I don’t necessarily disagree with the sentiment, but I’m not sure it should necessarily form the basis of the editorial policy of a supposedly serious newspaper…

So what will the new-look Independent be like? He [editor Roger Alton] describes it “funky, sharp and cool”. He won’t be abandoning the Alton penchant for celebrity coverage, speaking glowingly of his paper’s coverage of the romance between rugby player Danny Cipriani and model Kelly Brook.

“It doesn’t mean that you’re a halfwit because you’re interested in the froth of life, I think that is unbelievably patronising. Froth is fun.” As for the semi-naked women? “Pictures of semi-naked women basically make the world a better place.”