11 times The Sun’s Page Three girls showed how deeply they cared about the UK economy
The end of an era, or good riddance? However you feel about Page Three, there's no arguing with the fact it's a British institution. But today came the news that after 45 years, The Sun has apparently decided to put an end to its traditional topless model slot.
The news was revealed by sister title The Times this morning, although a spokesman for the paper seemed unwilling to confirm the news, saying on that "Page Three of The Sun is where it's always been, between pages two and four, and you can find Lucy from Warwick at Page3.com".
It's the end of a slow decline for the slot: in 2013, the tabloid axed its "News in Briefs" section. Until then, Page Three models had used the slot as a forum for their views on everything from beer duty (which they cared surprisingly strongly about) to how much corporation tax large businesses should pay.
In fact, it turned out that like everyone else, they worried a lot about the UK's economic situation.
They felt sad when jobs were lost:
The closure of HMV has saddened @SabineJofficial. She loved store logo based on #FrancisBarraud painting #NewsinBriefs pic.twitter.com/3OokNMfT
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) January 16, 2013
But were pro-HS2:
Brand new Page 3 Idol @Mellisa_Clarke shares her thoughts on the HS2 rail line quoting #CarolMoseleyBraun #NewsinBriefs pic.twitter.com/6VkrY940
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) January 29, 2013
They worried about the price of commodities:
Today's News in Briefs from @TheSunNewspaper is Mellisa and the alleged rigging of petrol prices. #topical pic.twitter.com/HDmbAXrN9S
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) May 16, 2013
And ruminated on the impact of George Osborne's cuts:
Page 3 girl @CourtnieQ expresses her views on current financial difficulties in #NewsinBriefs pic.twitter.com/xYSy82PA
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) December 5, 2012
They took a sensible stance on alcohol pricing:
Today @Lucy__Vixen has strong thoughts about two-for-one booze deals #NewsinBriefs #Page3 #MalcolmSForbes pic.twitter.com/dZXgdmHP
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) November 28, 2012
But they weren't impressed by business' tax avoidance deals:
Page 3's Danni Wells has issues with Npower not paying corporation tax in News in Briefs in @TheSunNewspaper #Page3 pic.twitter.com/KMoxk8YIoH
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) April 17, 2013
… nor were they particularly enamoured with the behaviour of those in charge:
@laceybanghard says: "I'm staggered that thousands of wealthy civil servants may have dodged tax with Government's blessing." #newsinbriefs
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) May 24, 2012
@emilyohara2 says: “I’m rather surprised that the farming minister, of all people, does not know the price of a pint of milk" #newsinbriefs.
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) July 11, 2012
And on the whole, they were not in favour of Europe:
@officialpage3 girl @samcooketog backs a blueprint for a deal to claw back powers from Brussels. #newsinbriefs #page3
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) July 10, 2012
@Rhianmarie was shocked to hear Europe is forcing Britain to give some prisoners the vote. http://t.co/FDWxJuKc #newsinbriefs #page3
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) May 23, 2012
And while some commented on Mark Carney's smouldering eyes when he was first appointed, the Page Three girls were only interested in his academic credentials:
Page 3 girl @chloesaxon is approving of the new Bank of England governor #newsinbriefs #MarkCarney #Page3 pic.twitter.com/i9AlSV32
— Page 3 (@officialpage3) November 27, 2012