Missing Milly Dowler's voicemail "hacked by News of the World"
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London_Calling
Pleasant and unpatronising
Welcome to 2010.
It's not jumping on the bandwagon, he was asked to back up what the minister had said to Parliament and didn't. Are these things not important?. should he just have been asked about the Olympics?
How does the Guardian geadline this? Er:
Jeremy Hunt's top civil servant refuses to back him over BSkyB
Why didnt Murdoch just cut the deal with new labour, as has been said on this thread they were far more in bed witth NI anyway. It is my understanding (and my source for this is private eye so bear with me) that Murdoch jnr and Brooks convinced old man murdoch to switch sides against his better judgment because they were mates with Cameron. So whilst the takeover is a factor it can't be the only reason the sun came out for the tories.
It'd be a condition of the switch...
(Presumably Labour were all ready to nod it through if elected?)
1%er
Well-Known Member
Because that would have meant dealing with G Brown (I thought their relationship had broken down by then) and I assume his backbenchers would be more hostile that Camerons.
I thought Labour were fuck before the last election in the UK and couldn't win even with his support (I don't live there).
There is some truth is that the sun likes to back the most likely winner, but the likely result of the election was a lot more in the balance then that.
elbows
Well-Known Member
They were in bad shape due to length of time in office, mistakes made, wider economic issues, and Browns failure to be able to interact with the media convincingly.
However since the Tories failed to win, Labour were not so fucked that Murdoch support would have been futile. It could well have been a difference maker.
Having said that Im pretty sure that one factor that influences Murdoch political support choices is who is most likely to win. There are several reasons why they'd want to back the winner, and sticking with Labour for that election would have been quite a risk.
agricola
a genuine importer of owls
At the time it wasnt - they were 12 points behind Cameron in the polls, and Blairites (always closer to NI than the Brownites were) were making a series of laughably shit attempts at getting rid of the PM. Add to that your probably correct belief that Cameron was favoured because of the Brooks / Coulson / Smithers connection, and the rewards on offer, and it was an easy decision for Murdoch to make. What he probably didnt expect was that Labour would have the nerve to point out what went on under their watch (albeit whilst not pointing out that it was their watch).
Do you think its likely that come next election time the sun won't back either party? Maybe just slag them both off?
agricola
a genuine importer of owls
TBH I wouldnt be surprised if Murdoch's plan is to break the coalition, force an early election and support Labour again. That way, a lot of the political heat would dissapate and - assuming it worked - the incoming government would have a strong incentive to bury this whole process before anyone important went to prison.
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
At this stage it's hard to know whether it was a 'pointed refusal' to back the minister or just obeying orders not to talk about it full stop. We might get hints in the next day or two if we hear comments from friends of friends of ex-senior civil servants on this. It's always interesting to see the point when someone who takes on a job as senior courtier finds they want to make the tiniest objection to all that being a senior courtier entails.
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
Nick Clegg: does that mean, sob, that I'll have to send the car and my shiny hat back? Erm, Ed, can I be your friend?
elbows
Well-Known Member
The process cannot be buried with any credibility, but its remit can be kept narrow. We have already seen that despite plenty of mud not a lot has stuck to the other big media players, so although the focus of the inquiry is supposed to be quite broad, its actually self-limiting in the usual establishment way. Attempting to bury it to an even greater degree would be too risky, instead we will see it trundle on with a few people made examples of, and some adjustments to the rules & regulations in order to draw a line under it.
The current state of the coalition should be of concern to 'business leaders'. I expect they are not impressed with the level of ineptitude on offer from the Tories, and may be pining for the greater credibility that new Labour offered, better cover to get through favourable policies without such a stink. However this is secondary compared to the actual policies on offer, many of which will have businesses drooling. If these were 'normal times' and the economic woe was specific to the UK, I could imagine them supporting the coalition for long enough to get a load of these policies onto the books, and then switch support to an alternative if it looks like thats whats required to cement these policy gains and not see them undone by unrest on the streets. However since much of the instability of these times is global, its rather questionable as to whether other parties will be seen as being able to offer this level of stability and cover.
Asked the question, "Do you like Brussels interfering?", probably.
Stupidly, I don't recall anyone asking, "Do you like holiday pay and sick leave (more than you'd have if it weren't for Brussels)?"
belboid
Exasperated, not angry.
Remember the tories' ad for the euro elections with the slogan 'Do You Want Socialism By The Backdoor?'
Most people apparently thought it was an ad for Labour, and voted accordingly
Wilf
Slouching towards Billingham
Egalitarian bumsex - it's win win.Remember the tories' ad for the euro elections with the slogan 'Do You Want Socialism By The Backdoor?'
Most people apparently thought it was an ad for Labour, and voted accordingly
If there is another hung parliament, and the LibDems hold the balance again with however few seats, then Ed will be the one asking to be Nick's friend.
I think clegg and the other orange bookers won't be considered in an alliance with labour
I think all of this is going to backfire slightly in the local elections. Freedom of the press is not a concern of the average man in the street, and looks a bit like a leftwing conspiracy. And it's keeping other stuff out of the papers. Mind you, I don't anticipate the tory/ lib dem vote being anything other than dire, luckily.
1%er
Well-Known Member
Having watched all of Murdoch Sr's evidence, if I was a share holder in any of his companies I'd have sold already. The guy is about 81 and entitled to have the odd senior moment, but he just didn't seem to grasp or understand many of the questions and his ramblings didn't do him any good at all, I think he said things that would have raised an eyebrow or two with-in the inquire room.
It would also appear that he is kept in the dark on many very serious issues, if he is to be believed.
I am amazed that he wasn't briefed on the evidence that had been given to leveson with regard to his tittles, I can only think he wasn't interested, but he is meant to be the boss and should be on top of this, he claims it has cost the company $100 of millions, how come he knows fuck all about what has gone on
Also that no-one made him aware of justice Edies (spelling?) remarks with regard to "blackmail" by one of his most senior Journalists as well as all the internal inquires that failed to find anything wrong.
It would also appear that he is kept in the dark on many very serious issues, if he is to be believed.
I am amazed that he wasn't briefed on the evidence that had been given to leveson with regard to his tittles, I can only think he wasn't interested, but he is meant to be the boss and should be on top of this, he claims it has cost the company $100 of millions, how come he knows fuck all about what has gone on
Also that no-one made him aware of justice Edies (spelling?) remarks with regard to "blackmail" by one of his most senior Journalists as well as all the internal inquires that failed to find anything wrong.
Orang Utan
Psychick Worrier Ov Geyoor
What? He knew exactly what was going on and was being circumspect so as not to incriminate himself. I don't think he gave the impression of a doddery old fool at all. Quite the opposite. Sly, sharp and slippery.
London_Calling
Pleasant and unpatronising
LOL. The day after James lands one of Dave's biggest Cabinet buddies in the deep shit, OFCOM announces its widening its investigation to include whether BSKYB is a 'fit and proper' body to hold a broadcast license. Pure coincidence, I feel certain....
They used to be such friends
They used to be such friends
I can't see Clegg hanging on to his seat, so the LibDems could well move away from the right with a new leader. Labour wouldn't want to have to work with the LD's but would do so if it meant getting back into government.
TheHoodedClaw
acknowledging ur soup leg
I think, from his point of view, he played a blinder. He is getting on a bit obviously, but he was much more, I dunno, capable (?) than his son seems to be.* But I do agree with what you are saying about share holdings, I'd be worried about how the succession is going to work.
* Edit: By that I mean he just took things in his stride, threw out a couple of soundbites about wishing the NotW had been shut down earlier, and deflected a load of questions. Some mea culpa and strategic forgetfulness.
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