[Update] The News Corp scandal - Page 69

denphone · 21-08-2011, 18:50

Milly Dowler phone hackers 'used more than one voicemail'

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...ing-voicemails

**Damien** · 21-08-2011, 20:05

Quote:

Originally Posted by Maggy J

The Beeb have interviewed someone who thinks it may have something to do with the Guardian having got one or two scoops this week..

I thought it was prior to this week. Practically all of the The Guardian's stories regarding phone hacking would have come from leaks and inside information.

**Maggy** · 22-08-2011, 22:55

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-14624167

Quote:

Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World who has been arrested on suspicion of involvement in phone hacking and bribing the police, received several hundred thousand pounds from News International after starting work as the Conservative Party's Director of Communications in July 2007.

These payments were part of his severance package, under what is known as a "compromise agreement".

According to sources, Mr Coulson's contractual leaving pay was given to him in instalments until the end of 2007 - which means he continued to be financially linked to News International for several months of his tenure as David Cameron's main media adviser.

Quote:

According to a senior member of the government, Tory Party managers at the time say they were not aware Mr Coulson was receiving these payments from News International while employed by the Conservative Party.

What can one say?How much investigation if any was taken over hiring Coulson?How careful or thorough was the investigation?

Plus what can anyone do if someone just lies through their teeth or is 'economical with the truth'?

Been watching episodes of Yes Minister recently.Somehow it doesn't seem as funny as it once was, just worryingly true to life.

**Hugh** · 22-08-2011, 22:58

tbf, I received payments from a previous employer under a compromise agreement for nine months after I left (I had a good solicitor), and worked for another company for four of those - it's quite common in business.

However, you might think that perhaps Mr Coulson should have mentioned it to DC......

**Maggy** · 22-08-2011, 23:02

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

tbf, I received payments from a previous employer under a compromise agreement for nine months after I left (I had a good solicitor), and worked for another company for four of those - it's quite common in business.

However, you might think that perhaps Mr Coulson should have mentioned it to DC......

Especially with the nature of the job and the access he was afforded to the inner workings of government..

tweetiepooh · 23-08-2011, 12:36

Don't forget (aka Yes (Prime) Minister), the civil service don't tell the MP's (PM) everything (anything?). Deliberate non communication is part of politics.

devilincarnate · 23-08-2011, 17:23

At least Coulson got to keep the car?

Quote:

The severance package also allowed him to keep hold of his company car, our correspondent revealed.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14627871

**Chris** · 23-08-2011, 18:05

What Coulson got is uncontentious. Severance packages are not uncommon; even I got to keep a company car for 3 months after getting made redundant many moons ago now.

What is contentious is the fact that he was working for the Conservative Party whilst still receiving all that lovely lolly from Uncle Rupert. What is also contentious is that the Party apparently didn't know this.

I am curious to know the extent to which all parties concerned were playing that favourite political game, "ask no questions, tell no lies".

devilincarnate · 23-08-2011, 18:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

What Coulson got is uncontentious. Severance packages are not uncommon; even I got to keep a company car for 3 months after getting made redundant many moons ago now.

What is contentious is the fact that he was working for the Conservative Party whilst still receiving all that lovely lolly from Uncle Rupert. What is also contentious is that the Party apparently didn't know this.

I am curious to know the extent to which all parties concerned were playing that favourite political game, "ask no questions, tell no lies".

Yes very true Chris, But you got made redundant and he resigned? But I like this bit of the article that I linked to:

Quote:

Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission said it had received a letter from Labour MP Tom Watson, who has asked the watchdog to investigate whether the News International payments complied with British laws.

The commission said it would be responding to the request.

Mr Watson, said: "Given that Andy Coulson resigned in disgrace from the News of the World over the phone-hacking scandal, he took responsibility for what happened on his watch - his words, not mine - it seems remarkable that News International would feel obliged to give him any payments at all.

"And if those payments were discretionary then I think in law they would count as a hidden donation."

**Hugh** · 23-08-2011, 19:23

Emotive words from Mr Watson - not trying to score some cheap political points, is he?

Quote:

Given that Andy Coulson resigned in disgrace from the News of the World over the phone-hacking scandal....

...... I think in law they would count as a hidden donation."

He took responsibility - that is not the same as resigning in disgrace (imho).

devilincarnate · 23-08-2011, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

Emotive words from Mr Watson - not trying to score some cheap political points, is he?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh

He took responsibility - that is not the same as resigning in disgrace (imho).

Yes he is trying to get some cheap points or could they be early points? As from the quote below he took responsibility of what happened on his watch? IMHO

Quote:

he took responsibility for what happened on his watch - his words, not mine

TheDaddy · 24-08-2011, 15:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chris

What Coulson got is uncontentious. Severance packages are not uncommon; even I got to keep a company car for 3 months after getting made redundant many moons ago now.

What is contentious is the fact that he was working for the Conservative Party whilst still receiving all that lovely lolly from Uncle Rupert. What is also contentious is that the Party apparently didn't know this.

I am curious to know the extent to which all parties concerned were playing that favourite political game, "ask no questions, tell no lies".

Do I remember him telling them that he wasn't recieving any payments other than his Downing street salary? That's contentious if I do remember him saying that.

denphone · 24-08-2011, 15:43

News Corp's BSkyB deal: what do the documents reveal?

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...bid?CMP=twt_fd

denphone · 24-08-2011, 17:55

Andy Coulson 'broke' Commons pass rules by failing to declare NI payments

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...ional-payments

**Maggy** · 24-08-2011, 18:11

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011...-international

Quote:

Andy Coulson was just a little too indiscreet, telling a handful of colleagues at Conservative campaign headquarters that he was still receiving substantial severance payments from News International months after he joined as David Cameron's aide and the party's director of communications in May 2007. His new salary was reported to be Â£275,000.
What Coulson said stayed quiet for years but finally enough of the story reached the BBC's Robert Peston about a week ago for him to try to broadcast what he knew. However, News International was not prepared to co-operate, or at least confirm the outlines of his story, until Tuesday â€“ a behind-the-scenes battle for clarification that suggests the revelation was not leaked to Peston on a day when Libya would be guaranteed to dominate the news.