‘Bog off Rees-Mogg’ says Beano
The Conservative MP has got himself into bother with the Beano after being accused of copying Dennis the Menace's arch-enemy Walter the Softy. Picture: Beano Studios/PA Wire. - Credit: PA
Comic book The Beano has written to arch-Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg accusing him of copying Dennis the Menace's nemesis Walter the Softy.
Taking aim at the Conservative MP Beano Studios warned in the mock legal note that his distinctive style is a rip-off of Walter and called on him to 'cease and desist'.
The Beano's Mike Stirling listed alleged infringements of the comic's copyright including Walter's hair parting, round glasses, spotty ties and vintage apparel, and enjoyment of classical music.
And he said the chairman of the hard-line, anti-EU European Research Group had copied Walter's 'snootiness' and his efforts to stop others having fun.
Accusing him of 'masquerading as Walter Brown', Mr Stirling wrote: 'It is evident that there are numerous instances whereby you have adopted trademarked imagery and brand essences of the character to the benefit of enhancing your career and popularity.
You may also want to watch:
'We firmly request that you cease and desist in your ongoing impersonation of the character, which remains the exclusive property of Beano Studios.
'A swift response on this matter would be greatly appreciated to avoid getting Teacher involved.'
Most Read
- 1 The Spanish village with the mythical blue lagoon
- 2 Empty shelves are partly down to Brexit - but Leavers won't admit it
- 3 Rabbits defeat French army
- 4 Party politics will not save us from the Tories - we need drastic action
- 5 Would Javid have renamed ICU wards 'Drama Queen Zones'?
- 6 Has something shifted in sado-populist Britain?
- 7 Ed Vaizey overtakes Paul Dacre in the Ofcom race
- 8 Priti Patel - the poster girl for our poisonous politics
- 9 Boris Johnson: The sado-populist prime minister
- 10 Cost of Brexit is already 38 times more than the money set aside for levelling up
Mr Stirling, who is head of Beano Studios Scotland, said that the similarities between Walter and Rees-Mogg had been spotted by young readers of the comic and its beano.com website.
He said it was clear that Walter had devised his trademark style first, as he first appeared in the Beano in 1953, 16 years before Rees-Mogg's was born.
'We were flattered when we discovered that Jacob Rees-Mogg has dedicated his life to impersonating one of my favourite Beano characters, young Walter,' added Mr Stirling.
'Nonetheless, as a hard-working British media company, we would prefer the public gets its Walter fix in the pages of our comics and on Beano.com , rather than played out on the political stage. In other words, bog off Rees-Mogg!'
Become a Supporter
The New European is proud of its journalism and we hope you are proud of it too. We believe our voice is important - both in representing the pro-EU perspective and also to help rebalance the right wing extremes of much of the UK national press. If you value what we are doing, you can help us by making a contribution to the cost of our journalism.
