[Update] The News Corp scandal

[denphone]

l like to see how they are going to worm their way out of this one.

Well I suggest that from now on the less comment about it as we wouldn't want to prejudice their chance of a fair trial.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18073701

In a statement to reporters, Mr Brooks said his wife was the victim of a "witch-hunt".

Hmm! I wonder how many poor innocent sods have been subjected to a witch hunt by NOTW and The Sun in the past.

---------- Post added at 18:44 ---------- Previous post was at 18:33 ----------

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18069612

Parliament should delay publishing papers about the culture secretary's handling of News Corp's BSkyB takeover bid, Lord Justice Leveson says.
He says it should wait until the issues surrounding Jeremy Hunt's links to the firm have been tackled by his inquiry.
Labour later withdrew parliamentary questions calling for Mr Hunt to give evidence to the Commons first amid claims their work was being blocked.

He then inferred that he would not proceed with asking Hunt to give evidence on BskyB along with Fred Michel and Adam Smith if Parliament insisted on seeing the evidence first.

[devilincarnate]

Originally Posted by denphone

l like to see how they are going to worm their way out of this one.

They may try on Horse back

Jack Straw at Leveson today.

[mertle]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Jack Straw at Leveson today.

Maggy been any hints what maybe been hidden wonder who she was refering when she said goes much higher food chain.

Are we thinking News corp or political.

Wonder cameron sent text wishing her well

Originally Posted by mertle

Maggy been any hints what maybe been hidden wonder who she was refering when she said goes much higher food chain.

Are we thinking News corp or political.

Wonder cameron sent text wishing her well

Well how high do we want this to go?Frankly if it goes ALL the way I'll eat my hat..I'll be very surprised if it brings down a government.

[mertle]

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Well how high do we want this to go?Frankly if it goes ALL the way I'll eat my hat..I'll be very surprised if it brings down a government.

well as high as the corruption and hacking leads it should.

If thats means hits the politicians, police or media bosses then so be it. would think all parties uneasy where it could lead if its allowed to go deep.

Do agree it wont go that far leveson and the criminal investigation will go so far to passify but the real guilty likely walk free.

Usual the case will envolve and stop at the fall guys used while untouchable carry on.

There too many layers too many shields to knock down.

Whether this hits murdocks or MP's I doubt it myself it should go to the root of it though.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012...rebekah-brooks

Jack Straw arranged to meet Rebekah Brooks for a gossip once a week when they commuted on the same train when he was justice secretary and she was editor of the Sun, the Leveson inquiry has heard.

He revealed his meetings just moments after railing against politicians who had too close a relationship with journalists and criticising the press for "recording" his profession as "personality, conflict-based".

Unlike other witnesses to the inquiry, such as Alastair Campbell, who testified earlier this week that the Sun backed Labour because it was a winner, Straw was of the view that the News International tabloid did have the power to make or break politicians' fortunes.
"Few of us who took part, for example, in the 1992 general election, are in any doubt that the Sun's approach lost us seats. That was the purpose [of the hostile coverage] and it is disingenuous for anyone to deny it," Straw said.

Sounds like it was an interesting session..And I think he was completely right in saying....

Straw said he believed newspapers had debased public discourse about government and democracy and had contributed to the low turnout at elections because they portrayed politics as "boring" and "completely self-serving".

[mertle]

indeed bad press false or true kills politians. However stirers who use them for political gains equally wrong.

Infact could argue we may need independant assesor during press involvement during election year.

Which then should determine news is truthful but unbiase.

We can see at present what can happen when politians use it as aid to get misleading information into domain.

Jack straw one most articulate polititians shame he fell for the charm of the media.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/17/wo...nt&tntemail1=y

“It is difficult to give an end date,� said a police spokesman, who declined to be identified in line with policy. “We follow the evidence, and it’s impossible to say where it will lead. It’s safe to say it will last years.� A police budget for all the investigations into journalism extends into 2015, and anticipates that the cost will reach $64 million in total.

Well can the police can pursue it? Are they going to even have the resources to do so?Will there come a time when they have no more cash to do so?Will the changes being introduced

I'm wondering if this is a likely scenario considering no one seems to be saying much publicly in the US.

If it is proved that those in Mr. Murdoch’s employ conspired to pay public officials to further business interests, experts say he could be at risk of sanctions in the United States under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Even a small fine would threaten to take the scandal across the Atlantic, and increase political pressure on Mr. Murdoch’s lucrative American interests.

Peter Oborne presently giving his evidence at Leveson .Very interesting.

[devilincarnate]

Should be a good week ?

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's former special adviser Adam Smith will give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry next week, it has been announced.

News Corporation lobbyist Frederic Michel will also appear on Thursday.

Mr Smith resigned last month over his contacts with Mr Michel relating to News Corp's bid to take over BSkyB.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18118611

Actually I found Sir Harold Evans evidence on Thursday afternoon even more fascinating. He shone a light on the Thatcher /Murdoch association.

http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/hearing/2012-05-17pm/