Heartening news today that people have had jack of political correctness, after the BBC committed something tantamount to treason when they decided to bleep out the words "faggot" and "slut" from beloved seasonal favourite The Fairytale Of New York, by The Pogues and Kirsty MacColl.

The Beeb emerged from the ensuing fracas with their tail firmly between their collective legs and a sorry look on all their faces.

The BBC had said the full lyrics might be unsuitable for children hearing it on the morning school run in their parents' car.

But MacColl's mother Jean lashed out at the decision. "I think it's pathetic, I really do. It's absolute nonsense. Really, this is too ridiculous," she told BBC Radio 5 Live.

"As a parent, whatever age your child is, you have to guide them. You would say, 'well, some people talk like this'," said Ms MacColl, whose daughter died in a boating accident in Mexico in December 2000.

After relenting later in the day, Mr Parfitt explained that it was because the BBC believed there was no malicious intent in the words.

"While we would never condone prejudice of any kind, we know our audiences are smart enough to distinguish between maliciousness and creative freedom," he said. "In the context of this song, I do not feel that there is any negative intent behind the use of the words, hence the reversal of the decision."

Good to see that the people still have some power against our new broadcasting overlords.

Hop on over the jump with a glass of eggnog or eight and enjoy a rollicking rendition of Fairytale to celebrate the triumph of good music over tedious moral guardianship.

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