Missing Milly Dowler's voicemail "hacked by News of the World"

[ericjarvis]

I like to think that in times of crisis, a little voice in Boris' head asks the question, "What would Darius do?"

If only. I suspect what it actually says is "goo goo ga ga".

 

[frogwoman]

Where have you got that idea from?

if cameron goes surely the nhs reforms etc will be put on hold ... or at least be a lot more difficult to push fwd ...

 

[temper_tantrum]

Full Commons debate to be held on Weds. Cameron has bowed to pressure, and will not just be taking questions now.

 

[cointreauman]

May is speaking now....

 

[marty21]

Just goes to show my ignorance of election law then!

there will be a lot of pressure to call an election though - and possibly a vote of no confidence - which if they tories lost, they wouold basically be morally compelled to call an election, and the lib dems might feel that they could gain from the crisis by leaving the coalition government, although I'm not sure how iron-clad the coalition agreement is

 

[agricola]

That will upset a lot of the potential male candidates for the position. She will find it hard to control them once in office. Things will get nasty in the Met. So situation normal then.

I doubt that. If anything, being awarded this most poisoned of chalices will probably cause her rivals (if there are any) to rub their hands in glee, they will be off to some county force for a few years as Chief Constable / swan about as some ACPO spokesperson, whilst she has to deal with a historically large pile of grief and fend off small army of politicians who are desperate not to let it land on them.

 

[butchersapron]

One year ago, Boris Johnson, who i believe has some influence on the Met:

"a load of codswallop cooked up by the Labour Party" which was
"patently politically motivated" and
"a politically motivated put up job" and
"completely spurious and political" and
"a song and dance about nothing" which had been
"whipped up by the Guardian and the Labour Party."

 

[cybertect]

You're old enough to remember Hume surely?

Good call. Probably should have but it was slightly before my time by half a decade.

British political history that I studied in depth at school went from 1832 to 1945.

 

[agricola]

lol @ Elizabeth Filkin getting involved in the inquiries into this, and the reaction to it from various sides of the House.

 

[laptop]

If anything, being awarded this most poisoned of chalices will probably cause her rivals (if there are any) to rub their hands in glee, they will be off to some county force for a few years as Chief Constable / swan about as some ACPO spokesperson, whilst she has to deal with a historically large pile of grief and fend off small army of politicians who are desperate not to let it land on them.

Sounds deeply plausible.

There's some kind of weak justice in there.

But can someone arrange for her to get on the Tube dressed as an electrician?

 

[cointreauman]

One year ago, Boris Johnson, who i believe has some influence on the Met:

Was watching Bosis bluster through that when he was called on that! Totall blustering wankpot

Just listened to May wrap her statement in the shooting of a police officer in Croydon as a wrap to the bollix of a non statement...... In other words let's talk about brave coppers not the guilty and divert the conversation on Cameron/Coulson
Cooper strikes back
From me - let me hang them all in Parliament Square
C

 

[Hocus Eye.]

there will be a lot of pressure to call an election though - and possibly a vote of no confidence - which if they tories lost, they wouold basically be morally compelled to call an election, and the lib dems might feel that they could gain from the crisis by leaving the coalition government, although I'm not sure how iron-clad the coalition agreement is

The Coalition agreement ends with the calling of a new election. The LibDems have already stated that they will be fighting the next election as a party in its own right.

There will not be much taste for an election in the country. There are no politicians that anyone wants to vote for. It would be another low turnout result and another botched coalition.

 

[Augie March]

Unless I dreamt it, I'm sure Boris was on the news last night talking up how the enquiry should be lifting up every rock and finding out what is under enough them.

 

[littlebabyjesus]

There will not be much taste for an election in the country. There are no politicians that anyone wants to vote for. It would be another low turnout result and another botched coalition.

It may be another botched coalition, but at least it wouldn't be this botched coalition. Anything is better than this botched coalition.

 

[two sheds]

So Cressida Dick who 'directed' the shooting of JCDM - and whose family were a victim of the 'hacking' takes over the body who were in control of the investigations into what her predecessor has resigned over. Have i that right?

I nearly understood that.

 

[butchersapron]

The Coalition agreement ends with the calling of a new election. The LibDems have already stated that they will be fighting the next election as a party in its own right.

There will not be much taste for an election in the country. There are no politicians that anyone wants to vote for. It would be another low turnout result and another botched coalition.

No it wouldn't, it would be a labour or tory outright victory. OT though.

 

[ViolentPanda]

I like the phrase 'reputational damage' - who are they kidding?

Just establishing the basis for a claim of defamation against the Met, probably.

 

[ericjarvis]

So Cressida Dick who 'directed' the shooting of JCDM - and whose family were a victim of the 'hacking' takes over the body who were in control of the investigations into what her predecessor has resigned over. Have i that right?

You have.

The Met have a big problem. There are some excellent police officers, some quite senior, and some excellent departments in the Met Police. Unfortunately largely those involved in the sort of "glamourous" stuff that leads to rapid promotion tend towards the crap end of the spectrum. You get noticed by paying off criminals in order to arrest somebody else in a high profile case. You get noticed by running a heavy handed operation in which people get hurt or killed. These are things that make the newspapers and make a police officer a reputation. Running a neighbourhood team that makes excellent links with the community and dramatically reduces crime simply means you get stuck in that job.

 

[butchersapron]

Who'd have guessed three inquires eh? Only a mad man would suggest such a thing. Eh roman?

Or five!

 

[temper_tantrum]

According to the Graun, that's 10 enquiries now set up into various aspects of this.

 

[Dan U]

i find it extraordinary Dick still has a job (and a promotion!) since JCDM

let alone being put in charge of this shit storm...

 

[marty21]

I keep thinking of the Harold MacMillan quote

'Events, my dear boy, events

Cameron was having a relatively easy ride - getting others to take the stick - Clegg, Clarke, Hunt, Cable, etc etc

and now this thing comes along

 

[MellySingsDoom]

Theresa May (according to the Graun just now) is also opening an investigation into the IPCC. This is the body whose deputy head has been caught on tape stating how toothless said organisation is in dealing with deaths in police custody. Hmm.

 

[Kaka Tim]

Isn't Andy Hayman next in line for the chop?

 

[butchersapron]

Is one of the media meeting missed off cameron a meeting with brooks? I don't trust who this is coming from.

 

[killer b]

Ladbrokes have further tightened the price on Cameron being the next cabinet member to 12/1. Just ten days ago you could have got 100/1 with the firm. Stan James, meanwhile, offer 7/1 against Cameron not lasting the year.

In other betting REBEKAH BROOKS is 1/5 with Ladbrokes to say ’sorry’ whilst in front of the DCMS Select Committee.

Parliament is now just 10/1 to be recalled before the recess ends.

And as the search continues for a new Metropolitan Police Commissioner, Sara Thornton has emerged as Ladbrokes’ 2/1 favourite for the job. Sir Hugh Orde is 5/1 with Stephen Otter a 12/1 chance.

 

[butchersapron]

Isn't Andy Hayman next in line for the chop?

What chop though Tim. He's been chopped.

 

[magneze]

Roy Greenslade in the Guardian is calling for Clegg to instigate a vote of no confidence.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2011/jul/18/phone-hacking-nick-clegg-lib-dems-david-cameron

TBH, I don't think it necessarily has to be Clegg. A vote of no-confidence seems to becoming a real possibility though.

 

[Badgers]

Just got an email from a client in the USA who closed with this question:

Is it really a big deal about Murdoch over there or is it hype?

 

[butchersapron]

Roy Greenslade in the Guardian is calling for Clegg to instigate a vote of no confidence.

Sting singing on the roof of the barbican.