A little local trouble for Michael Gove

Yesterday Michael Gove made a speech attacking magazines such as Nuts and Zoo:

I believe we need to ask tough questions about the instant-hit hedonism celebrated by the modern men’s magazines targeted at younger males.

Titles such as Nuts and Zoo paint a picture of women as permanently, lasciviously, uncomplicatedly available.

We should ask those who make profits out of reveling in, or encouraging, selfish irresponsibility among young men what they think they’re doing.

There’s plenty to debate in his speech. But it has one rather embarrassing problem. Recess Monkey explains:

A look through the Register of Members Interests reveals Michael was elected thanks to payments to his constituency party from Red Fig Ltd.

Red Fig Ltd, which specializes in interactive television and promised “non-stop TV action,” provided their services for Miss World 2004 and helped to launch – yep, you guessed it, Nuts TV. You can read their very proud press release here.

It seems Gove’s still taking money too – according to his latest register of members interests entry, he says:

“Donations to my constituency association have been solicited or encouraged by me from:
Red Fig (company donation)”

Ooops.

P.S. Whilst he’s asking himself questions, Michael Gove might also want to ask fellow Conservative MP Frances Maude a few questions too:

FRANCIS Maude’s links with a firm that invested millions in a hardcore porn empire will stun the Tory party as it tries to clean up its image. [The Mirror]

Not to mention:

What is it about Francis Maude and the adult entertainment industry? No sooner has he stepped down as non-executive chairman of the Jubilee Trust following revelations that it had invested in an American porn business than I learn he is taking the shilling of another organisation best known for its X-rated content. [The Guardian]