Tories admit to Wiki alteration

The Tories have admitted that a member of its staff incorrectly altered a Wikipedia entry on the artist Titian, following a spat between Gordon Brown and David Cameron at Prime Minister's Question Time.

Last month Brown was regaling the Davos conference with a story about Titian when he mentioned that the artist died at the age of 90.

During PM's Question Time on Wednesday, Tory leader Cameron mocked Brown for having said that the Italian artist died at 90 when in fact, Cameron said, he died at 86.

Shortly afterwards, someone at Tory HQ registered with Wikipedia moved Titian's birth date forward by four years.

The party has since admitted that an "over-eager" member of staff had been responsible.

However, the confusion still abounds as to how old the Renaissance painter was when he died. Under a portrait of Titian on his Wikipedia entry, the online encyclopedia states he died on the 27 August 1576, aged 87/88.

On the Art Cyclopedia website Titian is listed as being born 1485-1576, putting him at 91 when he died.

Brown was referencing Titian, and his age, when he said: "I'm reminded of the story of Titian, who's the great painter who reached the age of 90, finished the last of his nearly 100 brilliant paintings, and he said at the end of it, 'I'm finally beginning to learn how to paint,' and that is where we are."

During Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Cameron said: "You told us the other day you were like Titian aged 90. The fact is Titian died at 86."

www.wikipedia.org