'Edwina lives with Norman and Kenneth' -Steve Bell "If..." cartoons

S/PTC/2/7/28

October 1986

Five cartoon cuttings from 'The Guardian' newspaper, black on white newsprint. Steve Bell, The Guardian's regular cartoonist is famous for his "If..." series spoofing the Conservative government of Margaret Thatcher. In October 1986 he produced a series of six daily cartoons lampooning three ministers in the Thatcher government: Edwina Currie (junior health minister), Norman Tebbit (Conservative Party chair) and Kenneth Baker (education minister), in the form of a spoof of the book 'Jenny lives with Eric and Martin', that was used as part of the homophobic campaign that resulted in Section 28 of the Local Government Act 1988. This made it unlawful for local authorities to "promote homosexuality" or promote the teaching in schools of "the acceptability of homosexuality as a pretended family relationship". It was not repealed until 2003. The cartoons were published in the six daily editions of The Guardian in the week beginning 6th October 1986, labelled in the "If..." series as numbers 1396 to 1401. The third one, no. 1398 published on Wednesday 8th October is missing. October 1986. There is a copy of 'Jenny lives with Eric and Martin' in the Islington's Pride collection (see below).

1 item (5 cartoon cuttings)

LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning+) Community, POLITICAL CARTOONS, EDUCATIONAL CONTROVERSY, Section 28

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