When the big yellow breaking news bar appeared on our screens yesterday afternoon, announcing the closure of the News Of The World was to close, it understandably came as a surprise. But, I thought at the time, it was the right decision. The problem is that now I’ve done a bit more research into the phone hacking scandal, I’m not so sure that it was.
The whole scandal is abhorrent, no two doubts about. As Boris Johnson himself, when it was just about celebrities and politicians up to no good, your average person didn’t really care. But when it was revealed that victims of crime, and worse victims of murder, were also on the list of the private investigator involved, apathy about the scandal turned to rage. Me included. However, as I keep having to remind myself this happened back around 2006, and came to light with the jailing of journalist Clive Goodman. There are very few people left at the News Of The World from that time. Just three I believe, and there is no evidence that any of those were involved.
So is to really fair to put so many innocent people out of work, because of the actions of a few journalists that no longer worked at that paper? I’m not so sure. The problem is that disgust into the scandal meant that the brand was irreparably tarnished, and it was hard to see how it could ever recover. Especially, consider that company after company was pulling its advertising out. But, the more I think about it that announcement now seems even more cynical. It has been widely known for a while that News International was restructuring to save costs, as well as wanting to move into tv with the acquisition of BSkyB. But by ditching a tarnished brand, and creating a new tabloid instead does seem a little cynical, but why should we expect anything less from the media.
Now, turning back to the scandal itself. Like I said it happened a few years ago, but that hasn’t stopped serial bandwagon jumper Ed Miliband from trying to exploit it for political point scoring. But, NO party is going to come out of this scandal clean!
First there is the obvious link between Cameron and Coulson. Andy Coulson insisted that he knew nothing, but resigned as it had happened on his watch. David Cameron employed him because he took him at his word, and the police investigation at the time supported the view that he didn’t know. So for Ed Miliband to claim poor judgment by the PM in employing him is misguided. After all, he had been cleared of involvement or knowing about by the police, and he took Coulson at his word. But, as we all now know that investigation didn’t go far enough, or at worse was flawed. David Cameron wouldn’t have known that, nobody did. Did Coulson actually know what was going on? I honestly haven’t a clue. Then again if the police investigation was flawed it’s hardly fair to point the finger at current Met Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson. No, it should be pointed at his predecessor and well-known Labour luvvy Sir Ian Blair. After all, he was in charge during that flawed investigation, and Blair never did anything that upset his friend Tony Blair.
So Coulson, at that stage, was given the all-clear. Whether he really did know anything or not, hopefully, the current Operation Weeting will find out.
However, as I said no party will come out of this scandal clean. No matter how much of a bandwagon Ed Miliband jumps on, he doesn’t escape the fact that he was in the government when this scandal broke. And, more damning than that is that Labour actually discussed whether to hold a public inquiry into the scandal, and CHOSE not to! So, all of his calls for a public inquiry now are just cynical point scoring as Labour had their chance, and ad usual did nothing! Also, all of the vitriol directed at the “links” directed at the Tories and their links with the Murdoch press, shows their selective memories as Blair and Brown were both courting the Murdoch press for years. Perhaps it’s because they changed their allegiances that Labour are now so anti-Murdoch?
Then there is the calls by Ed Miliband calling for current News International Chief Executive, and editor when the Soham girls parents had their phones hacked, Rebekah Brookes to resign. He is right she should go! But, to then to say that the PM should be as well and isn’t because of a personal link between the two is wrong. The reason being is that it is wrong for ANY Minister to call for, or even force the sacking of an individual of a private company. Yes, she should go, in my view she has no morals. But, if the PM were to call for her head, or even puts pressure on the News International to sack herm then the government would be taken to a tribunal and lose. Didn’t Labour learn that lesson with Sharon Shoesmith? Also, if the government was to exert pressure on NI to get rid of her, to see the BSkyB bid get sanctioned that too would also be illegal.
Like I said no party will come out of this clean. For Labour to call for the head of the person “whose watch it happened on” really need to remember just one “whose watch” the scandal, flawed police inquiry, and lack of public inquiry, it all happened on.
As for Coulson, Brookes, dodgy officers et al, if there is evidence throw the book at the them!
