[Update] The News Corp scandal

Blair is on now.Anyone interested can find it on BBC 24/7 at the moment or at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18232204

Also here http://www.levesoninquiry.org.uk/hearings/

[Osem]

I hope someone's thought to measure Blair's nose before and after he gives his evidence.

One war protester escorted from the Inquiry..

---------- Post added at 12:21 ---------- Previous post was at 12:18 ----------

Blair seems to be emphasising that he was keeping the media on side so as to not be attacked.That he was managing them but not acceding to their demands.

Also emphasising that his friendships with Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks developed after his resignation.

Well Blair seemed his own unctuous self and very,very careful not too damn too many.

The only event that will be remembered is the war protester.

Originally Posted by Maggy J

Well Blair seemed his own unctuous self and very,very careful not too damn too many.

The only event that will be remembered is the war protester.

He gave the performance you would expect. Interesting, conceding minor failings whilst objecting to the major ones, quite honest about matters for which he can't be blamed. It was interesting that he said it was important Cameron was not left 'politically exposed' by the findings of the report and that party politics shouldn't get involved. Basically saying Labour shouldn't make the final report a political weapon lest it causes nothing to be done.

[Osem]

Don't see how Labour can make much capital out of it when they wined and dined Murdoch et al for over a decade and so much of what's gone on happened on their watch.

[watzizname]

Originally Posted by Osem

Don't see how Labour can make much capital out of it when they wined and dined Murdoch et al for over a decade and so much of what's gone on happened on their watch.

Indeed, but given that it actually began on the Tories watch, there seems little point focusing on either party, as they both seem as culpable as each other..

So long as something is done to prevent any further coziness and underhanded practices involving our media, we can probably all sleep a little easier.

[devilincarnate]

It will be fun to se who the papers pick at the next election after this has run its course?

Originally Posted by watzizname

Indeed, but given that it actually began on the Tories watch, there seems little point focusing on either party, as they both seem as culpable as each other..

So long as something is done to prevent any further coziness and underhanded practices involving our media, we can probably all sleep a little easier.

It began with the newspapers themselves. Blair was right when he said that he was seeking to control them, not create them.

[Osem]

Blair was seeking to use them for his own ends. The master of lies and spin didn't invent News International but he certainly knew how to benefit from them. Of course now he's out od power his recollections are somewhat different - perhaps he shouldn't have shredded so many documents...

Originally Posted by Osem

Blair was seeking to use them for his own ends. The master of lies and spin didn't invent News International but he certainly knew how to benefit from them. Of course now he's out od power his recollections are somewhat different - perhaps he shouldn't have shredded so many documents...

So does Cameron, which is the point. This seem to be a necessity to a successful political career because some areas of the press can make life every difficult otherwise.

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by devilincarnate

It will be fun to se who the papers pick at the next election after this has run its course?

who ever picked on them the least

[Osem]

@ Damien - Yes of course they need and seek the support of the press and the rest of the media. Nothing new there - been going on for decades on all sides. The point is that Blair has a very good reason NOT to make a big party political stink about all this because his party's 'relationship' with NI lasted far longer than Cameron's has and most of the serious wrongdoing seems to have occurred at the same time. Any damage done to the Conservatives would probably be minimal compared to that done to Blair's reputation and Labour's image.

Originally Posted by Osem

@ Damien - Yes of course they need and seek the support of the press and the rest of the media. Nothing new there - been going on for decades on all sides. The point is that Blair has a very good reason NOT to make a big party political stink about all this because his party's 'relationship' with NI lasted far longer than Cameron's has and most of the serious wrongdoing seems to have occurred at the same time. Any damage done to the Conservatives would probably be minimal compared to that done to Blair's reputation and Labour's image.

Well yeah. I wasn't expecting him to make a stink about it. As for serious wrongdoing that wasn't so much Blair's doing, although I remain deeply suspicious of why the police rejected an investigation when The Guardian originally broke the story back in 2009. I think Cameron's relationship with NI was only brought to a halt because of the current investigation, he would have maintained a relationship with them as long as he could as well.

Hence I think, BSkyB approval aside, this isn't the fault of a single party but the system in the country where the Government has to maintain a good relationship with certain media bosses to the extent where they hold far too much influence over the state.

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Incidentally The Guardian's Amelia Hill will not face prosecution over her reporting leaked information regarding this case.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Damien

Well yeah. I wasn't expecting him to make a stink about it. As for serious wrongdoing that wasn't so much Blair's doing, although I remain deeply suspicious of why the police rejected an investigation when The Guardian originally broke the story back in 2009. I think Cameron's relationship with NI was only brought to a halt because of the current investigation, he would have maintained a relationship with them as long as he could as well.

Hence I think, BSkyB approval aside, this isn't the fault of a single party but the system in the country where the Government has to maintain a good relationship with certain media bosses to the extent where they hold far too much influence over the state.

Just to clarify, I wasn't suggesting that serious wrongdoing was Blair's doing or even done with his knowledge, merely that his government was enjoying a very cosy relationship with NI during the many years in which it seems the worst abuses took place. Who knows what Cameron would have done if it hadn't come to light.... What we are finding out, however, is what actually happened and in that respect Blair/New Labour have a lot more to lose than Cameron.

BTW, just to prove I'm not having a day off, I could list some of Blair's many misdeeds but they're all very well known.