All News is good news on day Blair steps down

Published on Sunday 24 June 2007 00:59

TONY Blair may have attacked the British media as a 'feral beast' obsessed by scandal and controversy, but a Scottish newspaper is marking his departure as Prime Minster by dedicating a full edition to nothing but good news stories.

The Edinburgh Evening News will celebrate "Good News Day" on Thursday, the day Gordon Brown takes over from Blair at 10 Downing Street. All of the paper's news, features and sport will be "happy, positive and uplifting".

A statement from the paper explained: "The News believes it's time to celebrate the good things in life."

It said that the issue will feature a special masthead on the front page renaming the paper 'The Edinburgh Evening Good News'.

The newspaper's editor, John McLellan, said: "Newspapers are always accused of being harbingers of doom and gloom, and although it's true to say that the biggest stories usually involve some element of human tragedy or failings, newspapers do not focus entirely on the negative aspects of life.

"So we thought it would be worthwhile to celebrate the good things about Edinburgh and the Lothians, and to ensure that every single story in one day's paper was positive about life here."

He said that the city has an incredible amount going for it: "low crime, low unemployment, fantastic entertainment, top-class sports, great schools and universities, and a manageable size."

He added: "We hope our readers look forward to a good news day with plenty of uplifting stories about life in one of the greatest places in the world to live."

McLellan said: "The fact that it's also the first full day Tony Blair is not Prime Minister has nothing to do with it!"