I don’t think this thick sod is indigenous to this part of Romiley. Did LibDem councillor, Angela Clark, import it from another area to facilitate this photo op? I think we should be told.
“That would essentially be staging or misrepresentation — a manufactured scene meant to give the impression of an action or event that didn’t actually happen.
In everyday terms, it could be called:
- A photo op stunt – setting up an image for publicity rather than documenting reality.
- Deception – because it’s presenting the sod of grass as if it came from that site.
- Astroturfing (ironically!) – though the political term usually means faking grassroots support, here it’s literally faking grass.
- Symbolic theatre – using props to tell a story rather than showing the real situation.
If it’s in the context of politics, the ethics would hinge on whether the audience is being deliberately misled for political gain. In journalism or official council communications, that would cross into falsifying evidence territory.
| Type of Manipulation | Description & Example |
|---|---|
| Staged Photo Op | Setting up scenes (e.g., fake sod) to create a misleading visual narrative |
She couldn’t have cared less about the fate of sick, innocent Mr Parnell RIP.
She doesn’t act in line with her legal councillor responsibilities when a fraud of £6m at 2009 prices was brought to her attention.
And her lies about Padden Brook having been improved/tidied up take my breath away.
