So... is it make or break for Coulson ?

Just in case the news escaped you,  Coulson's file was handed to the Crown Prosecution Service this week following his recent interview with the Police. And now it's all gone quiet...  I suppose we're in the state of waiting to see what the CPS decides...  But are there any clues as to exactly what's going to result from this ?  We know that Andy Coulson was interviewed, though we understand not under caution.  Around the same time, Sky News led the news about Coulson's Police interview..  and that was rather a shock in itself !  If anything, I think we can agree that Sky has very much ignored the Coulson story.
However, Ofcom had just begun to examine News International's bid for BSkyB - basically Murdoch's plan to increase his empire further !  Therefore, some of us considered it was probably a move for Sky to appear neutral in it's news reporting and at one point during the day Sky was reporting on Andy Coulson every 15 minutes !  This seemed utterly bizarre to those of us who'd been following this escapade since it's re-emergence earlier this year. 

Later this week, however, to add speculation to the earlier furore, a Judge insisted that Mulcaire should divulge who'd sent out the request that phone-hacking take place at the News of the World...   Andy Coulson has consistently denied any knowledge of phone-hacking at this newspaper let alone sending out the order !
But who knows ?  Maybe it won't be too long before we know...  after all, it's now only a matter of time...  I reckon it's make or break for Coulson any time soon !

Latest Articles on Coulson/Murdoch etc.... 

most recent first :

The Guardian  Alan Rusbridger warns of 'chilling effect' of News Corp's bid for BSkyB gu.com/p/2y84a/tw   19 Nov
New Statesman  Judge orders Mulcaire to name journalists...  http://url4t.com/anH  18 Nov
The Guardian  Court says News of the World staff who ordered phone hack must be named http://gu.com/p/2y75c/tf
CPBF  New Radio Free Press podcast on Murdoch takeover bid for Sky http://www.cpbf.org.uk/
The Indy  Labour to target Tories over Coulson http://ind.pn/96Kno4
Blogminster  'Paul McMullan claims 13 former News International journalists have confirmed they hacked phones or transcribed... http://blogm.in/88nkG'
The Guardian  Harriet Harman adds to pressure over No 10 media chief Andy Coulson http://gu.com/p/2yv4j/tf 
The Indy  Coulson 'has thrown his former staff to the wolves' http://ind.pn/cDyTY9
The Guardian  Coulson interviewed by Police  http://url4t.com/FAL
BBC  Cameron under fire as Coulson interviewed  http://url4t.com/oa4  video
BBC  Chris Bryant calls for Coulson to quit   http://bbc.in/bQbnFe    6 Nov

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So what's it all about...

... and what's going on exactly ? Sky News' lead story on Saturday was Coulson answering questions in Parliament...  and the issue of Clive Goodman, the Royal Editor from News of the World, being sent to prison... also the jailing of Mulcaire, a private investigator who is thought to have done the actual deed of hacking...  the hacking of celebrities' phones, including those of the two Princes William and Harry, Boris Johnson, Tessa Jowell... plus John Prescott who has since called for a judicial review involving the police and a re-opening of the investigation. Tom Watson has asked for an assurance from the PM about the case, Downing St has issued a statement...  A former journalist arguing that Andy Coulson did know about phonehacking. Crikey !

Andy Coulson told a committee of MPs that he had no idea what was going on at the newspaper he was editing. He was the editor from 2003-07. Shortly after Goodman was jailed Coulson was hired by David Cameron to be his senior press and PR officer. If he didn't know what was going on at News of the World, he wasn't a very good editor was he... so why did David Cameron hire him ?  But he did and from May 2010 he became very important to the new Government.  We know the rest..  But all this reported on Sky News !  Why ?

What has become particularly fascinating today is that Sky News  hasn't only led on the story, the story grew longer as the day and evening has gone on !  Why ?

Now that the issue of BSkyB has been referred to Ofcom, have the gloves been taken off with no holes barred ?   Or is it a matter that Ofcom will be looking at Sky and deciding whether it's reportage is fair ?  The growth of Murdoch's empire can't have escaped Ofcom's notice - unless they live in a bubble - even the EU is asking questions about the Murdoch empire...

This evening Iain Dale, the Tory blogger, stated on the Sky Press Review that it is known that all newspapers hack phones !  Do they ? Really ?  Is that an acceptance of the allegation against Andy Coulson then ?  But hang on a moment...  Isn't phone-hacking illegal ? Isn't that what all the fuss is about ?  Have we become so blazé that the law just doesn't matter any more - that there are rules for some and that different rules apply to others who are connected in certain important circles ?  Is this what this story touches on ?  Shouldn't the PM be so appalled at these serious allegations that he suspends Andy Coulson until the issue is cleared up ?  Shouldn't he be appalled that the lives of the members of the Royal Family have been tampered with?  Is the lack of concern more revealing than we realise ? 

Is big business, party funding,  connections in the right circles, (or perhaps the wrong circles ?!),  favours asked and received more important than our liberty, than our rights and privacy as human beings than the tawdry and shoddy goings on within  newspapers  ?  It seems so !  A former editor of another newspaper has talked about this case as though it should be of no concern to the public, that it's nothing unusual, this is what happens, everyone knows - another suggestion that this act of phone-hacking is the norm.  And actually, the one question that seems to have never been asked is 'Why was phone-hacking taking place?'  I think we know the answer, but it's interesting that the question has never been asked...  to my knowledge anyway !  But correct me if I'm wrong ! Yes this is the sort of society we now live in... where the application of the law seems to be overlooked if it gets in the way... well, for some anyway... or so it appears from where I sit ! But it appears to depend on who you are and who your friends are...  there seems to be the ability to protect some who appear to be breaking the law !

When this story broke weeks ago, I suggested that this could possibly open up a huge can of worms. It seems to have been opend.. but I wonder how deep it will be..

Articles/videos from 18th October on Coulson/Murdoch

The Guardian  MPs challenge Cameron over News Corp Meetings http://bit.ly/cPZHBU
LeftFootForward Blog  Payback? Osborne's raid on the BBC gives Murdochs exactly what they wanted  http://bit.ly/9csrah  18Oct
BBC  Murdoch urges Cameron to 'stay the course' on cuts http://url4t.com/EJG
BBC  Why the Murdochs are furious...   http://tiny.cc/j4vac
The Indy  Sky profit puts pressure on Murdoch to raise bid  http://ind.pn/cMlKy9
The Guardian Conrad Black offers his views on Murdoch.. gu.com/p/2kgq6/tw
FT  Why News Corp bid must be blocked..   http://bit.ly/d3tuCs
FT  as Tom Watson states..  you couldn't make it up  http://bit.ly/9kFP8m  25Oct
Tom Watson blog  Coulson boycotts News of the World http://bit.ly/auOuNn 28Oct
Media Briefing  Murdoch's papers keep quiet about his visit to No 10 http://bit.ly/9T6Xnx
London Eve Standard  News International must be worried about 'i' http://bit.ly/a8hC84
The Guardian  Govt accused over details of meetings with News Corp  http://gu.com/p/2kmjv/tf  
The Guardian  Murdoch's paywall  http://url4t.com/86  31Oct
The Telegraph  Europe to probe New Corp rights deal   http://url4t.com/wLq
ABC Radio National  Why is James Murdoch so angry ? http://url4t.com/Xqu Listen!
The Indy  Murdoch's war with the BBC escalates   http://ind.pn/czr0cU  1 Nov
The Indy  The BSkyB bid looks 'sure to go though'   http://ind.pn/ck1NEw  2 Nov
The Atlantic  What Politics and Cricket have in common  http://url4t.com/KoD
The Guardian  The Murdochs encouraged by 50,000 digital subscribers to Times/SundayTimes  http://url4t.com/KVO
First Post  Robbie Williams gives up his phone due to fears.. NoW http://url4t.com/Wbp
The Guardian  Vince Cable set to refer News Corp's BSky bid to regulator http://gu.com/p/2kp9e/tf   4 Nov
38 degrees asks over 600 MPs to stand up to Murdoch http://url4t.com/RRY

Articles on Coulson/Murdoch 6 November 

The Guardian  Andy Coulson interviewed by police http://gu.com/p/2yvvz/tf
BBC  Cameron under fire as Coulson interviewed by police - Harriet Harman questions Cameron's judgement  http://url4t.com/oa4
New Statesman  The Coulson saga rumbles on   http://url4t.com/IX
The Indy  Coulson 'has thrown his former staff to the wolves' http://url4t.com/a8-
Sky News  Video of report on Coulson/NoW phone hacking  http://url4t.com/985 watch!

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Bad news is coming in think and fast...

There is just too much bad news in the week-end papers, especially the Sundays - from the news that hospital waiting lists are set to rise hence lives being put at risk to selling off our forests, our ancient woodlands - an end to our beautiful landscape !  Whether we agree or not it's certainly what the Tories have in mind. And the lib dems seem to be supporting them yet again !  I always thought the lib dems were decent people...

After all the good work that Labour did in investing in our beloved NHS, the Tories are set to destroy it.  We shall once again, yes I'm harking back to the 80s, witness ill people lying in corridors for 24 hours, possibly in pain, before they see a doctor;  nurses running from one ward to another to find medication for a patient as their drug cupboard has run out but they aren't allowed to order any more until Monday;   patients being sent home as the surgeon finds that he can't allocate you to his list after all because the theatre has to close down as a theatre sister has taken redundancy (quite voluntary you understand...  in fact she was glad to 'get out' !) and the hospital has been told to freeze posts;  how long will it be before a new generation of diagnostic equipment comes along, only for it not to be afforded or one that has broken down has to be replaced but can't possibly ? http://url4t.com/i_J  And it will be no good turning to charities, hoping they'll be able to assist... http://url4t.com/oOI


Is this where the so-called 'Big Society' will be stepping in...  when we all 'chip-in' ?  Oh but hang on, many of us will be losing our jobs so not sure how we'll be able to do that...  some families are looking at a very unprosperous future...  middle-class families at that !  The poor will remain poor and actually become poorer.  Ah...  I get it !!  The rich will step-in and make a large donation towards that piece of much-needed equipment...  just like it was in the 19th and early 20th centuries.  They were called 'benefactors' and we all had to nod, tip our caps and be very grateful. Is that what life has in store for us ordinary folk in the 21st century ? Whether we agree or not it's certainly what the Conservatives have in mind. And the Lib Dems seem to be supporting them yet again !  


And then we come to the forests and ancient woodland - soon to be sold off to build more golf courses for the lucky few , centre parc type holiday camps where no-one will be able to afford to go...  Trees will be felled that have grown over centuries. And this isn't harking back to the 80s - it's harking back to the days of Magna Carta - the days of feudalism...  where only rich landowners had any say in what went on http://url4t.com/1Z0   Of course those with estates will still enjoy their ancient woodlands and forests...  they'll be able to roam at their will, rustle through the fallen leaves as they walk along, enjoy the sun as it dapples through the tree branches.   Oh yes it's all looking very jolly...  for the few.  But for the rest of us ?  The birds will lose their nesting grounds, the wildlife will lose their habitats...  Will such carnage affect our climate ?  The British landscape is going to resemble a prairie...  is that what we really want ?  Whether we want it or not, that's what the Tories have in mind.  And the Lib Dems seem to be supporting them, yet again ! 


Those are just two areas of concern...  the papers are full of more...  even the Civil Servants are coming out telling us how it really is.  And it's scary...  quite appropriate as we approach Halloween !  http://url4t.com/Sjg


The newspapers appear happy to report this news..  but they were happy to report and promote the Tories..  they fell in love with Nick Clegg !  But it made news. It's big business - whether good or bad !  And recently it's all been bad.


The mantra that "it's Labour's fault" has stuck like glue !  People have bought it.  People believe it.  Is that why, despite a disapproval of the government rating, we're still below the Tories in the polls ? But what about the money that was used to bail out the Banks ?  However, I'm sure we don't need to worry - they'll feel that they can no longer pay huge bonuses and fat-cat salaries.  The loan will be paid back to the tax-payer in no time at all ! .


I can't see the private sector 'mopping up' as the Tories glibly spit out the rhetoric -  can you ?  The private sector is set to lose jobs too  http://url4t.com/NPF   
This certainly isn't what the Tories had in mind. And the lib dems seem to be supporting them yet again ! 


I'm usually an optimistic sort of person.. but somehow.. I think things are looking dire.  The economy is not looking good.  And people are going to suffer as never before - all through no fault of their own !  It seems that we are being asked to pay for others' greed and mistakes..  Surely I've got that wrong !
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So who exactly is President Sebastian Pinera and do we need to be interested in him ? You bet we do !

We have all been moved by the scenes of the miners surfacing from that deep hole, in the mine.  All 33 were brought safely to ground level to be greeted by their President Sebastian Pinera.
I think we were all warmed by this human show of care and compassion for the miners and their families. The show of emotion and joy was a sight to behold,  brought to us by TV from a country in South America.  I suspect we may possibly know quite a bit about the country's wines but what do we know about Chile's President ?

Pinera was born into a priviliged background, his father was Chile's Ambassador to Belgium and the United Nations, based in New York. His uncle was Archbishop Bernardino Piñera.  After spending some time at Harvard, Pinera graduated with a BA and a Ph.D and he became a Professor of Economic Political Theory at the University of Chile.

Pinera entered right wing politics and served in General Pinochet's Cabinet. Pinochet was invited to take tea at No. 10 with Margaret Thatcher...  and the rest is well known history unless you are too young to remember that time.  You may think that he was arrested for being a fascist dictator ?  Well, partly, but there was a little bit more to it than that...  For starters you could read http://url4t.com/Mla   http://url4t.com/dqs    There is much information on the internet.
And what is Pinochet's legacy in Chile ?   "Pinochet pushed through the education law just four days before leaving power; it placed the responsibility for education in the hands of the private sector at the same time as allowing complete freedom to create educational centres. The result was the deterioration of the quality of education, while making it prohibitively expensive. Working class people now struggle to get into university and have to make do with municipal secondary colleges – in other words, a second class education.."  Guardian  http://url4t.com/Dax  

So what else do we know about Sebastian Pinera...   He became President of Chile in January of this year, but only just by a lead of 4%. He is an extremely wealthy businessman, indeed he is a billionaire. An article in the New York Times gives some information.http://url4t.com/zjP and a little more information about his business interests...  and why he's pushed some aside into another organisation...  http://url4t.com/YZY.

His brother is  Jose Pinera who helped install Chile's economic programme as the General’s minister and today is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute, a rather influential research group in Washington.  He 'reformed' Chile's pension system...  This is what he's suggesting for now in the Western world - here he is on  Fox News (Murdoch's US News channel)   http://url4t.com/sqw video

What do we know about the Cato Institute ?  Well it's an American Think-Tank and one of it's former Board of Directors is one Rupert Murdoch.  A little info about Cato  http://url4t.com/Cfv   http://url4t.com/zZv. 
plus a further view  "Cato argues for the abolition of the welfare system, against the U.S. government pursuing an interventionist foreign policy, in favor of civil liberties and limits on executive power, and in favor of more relaxed immigration policies and for a more deregulated healthcare system"   http://url4t.com/O7Q

George F Will was guest speaker at the Cato Institute's Milton Friedman dinner this year. Take a look at the column on the right hand side...  recognise any names from the UK ?  http://url4t.com/4q0    George Will is a Pulitzer Prize-Winning columnist at the Washington Post - one of the newspapers owned by Rupert Murdoch. Yes, his name crops up all over the place doesn't it ?

We mustn't forget to mention Milton Friedman  - he was probably the most influential economist in the Western world during the latter part of the 20th century.  Reagan and Thatcher are probably his most prominent, ardent fans !  "The core of Milton Friedman’s theories is that the free market, motivated by profit and self-interest, is capable of solving all economic problems. Governments should get out of the way and let the creative force of capitalism perform its magic".  http://url4t.com/1Lr

Maybe some of the above explains why we should be interested in President Pinera.   But maybe there's another reason....  one week we're watching Pinera on our television screens welcoming miners surface from the mine and the following week we have a little bit of history repeating itself - The President of Chile is invited to take tea with the British Prime Minister at No. 10... wonder what they'll chat about ? 

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Why so little news coverage on Coulson/Murdoch ?... plus articles/videos from 4th/5th October...

Despite Dispatches being aired on Ch4 on Monday evening, there has been very little news reporting about the allegations made in that documentary which demonstrated to us that there is more to this than first met the eye !  And isn't it a little bit surprising considering the individuals involved in this - royalty, politicians, celebrities major and minor... big names !  And some big pay-outs too, presumably to keep some individuals quiet ! Why else were big pay-outs made... ? 

The programme even showed us how the alleged phone-hacking took place... (see link below).  Various people have come forward, seemingly concerned that invation of their privacy has been been confirmed, yet still very little reporting.  Witnesses who were previous staff at the News of the World are coming forward to confirm that the allegations hold some truth.  Yet anyone turning on their TV, listening to their radio wouldn't even know that these allegations/concerns are being aired...  In the programme various people said that they had been threatened by senior executives from News International.   Lord John Prescott & Tom Watson MP  spoke openly about threats/pressure.  Goodness knows how many other companies/interests Murdoch has, under what guise, or who in his family co-own other bits of the media or social networking...   Millions have been paid out to some people in out-of-court settlements...     why ?  What do they need to keep quiet about ?   And did you know that some of the key individuals in this drama live near each other - within screaming distance of one Mr. David Cameron ?  No, it was news to me too when Dispatches informed us.

In the documentary, the Met Police appeared to recognise that there was more to this than first reported yet chose to select only one piece of the jig-saw, allowing other parts of the story to be buried !  What does this say about transparency, the law and justice in this country ?  How can one man be allowed to dominate not just the media but political parties, business, and so much more.  How has this happened ?

A presenteer on Sky News really gave something away this evening.  During the press review she uttered that Obama appeared to be in trouble, but it wasn't surprising that the news appeared to be against him, as "news in the US is big business".  What does that mean - "news is big business" !  Surely news is news...  No I'm not so naieve...  how far have we travelled in recent years where business sometimes appears to be more important than the truth?  (see the link below to see who's influencing politics in the US)

We have always been served well by the BBC and its neutrality has been much to its credit. But that neutrality seems to have disappeared in recent times.  Why ?  Is there more to this than meets the eye.. ?

One last question - why did Mark Thompson from the BBC visit Cameron shortly after the election ? What did that conversation consist of ?  There was some transparency about his visit - he did, after all, knock on the front door of No. 10.   Er..  what's significant about that you might ask...  doesn't everyone ?  It appears not :  Murdoch also visited around the same time - but he went in through the back door ! If there's nothing to hide, why hide ?!

The next question is : what is really being hidden here - is it a matter of phone-hacking - which is serious and indeed illegal - or is there something more to worry about...  something more sinister...

Do we need to warn that every citizen should be worried about their liberty, about truth, about their children's futures...  Is news being suppressed ?  Will social media be taken over by media moguls ?  Who is snooping into our lives ?   Are we losing our free speech ?  Are we being manipulated by being ignored ?   And more sincerely,  are we losing not just the right to speak but the the right to be heard ? 

List of articles/videos  Coulson/Murdoch related

Channel 4 Dispatches - watch the programme here video 4th Oct  http://url4t.com/81F 

The Indy  Where we're at...      http://url4t.com/Hqg 

The Spectator  Andy Coulson will (probably, mabe) be in Court soon    http://url4t.com/jHp 

ITV News   Cameron defends Coulson  video  5th Oct  http://url4t.com/g7K

Guardian  How the phone-hacking story  the New York Times  has taken off   http://url4t.com/Y0-
PR Week  Dispatches programme may end Coulson's honeymoon..  http://bit.ly/a6cgjy
Guardian   PM defends Coulson but says no-one is unsackable....   http://url4t.com/dUK

Latina Lista  Murdoch, Mayor Bloomberg, 'Keep America  competitive by fixing immigration'   http://url4t.com/5Wp

New York Times  $1million donation - Murdoch expands his political sphere  http://url4t.com/r6s 

Guardian   Murdoch makes another downpayment in support of Republicans - but gives Obama a bloody nose!   http://url4t.com/9dO

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Threats to Avaaz...

The Media Owners website : Murdoch's interests  http://url4t.com/WZ8

What is Avaaz and what does it do ? Why is it under threat from one Media Mogul ? 
Avaaz is an online global organisation, supports & is active on issues such as promoting democracy, a green economy, human rights and tries to "ensure that the views and values of the world's people inform global decision-making."   Sounds like a good organisation ?  I think so and I joined mainly because of it's stance on human rights plus it's stance for what is, or can be, good in this world   : http://url4t.com/ZPy   http://url4t.com/3mm

Avaaz mounted a campaign earlier this year which you'll find of great interest  http://url4t.com/E_v and is becoming of more concern to many of us.


It appears that someone is attacking Avaaz to the extent of threatening to sue the organisation if it doesn't cease it's campaign.  This is the email I received this evening :

" Dear friends,

A media giant has launched a massive attack on Avaaz after we mobilized against government favours for a new radical-right propaganda network in Canada. They're threatening to sue us if we don't take down our campaign in 24 hours. Let's show them their tactics will only backfire, and donate to give them their answer and keep the fight alive against crony-media across the world:

Avaaz has come under attack from a major media-mogul.

Huge numbers of Canadian Avaazers recently mobilized against government favours for a new radical-right propaganda network run by the Prime Minister's former top spin doctor. The media empire behind the network has attacked our community with several smear pieces in their own newspapers, and admitted insider knowledge of a criminal sabotage of our petition. Now the mogul has threatened to sue Avaaz if we don't take down our campaign within 24 hours!

This is how big corporate power works to silence people's voices. But Avaaz is a community of almost 6 million people -- together we're far stronger than any corporate bully.

Crony-media and its incestuous combination of unscrupulous politicians and biased reporting is a rising threat to democracy in many countries, from Italy to the US to Australia. Let's take a stand, and show them their intimidation tactics will only backfire. They've given us a 24 hour ultimatum: Let's donate to give them their answer and keep the fight alive against crony-media across the world:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/fund_for_fair_media/?vl

Democracy is on the march across the world, but anti-democratic interests have figured out a counter-attack: crony-media. When a sitting political leader is teamed up with a massive media empire, they become hard to beat at the polls.

In Italy, Prime Minister Berlusconi controls over 80% of the news channels, and has a major stake in leading newspapers, magazines and publishing. In the US, UK, and Australia, mega-mogul Rupert Murdoch exploits his empire to get sweet deals from politicians, whom he in turn backs for office. His infamous Fox News is the largest cable news network in the US. After President Barack Obama spurned Murdoch and boycotted his propagandistic network, Fox News spawned the radical right Tea Party group, and provided a platform for hate and racism, suggesting that Obama is a terrorist and hates white people.

Many of these outlets are pushing opinions that poison people's hearts and polarize our world, threatening democracy and peace. Canada is the latest battle -- let’s make it the battle where people-power begins to turns the tide on crony-media. We have 24 hours to win this one -- click below to donate:

https://secure.avaaz.org/en/fund_for_fair_media/?vl

Part of the promise Avaaz movement is our ability to work on the issues that cut across all others. The subversion of democracy by powerful corporate media and their political allies is a threat to all the things we care about, from climate change to poverty to human rights. With our global reach, Avaaz might be one of the only organizations that can fight this rising threat to democracy. We've been given a 24 hour challenge -- let's rise to it.

With hope,

Ricken, Luis, Iain, Emma, Alice, Ben, Giulia, Alex and the rest of the Avaaz team.
http://url4t.com/dDo 
                                                          "
Do you see any similarities to what else is happening ???


UK News Articles
Guardian Why were Goodman, Mulcaire and Coulson paid off ? And by how much ?  http://url4t.com/6XS
New York Times  Scotland Yard Renews Phone Enquiry   (posted 15th UK)  http://url4t.com/NRN
The Evening Standard   Now Rupert Murdoch feels the heat - is this Britain's 'Berlusconi moment' ? http://url4t.com/l2_
Guardian  Boris Johnson dismisses NoW  concerns over phone hacking as 'codswallop' !! http://url4t.com/iMK
Guardian  Vince Cable adopts hands-off approach to News Internation BSkyB takeover http://url4t.com/mqy
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Andy Coulson... called into question !

Well we might be calling Andy Coulson into question, along with the New York Times and the Guardian - but will the police call him in for questioning ?

Are we calling David Cameron's integrity into question after installing Coulson into No 10 ?  Is this a matter of Cameron being 'naieve' in appointing Coulson ?  Or is there more to it...

So why did the story break in the NY Times about alleged shennanegins at a British newspaper, the News of the World?  We know Rupert Murdoch owns that newspaper and he now also owns the Wall Street Journal. He is strongly rumoured to be wishing to take on the New York Times - it is well known that bitter rivalry exists between them. Is it therefore a matter of  unearthing a possibly damaging story that lurks within the bowels of the Murdoch empire ?  If so it seems that the rivalry is about to become more bitter.

Certainly the New York Times isn't letting go of this.  Apparently more news and further allegations are expected  in Sunday's edition of the New York Times with regard to Andy Coulson and his time at the News of the World !

More pressure for Cameron...    and Clegg too ? Can't imagine that the Lib Dems feel comfortable with this...   I wonder how far this story will go in the months to come ?  Or will there be attempts to suppress it ?

It seems that we Brits are not the only one's who are concerned that Murdoch seems to be taking over more media across the world !

Mr. Polly Peck - alias Asil Nadir !

So Mr. Asil Nadir has decided to face the music after a serious financial crime of  'embezzling £30m' 17 years ago according to the Serious Fraud Office. He faces 66 fraud charges.   He has vowed to clear his name and landed in the UK about an hour ago. His passport will have been confiscated and his lawyers Bark & Co., will no doubt have been there to greet him...  He will be fitted with an electronic tag within eight hours of arriving in the UK.

Polly Peck was a food packaging firm that was involved in many areas, food, hotels, hospitality etc. The firm collapsed in 1990 after failing to pay creditors;  £700m was unrecoverable from the subsidiaries.  He famously fled to Cyprus where the authorities couldn't catch up with him. In an interview with the BBC this week he stated that he was subject to unfair injustice back in the early 90's hence his sudden departure which he states he had to do to care for his health.

The company started to face problems after, it was rumoured, that Turkey decided to withdraw tax concessions. His share prices hit £35 and then collapsed. He acquired Del Monte (he famously became The Man from Del Monte after the scandal) and had businesses in Cyprus and Turkey.  Unusually he was the single cheque signatory for the company and that seems to be where the problems began by all accounts.

The story behind the story...   Mr. Nadir was a Conservative party donor, a personal friend of Margaret Thatcher and goodness knows who else in the Tory party.  There is the case of the watch that he presented to Michael Mates, who was Northern Ireland Secretary,  with an inscription 'don't let the buggers get to you'.

So why does he return now and  who will turn their backs on him, and who will stand by his side ?  Ironic too that Michael Mates' son presented the lunchtime edition of the ITV news.

Mr. Nadir faces court initally on 3rd September - when the trial begins I wonder how many times he'll utter the words "I don't remember" ?

The battleground of the NHS

As Unison prepares to take this heartless goverment to the High Court, the National Health Service becomes a battleground.

But we know that the dedicated health professionals and other staff will continue to treat and care for those who need their care.  Patients will continue to turn up at the doors of the many Outpatient Departments across the country.  Pathology/Chemistry Laboratories will continue to undertake the much needed tests to assist the medics in reaching a diagnosis and in monitoring their patients' conditions;  X-rays and other more detailed examinations will still be undertaken;  Nurses will go about their duties as though nothing is happening that affects them;  Doctors will ponder, consider what to do next and decide on what the best treatments are for their patients;  Porters will transport patients from one area of the hospital to the other;  Physiotherapists will manipulate the bits and pieces of our bodies that require manipulation.

Further behind the scenes other staff will arrange transport for those patients who need it, lunches and dinners will be prepared, wards will be cleaned, beds will be changed, medicines will be ordered, appointments will be made, letters and reports will be prepared...   these latter staff are the one's that the government is really targeting...  the one's who are likely to lose their jobs.  They are the real battleground for the NHS.  The former staff mentioned are likely to be those targeted later as the Tory government strips apart the hospitals, the clinics, the GP surgeries that we know and expect to care for us when we need
them !  What *is going to happen in the months to come.. ?

 The rhetoric will start and the battle will commence. And all the above will continue such is the professionalism of staff in our beloved NHS !

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