Dacre Grimly Determined...

According to the Mail on Sunday today ( Note the by-line - David Rose - again!) -

Bombshell by Leveson's own adviser: His law to gag press is illegal as it breaches Human Rights Act (but she's banned from telling you what she advised inquiry)

• Shami Chakrabarti blasts Labour leader Ed Miliband’s ‘hasty and ill-considered’ endorsement of the report
• Director of Liberty also rebuked pro-legislation pressure groups such as Hacked Off for 'ill-informed debate'

By David Rose

This headline and the article beneath prompted a cacophony this morning of  'Told you so!' from the press and political commentators, and 'Traitor!' from those who believed a member of Lord Justice Leveson's panel would at least have seen his hymn sheet if not prepared  publicly to sing from it!

Then came:

This is taken from an article in the Inforrm Blog , written by Hugh Tomlinson QC. He continues:

Also:

The article in the Mail on Sunday is remarkable not only for the disingenuous inaccuracy of Mr Rose' prose, but for the inclusion of some of the most cleverly chosen images I've seen for a long time.... have a look! A case of 'They're wrong - just see by their photos how wrong they are!'

Mr Dacre, do have a quick shufti at your foot - I think you may have shot yourself in it.

UPDATE: 16:03 p.m. :

Liberty have just posted this article - explaining why the Mail on Sunday got Shami Chakrabarti's meaning so wrong...

Bitten Biter Bites Back! - MacKenzie To Sue Police?

Kelvin MacKenzie and the Sun headlines smearing football fans at Hillsborough.

Kelvin MacKenzie's Lawyers Seek Hillsborough Police Apology - Greenslade - Guardian

He argues that the lies promulgated by the force in the aftermath of the tragedy in which 96 Liverpool fans were killed prompted him to publish a front page headlined "The Truth".
Writing in tomorrow's issue of The Spectator, the former Sun editor speaks out for the first time in detail about his fateful decision to use the headline. It led to him suffering, he writes, "personal vilification for decades".
MacKenzie reveals that it was necessary to have his house patrolled by police and that he has faces physical danger should he enter the city of Liverpool. - Guardian

Kelvin MacKenzie Instructs Lawyers to Seek Apology from Police Over Hillsborough 'Vilification' - PressGazette

The Spectator reports today:

Writing in tomorrow’s Spectator, the former Sun editor speaks out for the first time in detail about his fateful decision to print the now infamous ‘THE TRUTH’ headline in the red-top the day after the Hillsborough disaster in 1989.
The terms of the apology and any compensation are to be debated, but MacKenzie tells of police patrols being increased around his house and the physical danger he faces in the city of Liverpool.
Kelvin admits that he was wrong, ‘but the people who have got away scot-free are South Yorkshire Police.’ He is seeking recompense for ‘the lies their officers told’.

MacKenzie was quoted saying:

Now I know — you know, we all know — that the fans were right. But it took 23 years, two inquiries, one inquest and research into  400,000 documents, many of which were kept secret under the 30-year no-publication rule, to discover there was a vast cover-up by South Yorkshire Police about the disaster. Where does that leave me?

He also suggests that other publications ran the same “copper-bottomed” story but The Sun was only one singled out:

Liverpool fans didn’t turn on other media, only the Sun. That has always puzzled me. Was it picked out because the paper had always backed Thatcher, while the city had always been pro-Labour? - PressGazette

• Mirror Online - Sun Editor Kelvin MacKenzie Wants Hillsborough Apology from Police
• Kelvin MacKenzie Demands Apology From Police Over Hillsborough - Telegraph
• Kelvin MacKenzie Demands Hillsborough Apology from Police - Alex Thomson - Channel 4 News

(Alex Thomson's Gotcha! 'doorstepping' of MacKenzie)

• Kelvin MacKenzie Wants Payout from South Yorkshire Police Over Hillsborough - Independent
• Zelo Street: Kelvin McFilth Protests Too Much
• Kelvin MacKenzie, This is Why the Sun is 'Picked Out' Over Hillsborough - New Statesman
•  

Reaction from South Yorkshire Police:

A South Yorkshire Police spokesman said the force "awaits Mr MacKenzie's letter with interest".
"It is well known that many media outlets ran similar stories at the time based on the same sources but chose to treat them differently," he said.
"Mr MacKenzie was responsible for the particular headline he chose to run with." - BBC News

Reaction from journalists and others on Twitter:

News of the World Journalists and Glenn Mulcaire Appear at Old Bailey

Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie Brooks arrive at Old Bailey (image from Jakarta Globe)

BBC News - Phone-hacking: Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson in 2013 Trial

In a separate case, Mrs Brooks, 44, from Churchill in Oxfordshire - along with her husband, Charlie, and five others - are accused of perverting the course of justice and are appearing at the Old Bailey.
The charges relate to an alleged attempt to hide evidence from police investigating phone-hacking claims and illegal payments to public officials by the News of the World and the Sun.
Mrs Brooks's chauffeur Paul Edwards, former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, head of security at News International Mark Hanna, and security staff Daryl Jorsling and Lee Sandell also face the charges. - BBC News

Former Murdoch Aides Appear in Court - New York Times

Mr. Coulson was ordered to appear in court on Wednesday for preliminary hearings into charges that he conspired to intercept voice mail. Mr. Cameron hired Mr. Coulson before he became prime minister but kept him on as communications chief after the Conservative victory in the 2010 election.

As the hacking scandal widened, Mr. Cameron initially stood by Mr. Coulson, but disclosures about illicit phone intercepts continued. Mr. Coulson resigned from his government post in January 2011, saying the scandal was distracting him from his work at 10 Downing Street. - New York Times

Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks Trial Date Set for Next Year - Independent

Ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, ex-chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and former reporter James Weatherup are also facing charges, along with private detective Glenn Mulcaire. Kuttner was excused from attending the hearing today.  - Independent

Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson to Face Trial Over Alleged Hacking Next September - HuffPoUK

Andy Coulson arriving at court this morning (image from HuffPoUK)

(Article includes pictures of all of those appearing in court this morning.)

Video: Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson Arrive at Court for Phone-hacking Hearing - Telegraph

Hacking Trial Date Set for September 2013 - Sky News
Video - Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson Arrive at Court to Face Alleged Phone-hacking Charges - Guardian
Comprehensive List of Journalists Arrested by UK Police in the Last 16 Months - PressGazette

 

Today's Revelations in NotW Computer-hacking Story

Twitter - 11:02 a.m. Tuesday 25th September 2012:

Links:

• Exclusive - Tom Harper - 'News of the World Computer Hacker' Exposed Scotland Yard Mole - Independent Voices

Jonathan Rees - (image from Independent Voices interview)

Background articles/information on this story can be found here :

• Brown Moses Blog - The Cook-Hames Surveillance
• Brown Moses Blog - Alex Marunchak - Presumed Innocent
• Brown Moses Blog - Derek Haslam Confirms to Ian Hurst Southern Investigations Targeted MPs, Ministers and the Home Secretary

Further links to related articles in media today:

• Senior Met Detective Charged in News of the World Leaks Probe - PressGazette

• Phone-hacking: Judge Reveals Relative is Among Claimants - Guardian
• Clegg Backs Independent Press Regulation - Hacking Inquiry - Hacked Off
• Phone-hacking Claims Against News International Near 300 - Guardian
• News of the World Computer Hacker Blew Cover of Met Police Mole - Tom Harper - Evening Standard
• Brown Moses Blog: Alastair Morgan on the Latest Hackgate Revelations 
  
• The Sun: Met's Priority on Andrew Mitchell is 'To Find and Shoot the Messenger' - PressGazette
• Carina Trimmingham to Appeal Mail Harassment and Privacy Case Defeat - PressGazette
• Zelo Street: Murdoch is Served (83)
• Ex-Murdoch Editor Brooks Due in Court on Hacking Plot Charges - Reuters
•  
  

Major Developments in Phone-hacking Scandal

Tom Watson on News International and Axe Murder Inquiry Debate in Westminster Hall Feb 29th

Earlier today, a rather cryptic tweet appeared in my Twitter timeline:

This was soon followed by an article in the new IndependentVoices by Tom Harper - HERE

Tom Harper

Monday 17 September 2012

Exclusive: News of the World hired detective firm linked with murder to spy on Met Chief

Revealed: Yard had undercover officer inside Southern Investigations for 9 years. Derek Haslam claims police failed to act on his intelligence

Youtube recording of Haslam and Hurst phone-call : Via i Trace UK ‏@iTraceUK


An article on Alex Marunchak HERE - from Brown Moses Blog.

The background to the Daniel Morgan Murder and potential links to today's revelations, from Brown Moses Blog,  HERE .

More on Southern Investigations from BBC News HERE

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Links, Comment and information connected to today's revelations will be posted regularly below:

• Evening Standard version of Tom Harper's article HERE 

• Derek Haslam Confirms to Ian Hurst Southern Investigations Targeted MPs, Ministers and the Home Secretary - Brown Moses Blog (With transcript and links to other information re this complicated area)
• Murdoch is Served (82) Rees, the Screws and the Met - Zelo Street 

• Neil Kinnock Takes Legal Action as New Phone-hacking Claims Reach 174 - Guardian Media
• Exclusive: Tabloid 'Hired Private Detectives to Spy on Former Met Police Chief' - Independent
  
• News of the World Put Former Met Chief Under Surveillance, Private Detective Admits - Telegraph
• Exclusive: News of the World 'Ordered Burglary' - Independent
• The News of the World, Its Hired Spies and Why the Met Chief Was Put Under Surveillance - Evening Standard

Tuesday, September 18th:

• Phone-hacking: Did Murdoch's Papers Show Political Bias? - Daily Beast 

 

• Zelo Street: Littlejohn - Waiting For Leveson 
• Letter to Rupert Murdoch Regarding Burglary - Tom Watson MP
• Leveson May Face Commons Committee - Guardian
•  Private Detective's Axe Murder: Family Ask Theresa May for Inquiry - Evening Standard
  

Express extracts an old favourite from its limited repertoire... 'furriners'!

MIGRANT FAMILY OF NINE TARGET BRITAIN AND GET HOUSE AND BENEFITS IN 3 WEEKS

On September 12th, the Express returned to one of its favourite dog-whistle topics, guaranteed to boost sales amongst those readers who are prepared to ignore accurate statistics and are willing, all too willing, sadly, to come to heel obediently. Here , journalist Macer Hall spins a carefully worded, detailed web of hyperbole and downright untruths!

Quoting from several Tory MPs, councillors and a representative of the ubiquitous and inevitable Taxpayers' Alliance, Macer paints a lurid picture of councils overrun by huge non-British families sucking dry the small amount of cash allotted for housing the needy.

The usual cant, divisive and dangerous.

One sentence of Macer's stands out :

'Recent figures from Whitehall showed that foreigners are now pocketing £2.1billion in UK welfare handouts every year.'

Wrong, Mr. Macer!

The true figures have now been given  as: -

Iain Duncan Smith's £2bn benefit tourism estimate cut by 92% - BBC

The full article on Iain Duncan Smith's revised figures can be found HERE .

Mr. Macer, yet again your soapbox has been found to be riddled with woodworm and an unsound platform for your paper's bigotry!

Update #1

Yesterday, the Express bellowed louder still.......this time with journalist Anil Dawar teetering precariously aboard the anti-migrant campaign.

Leveson Inquiry - Module 4 - Witness Lists - 23rd and 24th July 2012

Lord Justice Leveson

Witnesses appearing next week are:

Monday 23rd July:

DAC Sue Akers ( Met Police )

Closing Submissions from:
CPVs
Metropolitan Police
Telegraph Media Group
Associated News Limited

Tuesday 24th July:

Closing Submissions from:
Northern and Shell Network Limited
Guardian News and Media Limited
News International

Leveson Inquiry - Module 4 - Witness Lists - 16th - 18th July 2012

Those appearing at the Leveson Inquiry this week are:

Monday 16th July:
Professor Jennifer Hornsby ( Birkbeck )
Professor Sue Mendus ( York )
Professor John Tasioulas ( UCL )
Dr. Rowan Cruft ( Stirling )
Professor Chris Megone ( Leeds )
Dr. Neil Manson ( Lancaster )
Professor Baroness O'Neill ( Cambridge )

To be read:
Professor Jeremy Waldron
Professor John Thompson

Tuesday 17th July:
Philip Coppell QC
Steve Unger and
Stuart Macintosh ( OfCom )
Robin Foster ( Communications Chambers )
Claire Enders ( Enders Analysis )

Wedenesday 18th July:
Max Mosely
Dr. Damian Tambini ( LSE )
Professor Steven Barnett ( Westminster )
Matt Sprake ( Newspics )

Leveson Inquiry - Module 4 - Day 3 - Greenslade, Suter, Richards, Bowe, Gray and Thomas

Lord Justice Leveson

Module 4: Recommendations for a more effective policy and regulation that supports the integrity and freedom of the press while encouraging the highest ethical standards.

Useful Links:

Leveson Inquiry Witness Statements HERE 
Leveson Inquiry Witness Lists HERE 
Video Recordings of each day's proceedings HERE
Live Feed From Leveson Inquiry Site HERE

Guardian Live Blog HERE

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Links to comment and information relevant to the Leveson Inquiry 
( Filtered Google newsfeed in sidebar to the right of this post >>> ): 

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Appearing today:

Professor Roy Greenslade

Submission by Professor Roy Greenslade (of City University) (pdf, 947KB)

Tim Suter

From Perspective website:
Tim is MD of Perspective, advising clients on media and communications policy and regulation. Previously the founding Ofcom partner responsible for content regulation, he was Head of Broadcasting Policy at DCMS during the passage of the Communications Act 2003, having held senior editorial roles in BBC News.
Submission by Tim Suter (of Perspective Associates) (pdf, 513KB)

Ed Richards

• Covering Letter from Ofcom (pdf, 392KB)
• Submission by Ofcom (pdf, 945KB)

Collette Bowe

Sir Charles Gray

Submission by Early Resolution (pdf, 671KB)










David Thomas

Submission by British and Irish Ombudsman Association (pdf, 1MB)