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British politicians argue over Modern Warfare 2 photo

Yesterday we reported on British MP and reputed liar Keith Vaz, who pursued his long-running agenda against videogames by complaining about Modern Warfare 2's controversial airport scene and promising to bring the issue up in parliament. Today, Vaz was righteously pummeled by fellow Labour MP Tom Watson, who said politicians should be encouraging, not attacking, the videogame industry.

"It carries a content warning, it is an 18 plus game," Watson told MPs after Vaz claimed he was trying to protect children. "It would be better for members of this house to support the many thousands of games designers and coders and the many millions of games users, rather than collaborating with the Daily Mail to create moral panic over the use of video games."

Junior culture minister Siôn Simon also supported the game, stating that adult-rated games deserve to be released and marketed to adults: "The game you refer to is a certificate 18 game. It should not be sold to children and the government's job is to make sure that adults ... can get what adults should be able to and children are not in danger of being subjected to adult content."

Tom Watson has set up a Facebook Page for gamers who are sick of anti-videogame news, with the message, "Are you sick of UK newspapers and (my fellow) politicians beating up on gaming? So am I. The truth is, UK gamers need their own pressure group. I want to help you start one up."

So there you go. Nice to know that not every politician is an out-of-touch bastard, and it's nice to see that corrupt liar Keith Vaz getting the smackdown he deserves.


Continue: More United Kingdom stories





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59 comments | showing # 1 to 50

The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:04
The-Excel
He actually called out a newspaper for their unscrupulous fearmongering? Hats off to him.
TheDRMaster's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:05
TheDRMaster
ohsnap.jpg
MCChampaignMillionaire's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:06
MCChampaignMillionaire
Oh shit...here we go!
shadowsinthenyte's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:08
shadowsinthenyte
Aww here it goes!
Byronic Man's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:09
Byronic Man
I immediately like Tom Watson
Haizeus's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:10
Haizeus
This story needs more powdered wigs and ten step duels.
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:10
Jon B
I'd advise everyone to join that Facebook page.

Even if I have spent the majority of my time arguing on it.
Kraid's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:11
Kraid
Dem kids and their Rock and Rolls music...!
Holyetheline's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:12
Holyetheline
This is really awesome.
Necron117's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:13
Necron117
We should send Sterling over there. He would make a great debater!
Technophile's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:15
Technophile
That's great. We need some more people like Simon and Watson over here in the US.
ace of knaves's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:16
ace of knaves
Oh this is getting good.
Handy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:19
Handy
Time for JUSTICE!!!!
Jon B's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:23
Jon B
@Necron117
One could even say he's a master at it.
the7k's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:23
the7k
@Necron117
I think in his Bayonetta review, he proved that he is a master debater. *ba dum tish*

On topic, is there a way we can draft these guys into being US politicians? Cuz... we could use 'em.
The Young Scot's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:30
The Young Scot
This has made my day
Xzyliac's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:36
Xzyliac
Can you feel the buuurrrnn?
Rosseh's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:41
Rosseh
Awesome but I'm still not voting Labour.
Your Moms Hot Lover's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:42
Your Moms Hot Lover
what? No? Did I read that right?

Wow.
CRAZYAPE69's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:42
CRAZYAPE69
The game asks you if you want to see the scenes, if you are easily offended then you can just opt out. But when playing i was questioning wether or not i should be doing it. Then to end it on the note it does.. one of the best missions in cod history (not the killing innocents part)
Seanus's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:44
Seanus
Like The Young Scot, this article has made my day, and it's only 10:45 in the morning. Adding to the fact that I bought MW2 last night, it can only get better. :)
double2's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:47
double2
For better or worse, this is mainly due to the support of the uk games industry's economic value rather than fighting for freedom of speech. There was a documentary on BBC radio last month about how the uk will get out of the recession - the games industry is right up there as one of the biggest value exports we have. I suppose it's all good at the end of the day, just make sure you don't trust this guy as far as you can throw him.
LoopholeJumper's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:48
LoopholeJumper
Voting is for people that are still too dumb to realize they'd already been robbed blind. Sorry folks, its over. The system has failed, because it was designed to fail.
AkumaLovesYou's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:49
AkumaLovesYou
@double2

Tom Watson is a decent bloke on the whole. Just eats too much....
double2's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:51
double2
I'm sorry, how stoned and/drunk are you loopholejumper? That comment had little relevance to the article...
WarZombie's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:51
WarZombie
JUSTICE.

Wow, I never thought I'd see someone in politics actually stand up for gaming, let alone two. They should each go to Germany and Australia.
hjd uk's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:53
hjd uk
Whaaaaat!? Common Sence in British Parilment... IZ NOT POSSIBLE!

I dont know who Tom Watson is but he gets a big thumbs up.
double2's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:54
double2
@akuma I don't really know of the guy to be honest. I just know that 99% of mps are cheating lowing scum with very little investment in public interest. There are always exceptions and anyone who fights against the mail and for video games has a better chance of being so!
Drunken Haze's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:56
Drunken Haze
Keith Vaz, who was previously suspended from his job for running false smear campaigns, has accepted bribery several times to abuse his political power, who tried to stop the satanic verses being published and claimed £75,000 in expenses for a second home just 12 miles from his main home, before flipping his property twice and renting it out to steal ridiculous amounts from the tax payer.

And that guy considers himself to be a guardian of morals? Hilarious.
double2's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 17:57
double2
@warzombie my point exactly! How many GTAs and LBPs have come out of Australia/Germany recently? Don't mistake this for rationality! :)
monkeyknackler's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:00
monkeyknackler
Watson’s voting record is about as abhorrent as Vaz’s when it comes to other matters, but this ain’t the Guardian so I’ll keep my left leaning bullshit to myself and say that it’s really heartening to see a member of Vaz’s own party take him to task over his rent-a-quote, opportunistic cocksocketry. There are very few industries left that the UK has any kind of prominent role within and to have a member of the party in government piss on that industry any chance he gets just to get his face in The Fucking Mail will only do more to drive that industry abroad.
Czech Monster's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:23
Czech Monster
Once the peace loving Mooslims establish Sharia law and make Britain part of the Kalifate, I will wish you could complain about politicians bitching about a game. Good luck over there, you will need it.
grasslunatic's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:27
grasslunatic
This is awesome.
Qraze's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:28
Qraze
nice. and even after the sacking of David Nutt! its nice to see not all the piece of shit politicians are pieces of shit.
Uzzy's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:39
Uzzy
I find it somewhat sad and amusing that the one time men like Keith Vaz actually have a defensible argument, the response from gamers seems to be 'He's a lying fuckturd engaging in old bastardry', rather then a measured response as to why this scene is important. I mean, the current response is right when someone mocks Mass Effect for rampant sex scenes, but in this case it's not exactly hard to find many gaming columnists responding negatively to the scene in question.
monkeyknackler's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:42
monkeyknackler
@Czech Monster. If you aren't taking the piss (and a comment that stupid will always make me suspect the poster is playing with the clumsy fire of ironic racism) why don't you post that stuff up on the BBC's Have Your Say? You'll find a very receptive audience there. Indulge me though, I'm interested; why would you make that post? Is it because Vaz appears to be a foreign? Or are you that paranoid and afraid that you just post apropos of nothing stuff about scay brown people any time you are allowed near a keyboard?
Electrium's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:47
Electrium
[img=http://i38.tinypic.com/qoad5i.jpg]
beardenvier's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:48
beardenvier
Jim always this passionate? I don't recall him being this way before that Bayonetta video he made.
Electrium's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:53
Electrium
Take two!

monkeyknackler's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 18:55
monkeyknackler
@Uzzy I'm new, so I'm not sure if it's cool to post links to other sites here, but Charlie Brooker covers it with about as much disdain as is deserves in my opinion :

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2009/nov/09/modern-warfare-2-game-review

Vaz and IW different sides of the same headline grabbing, controversy coin?
double2's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 19:01
double2
@monkeyknackler big up your response to czech monster lmao! Plus, Charlie Brooker is ALWAYS welcome on destructoid :) Did you hear that he and Johnathan Ross will be doing voice actine on Fable 3? Awesome...
monkeyknackler's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 19:03
monkeyknackler
@Uzzy. I've just totally misunderstood your post and made an irrelvant reply. I apologise.
KIHP's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 19:12
KIHP
His mp 4 year spending limit gone in 1 year and then spending more and getting his ability to spend revoked I am concerned of his reasons but overall this is good.
monkeyknackler's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 19:14
monkeyknackler
@double2. The overly twee voice acting in Fable always got on my tits so a bit of Brooker and even some Ross will be welcome in Fable 3. Do you think they're going to let my Fable Character fuck Andrew Sach's Fable character's granddaughter? Or am I going to have to wait for the dlc to do that?
urahara's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 19:21
urahara
@monkeyknackler Thanks for the link. Jim Sterling should definitely look, Altered Beast might be the Citizen Kane of Videogames, but according to Charlie Brooker:

"Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 is the Citizen Kane of repeatedly shooting people in the face."
Majora's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 19:59
Majora
Yeah, Damn awesome Article Jim, It was good too see Vaz owned =]
matrixdude171's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 20:00
matrixdude171
About damn time someone shot him down.
The-Excel's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 20:12
The-Excel
I wonder what kind of games Mr. Watson is into.
Trebz's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 20:14
Trebz
That didn't just happen. That made too much sense.
Ben Stoddard's Avatar - Comment posted on 11/09/2009 20:20
Ben Stoddard
Apart from PWNED, I'm at a loss for words. This is awesome.
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