Row Over Hindley Image In Beijing

9:03am UK, Monday August 25, 2008

Downing Street and the London Mayor have condemned a video showing a Myra Hindley portrait after the footage was shown in Beijing.

The picture of the Moors murderer appeared in a Visit London promotional video shown at London House, where the Prime Minister, Mayor and British Olympic team celebrated the handover of the Games.

The three-minute film was supposed to highlight the capital's cultural heritage ahead of London 2012.

The notorious piece of art by Marcus Harvey was seen during a segment of the video filmed in a gallery where it was on display.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The use of this image is in extremely poor taste and it should not have been used to promote London."

And speaking from Beijing, Sky News' chief political correspondent Jon Craig said that a senior Government source told him: "It is a total disgrace.

"This proud night for Britain has been sullied by this grotesque representation of London.

"Clearly whoever was responsible must be found and fired immediately."

A spokesman for Boris Johnson said the Mayor was "deeply disturbed".

But Visit London described the reaction as "out of proportion".

In a statement it said: "The video is not for general public use and has been used many times over the last few years to show to the tourism trade.

"There has never been a complaint made about the video up until this point.

"However, if any offence has been caused, we will withdraw it from use with immediate effect."

The painting, made from children's handprints, was vandalised while on display in the Royal Academy in 1997.

Hindley was jailed for life along with her lover Ian Brady for the murders of four children between 1963 and 1964. She died in 2002.

Ambersuz wrote:9:03am UK, Monday August 25, 2008

Downing Street and the London Mayor have condemned a video showing a Myra Hindley portrait after the footage was shown in Beijing.

The picture of the Moors murderer appeared in a Visit London promotional video shown at London House, where the Prime Minister, Mayor and British Olympic team celebrated the handover of the Games.

The three-minute film was supposed to highlight the capital's cultural heritage ahead of London 2012.

The notorious piece of art by Marcus Harvey was seen during a segment of the video filmed in a gallery where it was on display.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "The use of this image is in extremely poor taste and it should not have been used to promote London."

And speaking from Beijing, Sky News' chief political correspondent Jon Craig said that a senior Government source told him: "It is a total disgrace.

"This proud night for Britain has been sullied by this grotesque representation of London.

"Clearly whoever was responsible must be found and fired immediately."

A spokesman for Boris Johnson said the Mayor was "deeply disturbed".

But Visit London described the reaction as "out of proportion".

In a statement it said: "The video is not for general public use and has been used many times over the last few years to show to the tourism trade.

"There has never been a complaint made about the video up until this point.

"However, if any offence has been caused, we will withdraw it from use with immediate effect."

The painting, made from children's handprints, was vandalised while on display in the Royal Academy in 1997.

Hindley was jailed for life along with her lover Ian Brady for the murders of four children between 1963 and 1964. She died in 2002.

A proud moment then. Whatever next, a mosaic of all our child and serial killers...ummm that will make people come to London. Having said that it probably would if the morbid trips around PDL are anything to go by.

Is the UK doing this to show their history?

I'm sure they have other things to be proud of!!

Ambersuz wrote:Is the UK doing this to show their history?

I'm sure they have other things to be proud of!!

Amber this is an absolute bloody disgrace.. to have this evil womans face amongst promotions for the 2012 olympics...

Tosca wrote:

Ambersuz wrote:Is the UK doing this to show their history?

I'm sure they have other things to be proud of!!

Amber this is an absolute bloody disgrace.. to have this evil womans face amongst promotions for the 2012 olympics...

Who is responsible for that?

Tosca wrote:

Ambersuz wrote:Is the UK doing this to show their history?

I'm sure they have other things to be proud of!!

Amber this is an absolute bloody disgrace.. to have this evil womans face amongst promotions for the 2012 olympics...

I agree Tosca....she is without doubt among the most evil women to have walked this earth .