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Thursday 27 January 2011

There's so much happening so quickly... difficult trying to keep up !

How the pace has quickened since Andy Coulson resigned from No. 10!   Dramatically  it's gloves off and let's get down to it from a media point of view.   The whole issue of phone-hacking, News of the World, Murdoch, Mulcaire, News International, Coulson, No. 10  etc. etc., seemed to come alive and suddenly information was being released, fears were being aired and the lid seems to be lifting off from this seemingly sordid and mysterious can ! From where I'm sitting it also rings out that perhaps, as many of us hope, justice might just be seen to be done.

Without doubt this whole issue plus the news that other newspapers and maybe other media organisations are involved in the illegal act of phone-hacking appears to have unleashed many varied questions. Just how prolific is phone-hacking ? By whom ? For what purpose ? Why didn't the police uncover what is being made available now from News International ?  Was this information on the second server that one MP referred to recently ?  If so, why didn't the police find it in their investigations ?  Are we satisfied that News International has released full information or is this merely a gesture ?  Should the forensics go back in to the offices to do a thorough, and I mean thorough search ?  Should we be satisfied that a different team from the Met is to investigate ?  Should we be insisting on an independent investigation  and certainly in inquiry?

Certainly with regard to all of those questions I'm not sure that I'm satisfied with any of the answers we are so far receiving...   I hope that those in a position to do so, will insist that an independent investigation takes place. John Prescott and Chris Bryant have asked for a Judicial Review and I hope this takes place soon.  Surely if we are to witness justice being undertaken, then this has to happen as this would rightly sweep away the current aura of deep suspicion.

A flavour of news coverage from the last few days   Most recent first :

BBC The Daily Politics video : watch Tom Watson & Brian Paddick 27 Jan 2011
The Indy  Police will leave 'no stone unturned' in phone hacking inquiry

Sky News  BSkyB Profits Rise 26% To £520m
The Guardian Trail that led Met police from Prince's household to tabloid newsroom
The Guardian  Nick Davies's email to MPs  http://is.gd/DeshQw
The Guardian   Kelly Hoppen sues News of the World
The Guardian BSkyB spends £7m on News Corp bid 

The Evening Standard  Lord Prescott criticises Met's handling of phone-hacking inquiry
The Telegraph  Phone hacking at NoW 'could have taken place last year'
The Indy   Scotland Yard launches new phone hacking investigation
Ofcom   Ofcom’s public interest report into News Corp’s proposed acquisition of Sky now published:
The Guardian   The Coulson Affair - who runs Britain ?  http://is.gd/CMflsD
The New Statesman  Cameron's terrible judgement has been exposed

I also blog with two friends on http://pressreform.blogspot.com/   ( follow #pressreform on Twitter)

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Sunday 9 January 2011

Questions, and more questions... it isn't going away...

So here we are starting this new year of 2011 with news coverage in the press about various individuals linked to News International - Murdoch, Coulson, Cameron, Cable, Hunt, Mulcaire, Stephenson,  etc. etc. For some reason their names appear to be inextricably linked or to to coin a phrase I picked up somewhere - are they 'all in it together'? 

I believe I've previously suggested that once the civil proceedings commenced about phone-hacking, further allegations would arise..  Certainly the Siena Miller case has provoked more questions to the extent that one newspaper has stated that 'The Met are in the dock' or words to that effect. 

So, where does it go from here...   The press reports that the Police have written to the News of the World asking for clarification on a few matters. How very polite - is this the way the Police usually handles investigations ? Why haven't they woken up the Editor or Managiing Directorat  at 7.00am and insisted upon a visit to the NoW offices ?  That appears to be how other people are treated, but maybe they're not linked to important people.  I thought newspapers kept information for years - so they can pin whatever they want on whoever they want - but information appears to be missing.. 

Is it time to hand this over to another Police Force to investigate independently - as I doubt that people will be satisfied unless such an investigation is undertaken... 


Articles relating to  Coulson, Murdoch, BSkyB, News of the Worl, No. 10...
Nov/Dec 2010 - January 2011 most recent first

Guardian Questions keep coming and we need answers Observer editorial
The Indy  Max Mosley joins 'NoW' row with claims of blackmail

The Indy: "Phone hacking: Now Met police are in the dock"
Blog by Alistair Campbell Media still pandering to the Cameron-Coulson line 
Guardian  Ian Edmondson was at heart of News of the World's operations
Guardian    News of the World phone hacking timeline
FT   Phone hacking:
The Indy  Coulson appointed the suspended executive Edmondson :  
Guardian  BSkyB bid: Cautious Hunt set to reject approach from Murdoch   3l Dec
Guardian  BSkyB: only 1 in 20 back Murdoch takeover, poll reveals
Guardian  Jeremy Hunt is 'knee deep in News Corp', claims Labour MP Tom Watson
Guardian  Behaving counter intuitively over Murdoch BskyB could give Cameron a clause 4 moment
UKUncut  News Corp: damning letter to Sir Gus O’Donnell from @
Guardian  Why the ownership of UK media should conern us all:
Polis  Murdoch News Corp BSkyB merger.  Check this full briefing dossier
The Indy  "Soros vs Murdoch: The battle for the soul of America"
Guardian  Why is the Barclay family complaining about the News Corp-Sky deal?
Next Left  Did current News of the World news editor oversee Glen Mulcaire hacking of Sienna Miller's phone, under Coulson?
Blog Tim Ireland  Andy Coulson and Andy Hayman: Friends
Guardian  Sienna Miller: phone-hacking claim lodged with high court   15 Dec
Guardian  Sky and ITV to have a say on BBC's shows
Guardian   News of the World could face new phone-hacking inquiry (Media Guardian)
The Indy  Coulson cornered by Sheridan – but cleared over phone-hacking
The Indy  Andy Coulson denies he was 'slapdash' as News of the World editor
The Telegraph Andy Coulson phone-hacking investigation to be dropped - Telegraph
Tribune Andy Coulson: lifting the lid on David Cameron’s spin-doctor:   3rd Dec


The Indy  "Phone-hacking case is a matter for the law not Parliament
Learn Boost blog   Murdoch buys education company for $360 million
The Indy  Village People: Coulson legacy of distrust - UK Politics, UK
Politics Home  Coulson is staying put  A "government source" denies Coulson's departure.
Guardian  Court says NoW staff who ordered phone hack must be named
Guardian  Andy Coulson interviewed by police
ABC Radio Australian expose of Murdoch/Coulson/Cameron etc. A must listen -   Audio
Blog by Tom Watson MP  Three quick thoughts on Andy Coulson being interviewed by the police over phone hacking:
 
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