Image followed 'fine tradition' of political satire

The editor of Isle of Man Newspapers has dismissed an accusation of 'cheap and nasty gutter journalism' over its treatment of a member of the House of Keys.

East Douglas MHK Chris Robertshaw today lashed out at the paper's decision to run a picture of Onchan member Zac Hall, lampooned as a parrot.

The front page splash illustrated a report on Mr Hall's extensive plagiarising in a speech opposing same sex marriage.

The article also highlighted other Keys contributions from Mr Hall, when he failed to acknowledge the source of his material. 

Mr Robertshaw described the piece as 'vindictive' and accused editor Richard Butt of 'shaming' Mr Hall in order to discredit his view.

Mr Butt has rejected the suggestion an agenda drove the article - which he says followed a long tradition of satirical newspaper cartoons: