I was munching my toast on Sunday morning wondering who this high profile resignation was to be from... tweeting away... having a little giggle at some of the funnier tweets... getting concerned about some other developments I was reading about... nothing unusual there then !! No announcement this morning ! Then around lunchtime the news broke that Rebekah Brooks had been arrested. It was pointed out fairly quickly that the arrest was by appoinment.. and of course all the usual questions were asked and opinions given!
The statement from Rebekah's spokesperson soon arrived... who would that be ? A little bit of digging around soon revealed that the spokesperson was from Bell Pottinger... Aha ! A name I recognise well. Being interested in human rights and what's happening in Bahrain, for example, I know that Bell Pottinger represent that government. Protesters are also aware of who is representing their govt... they have held up placards 'You can't spin the unspinnable' ! Things got dangerous to the extent that Bell Pottinger had to close the office.. Lord Astor became involved according to Bell Pottinger but the UK Govt refuted that he'd praised the dialogue referred to http://is.gd/9DroZ0 Lord Astor is UK under-secretary at the MoD and he's also Sam Cameron's stepfather... So it might have been a bit embarrassing if, indeed, he had been involved... don't you think ? http://is.gd/rzWEZW. If you're wondering who Rachel Whetstone is - wife of Steve Hilton. Just click on her name! And here's a bit more http://is.gd/sYJSYO from 2010.
Bell Pottinger was, of course the firm whose internship was auctioned by the Conservatives at their Black & White party. As well as in the daily news it also received criticism from within the PR industry http://is.gd/Ez2ZXE. Via auction, the internship was being offered to the highest bidder rather than on merit, giving opportunity only to the wealthy. And here's a little bit of info about Lord Bell the man in charge http://is.gd/ppdcaL
Going back in history Tim Bell was brought in to help the troubled Lord Black to defuse the crisis at Hollinger which owned the Daily Telegraph http://is.gd/xsRaWx So he's used to helping out media moguls... Black is now serving a jail sentence... http://is.gd/dWMBMj.
And of course there's the whole saga surrounding Mrs. Duffy... who I'm sure you'll remember. But Bell Pottinger ? Hmm... read on... you might find a few more names that you're familiar with too http://is.gd/0Vs34Y
Oh and if you want to know how Bell Pottinger sell themselves http://www.bell-pottinger.co.uk/
Wonder what they can do for Rebekah? When she leaves the Police Station maybe Rebekah will take herself off to Champneys - she'll be in good company as her husband Charlie Brooks introduced the kriotherapy chamber there... http://is.gd/2mZGpM. What's that ? Well it's something like a big ice cube.. I think... http://is.gd/ZRGhHK.
Oh but hang on hasn't Champneys already been in the news today... http://is.gd/JdVmBr
As I write this blog, Sir Paul Stephenson has resigned from his post as Police Commissioner. How many more will bite the dust coming out of the murky world surrounding News International?
And if Rebekah doesn't fancy Champneys ? She might just fly off somewhere for lunch ! http://is.gd/EXz1pp
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