air but did not believe in wearing symbols on air. |
| The Royal British Legion said wearing a poppy was a voluntary gesture and Snow was entitled to his opinion. | The Royal British Legion said wearing a poppy was a voluntary gesture and Snow was entitled to his opinion. |
| Corporate communiations director Stuart Gendall said: "While we are extremely grateful for the support shown to us by all those in the public eye who wear a poppy in the two weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday, we see this as a voluntary gesture of support and would never prescribe when and how any member of the public wears one." | Corporate communiations director Stuart Gendall said: "While we are extremely grateful for the support shown to us by all those in the public eye who wear a poppy in the two weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday, we see this as a voluntary gesture of support and would never prescribe when and how any member of the public wears one." |
| There is a rather unpleasant breed of poppy fascism out there - 'He damned well must wear a poppy!' Jon Snow | There is a rather unpleasant breed of poppy fascism out there - 'He damned well must wear a poppy!' Jon Snow |
| The newsreader said he did not believe in wearing anything on air which represented any kind of statement. | The newsreader said he did not believe in wearing anything on air which represented any kind of statement. |
| He said: "I am begged to wear an Aids ribbon, a breast cancer ribbon, a Marie Curie flower... You name it, from the Red Cross to the RNIB, they send me stuff to wear to raise awareness, and I don't. | He said: "I am begged to wear an Aids ribbon, a breast cancer ribbon, a Marie Curie flower... You name it, from the Red Cross to the RNIB, they send me stuff to wear to raise awareness, and I don't. |
| "And in those terms, and those terms alone, I do not and will not wear a poppy. | "And in those terms, and those terms alone, I do not and will not wear a poppy. |
| "Additionally there is a rather unpleasant breed of poppy fascism out there - 'He damned well must wear a poppy!'. | "Additionally there is a rather unpleasant breed of poppy fascism out there - 'He damned well must wear a poppy!'. |
| "Well I do, in my private life, but I am not going to wear it or any other symbol on air." | "Well I do, in my private life, but I am not going to wear it or any other symbol on air." |
| Funds appeal | Funds appeal |
| Snow's comments come a day after a Christian lobby group sparked controversy by urging people to exchange the traditional red remembrance poppy for the "more Christian" white poppy. | Snow's comments come a day after a Christian lobby group sparked controversy by urging people to exchange the traditional red remembrance poppy for the "more Christian" white poppy. |
| Director of Ekklesia Jonathan Bartley said red poppies implied redemption through war, while white ones were created to symbolise peace. | Director of Ekklesia Jonathan Bartley said red poppies implied redemption through war, while white ones were created to symbolise peace. |
| HAVE YOUR SAY I feel rather sad Jon Snow prefers not to wear a poppy on air Alistair Walker, UK Send us your comments | |
| Meanwhile the Royal British Legion has said it needs almost £400m in public donations to support veterans over the next 15 years. | Meanwhile the Royal British Legion has said it needs almost £400m in public donations to support veterans over the next 15 years. |
| The charity is hoping to raise £26m of this from this year's Poppy Appeal. | The charity is hoping to raise £26m of this from this year's Poppy Appeal. |
| While the size of the ex-service community was set to decrease from its current 10.17 million to 7.55 million by 2020, the 85-plus age group of veterans would increase dramatically from 290,000 to 920,000 in 2020, an RBL report said. | While the size of the ex-service community was set to decrease from its current 10.17 million to 7.55 million by 2020, the 85-plus age group of veterans would increase dramatically from 290,000 to 920,000 in 2020, an RBL report said. |
| The 16-24 age group is also predicted to increase by 26%, from just under 300,000 currently to almost 375,000 by 2020. | The 16-24 age group is also predicted to increase by 26%, from just under 300,000 currently to almost 375,000 by 2020. |
| The British Legion provides a range of services to veterans, including grant-making to those in need to war pensions advice, counselling and job retraining, home and hospital visits, and the provision of nursing care. | The British Legion provides a range of services to veterans, including grant-making to those in need to war pensions advice, counselling and job retraining, home and hospital visits, and the provision of nursing care. |