11 JANUARY 1997, Page 24

Gummer, scissors, paste

SUCKING up to John Gummer — well, all right, then, aiming to please him — the industry in which I work has gone too far. Every day, newspapers will have to say how much of their content is recycled. Some will now show a steady 98 per cent, depending as they do on recycled press cuttings, warmed-up diets, televised stunts and con- tributions from Max Clifford. (Newly intro- duced mistakes account for the other 2 per cent.) I try to avoid recycling jokes in 'City and suburban' but do not always succeed. If this paragraph turns up again, don't tell me, tell John Gummer.