2 December 2012

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...

26 September 2012

Bitten Biter Bites Back! - MacKenzie To Sue Police?

Kelvin MacKenzie and the Sun headlines smearing football fans at Hillsborough.
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
(Alex Thomson's Gotcha! 'doorstepping' of MacKenzie)

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.)


 

25 September 2012

Today's Revelations in NotW Computer-hacking Story

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

Links:

Jonathan Rees - (image from Independent Voices interview)
Background articles/information on this story can be found here :
Further links to related articles in media today:

17 September 2012

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

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


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

===========================================================
Links, Comment and information connected to today's revelations will be posted regularly below:
  • Evening Standard version of Tom Harper's article HERE 
Tuesday, September 18th:
 

    14 September 2012

    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.

    20 July 2012

    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

    15 July 2012

    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 )

    12 July 2012

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


    =================================================================
    Appearing today:

    Professor Roy Greenslade










    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








    Collette Bowe













    Sir Charles Gray

    Submission by Early Resolution (pdf, 671KB)










    David Thomas

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

    10 July 2012

    Leveson Inquiry - Module 4 - Day 2 - Stanistreet, Frost and Moore

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

    @nataliepeck:
    #Leveson's ruling on Associated Newspapers/Motorman mentioned this morning can be read here:
    =================================================================
    Those appearing today:

    Lord Hunt
    Continued from yesterday....
    Guardian Live Blog HERE
     
    Michelle Stanistreet



    Guardian Live Blog HERE 
    Professor Chris Frost


    @nataliepeck:
    Professor Frost is head of journalism at Liverpool John Moores University and member of the NUJ.
    @lisaocarroll:
    Leveson has just told us John Moores Uni in Liverpool will be bestowing honour upon him tomorrow (ah, that's why there's no Leveson Wed)
    Michelle Stanistreet and Professor Chris Frost from NUJ
    Guardian Live Blog HERE

    Martin Moore










    Guardian Live Blog HERE