Not goodbye - just au revoir...

Gavin Allen Editor - The Politics Show

In his Autumn 2008 Political Cartoon Gallery, Gary Barker puts the politics of the week to the brush and pen... In pictures

For once, it's far from a laughing matter.

The Politics Show's weekly cartoon, penned for this website for the past two years by Gary Barker and regularly featured on air, has reached its final frame.

Despite offering original, witty and creative cartoons at a decidedly reasonable price - and never missing a deadline - Gary's cartoons have fallen victim to the budget squeeze.

Not a decision I was thrilled to make - but penny-pinching needs must.

And clearly not a decision some of you were thrilled to hear.

Outrage

One viewer Ethan Grubb perhaps best summed up the tone: "You are making an appalling mistake... I would like to express my outrage".

I think that can safely be described as unequivocal feedback.

But as well as passing on huge thanks to Gary for his acerbic contributions - and uncanny ability to accurately capture both a political face and a political mood - I should also make clear that, in time-honoured fashion, this particular death may yet prove to be greatly exaggerated.

On an ad hoc basis Gary has kindly still agreed to take commissions.

In his Summer 2008 Political Cartoon Gallery, Gary Barker puts the politics of the week to the brush and pen... In pictures

Warning

So although the regularity of the weekly cartoon has gone, his past galleries survive and there'll always be room in future for the throwing of a satirical barb or two.

And since he considers it to be the duty of every editorial cartoonist worth their salt to speak up for both the politically disenfranchised and the just plain frustrated, that's good news for an awful lot of us.

So politicians be warned: Barker of the Beeb lives on. And his pen truly is mightier than any sword. Or, on occasion, Gord.

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