I'm sure that I can't be the only person who is a little concerned about the choice of characters for the latest Nationwide's England ad campaign.
The well worn gag is that 'Andy', the wheelchair user, demonstrates tremendous physical agility behind the back of his carer 'Lou', who remains convinced that he needs the wheelchair.
The danger with such a prominent campaign is that while the joke is clearly not designed to denigrate or undermine wheelchair users, it can easily become a sort of short-hand for playground humour.
The Little Britain sense of humour is often described as a great example of the British ability to laugh at ourselves. While there may be some truth in this, it should be pointed out that the laughter is mainly directed at a small group of marginalised people.
The same can be said of much of the best comedy that has been produced down the years, and I'm not in favour of censoring the choice of subject matter for humour, except where it is used to justify material designed to incite hatred.
But for the flagship ad campaign of England Football's main sponsor? Surely something a little more sophisticated than laughing at who? The idiot savant in the wheelchair? The skiver who deceives people into thinking he's disabled? Or perhaps the well-meaning but easily duped carer?
This last one could be problematic. Isn't he a part of the voluntary sector that will be taking over the running of schools, hospitals and social services in the Cameron/Clegg vision of 21st century Little (Government) Britain?
The well worn gag is that 'Andy', the wheelchair user, demonstrates tremendous physical agility behind the back of his carer 'Lou', who remains convinced that he needs the wheelchair.
The danger with such a prominent campaign is that while the joke is clearly not designed to denigrate or undermine wheelchair users, it can easily become a sort of short-hand for playground humour.
The Little Britain sense of humour is often described as a great example of the British ability to laugh at ourselves. While there may be some truth in this, it should be pointed out that the laughter is mainly directed at a small group of marginalised people.
The same can be said of much of the best comedy that has been produced down the years, and I'm not in favour of censoring the choice of subject matter for humour, except where it is used to justify material designed to incite hatred.
But for the flagship ad campaign of England Football's main sponsor? Surely something a little more sophisticated than laughing at who? The idiot savant in the wheelchair? The skiver who deceives people into thinking he's disabled? Or perhaps the well-meaning but easily duped carer?
This last one could be problematic. Isn't he a part of the voluntary sector that will be taking over the running of schools, hospitals and social services in the Cameron/Clegg vision of 21st century Little (Government) Britain?
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