8 April 2011

Cheque book journalism albeit in a different guise, and just as unpalatable...

The news has broken this afternoon that News International, has admitted liability in some phone-hacking claims. Some victims will be offered compensation.http://is.gd/00MQKg


What has brought this on ?  Why the sudden offer ?

Neville Thurlbeck, the News of the World’s chief reporter, and Ian Edmondson,  former assistant editor who was recently sacked from News International over phone hacking were questioned earlier this week after presenting themselves at separate London police stations earlier this week. http://is.gd/LUBEqL

But have those arrests prompted this action ?  Well, clearly, it would appear that they've admitted guilt at a late stage in the game whilst all the time Murdoch's News International News of the World has consistently denied phone-hacking. However, it is now saying that after robust internal investigations it has found that indeed phone-hacking did take place.  So the one big questions in my mind is : why didn't the police uncover that phone-hacking was rife all those years ago and even more recently in the autumn of 2010 before this third investigation was set in motion after immense pressure as questions were being asked about the Met's failure to get to the bottom of this issue ? What was Yates playing at ?  The DPP challenged Yates this week http://is.gd/me03pf. Unanswered questions remain...

This is early days in the breaking news and part of the statement is below. No resignations have been announced from News International.   


"We continue to co-operate fully with the Metropolitan Police. It was our discovery and voluntary disclosure of this evidence in January that led to the re-opening of the police investigation..
With that investigation on going, we cannot comment further until its completion."

Hmm...  right....  they're really the good guys then ?!  Why am I smiling ?...

Its been dirty and its been rough.  And basically Murdoch is trying to bring this matter to a close using his cheque book...

But is still smacks of cosiness  - who has dinner with whom ? http://is.gd/kP8CXE
Who goes through the back door of No. 10 rather than being upfront and entering through the front door like all other visitors conveying that there might be a hidden agenda...?  http://is.gd/omfFiq   Who's been paid off already to stay quiet and who's been paying the Police ? http://is.gd/6eMPbB     And who's been having dinner with whom ?  Oh I already asked that didn't I ? And so it goes around... anyone would think they were all friends...


And meanwhile The Camerons are on their jollies in Spain and Nick is in charge !  At least it gives No. 10 a bit of thinking time...  A coincidence?  Will something else explode ?  Let's wait and see..

Tom Watson's thoughts  "The scandal is far from over."