Coulson & Brooks hacking trial starts today

[pcvdriver]

12TS said:

Justin Cyder said:

Piers Moron, Shirley?

Ooh....it couldn't happen to a nicer person could it? Please, please sky-fairy let it happen..... What I'd have given to have been there when Jeremy Clarkson punched him at a party. ;-)

[Zod]

Derek Smith said:

Zod said:

The offences happened under a Labour government, one that toadied up to the Murdoch press . . .

Thank goodness Cameron, Gove, May et al don't do that sort of thing.

It's a good thing that the Police have clean hands here. Oh, wait...

Oh dear!

[Derek Smith]

Zod said:

Derek Smith said:

Zod said:

The offences happened under a Labour government, one that toadied up to the Murdoch press . . .

Thank goodness Cameron, Gove, May et al don't do that sort of thing.

It's a good thing that the Police have clean hands here. Oh, wait...

Oh dear!

Thank you for repeating a point I have often made in the past.

It is Murdoch who is at the centre of all this. His methods of gaining influence are well known as are his thoughts on politicians and the agreements he makes with them.

This is nothing to do with left/right wing. That is farcical. It is one man, in control of massive influence, using it to further his own interests. On top of that, it is collusion by MPs and PMs.

Thatcher, Blair, Brown, Cameron: all have formed close relations with Murdoch, Thatcher less so, although she started it all. Any politician wanting to further their career will meet with Murdoch.

The BBC, one of Murdoch's main targets, is vilified by all sections of politicians.

Murdoch even issues his own requirements for the support of his massive media empire: the McTaggart 'lecture'.

Further, he has senior police officers, senior judiciary and some high in the civil service, in his circle of 'influence'.

To suggest it is a scandal is correct. To suggest it is something to do with left or right flies in the face of all the evidence.

Major was the only recent PM who more or less ignored the demands and he was attacked mercilessly.

When interviewed by Tom Kierman, he reported that Murdoch said:

You tell these bloody politicians whatever they want to hear, and once they deal is done you don’t worry about it. They’re not going to chase after you later if they suddenly decide what you said wasn’t what they wanted to hear. Otherwise they’re made to look bad and they can’t abide that. So they just stick their heads up their asses and wait for the blow to pass

Yet there seems to be an open door at #10 for this bloke, his staff and his confidants. Christmas dinner with his favoured editor? Poor judgement there. Godparent to one of his brood? Dreadful.

As an aside, I wonder what Gove will do with all his insider knowledge of newspapers.

[12TS]

Derek,

Very well put.

I do wonder why the politicans think that he gives them something though. In the modern age the influence of newspapers is diminishing so the need to have him on side isn't so great. And does anybody believe what's in the Sun enough to go and vote like they tell to?

I suppose it's a bit more subtle that that though, it's the drip drip drip of opinion that they need to buy and narture.

However did we allow it to get to this stage?

[The Don of Croy]

Derek Smith said:

...Thatcher, Blair, Brown, Cameron: all have formed close relations with Murdoch, Thatcher less so, although she started it all...

Derek - are you sure of this? Murdoch had been 'running' the News of the Screws and the Bun since 1969, the two biggest circulation newspapers of their day, all through the Wilson/Callaghan/Heath years. And yet somehow Thatcher started the rot after 1979?

Looking further back to the activities of Beaverbrook and other early 20th Century publishing houses there ain't nothin' new in the world of politicians and media tycoons.

[Derek Smith]

The Don of Croy said:

Derek - are you sure of this? Murdoch had been 'running' the News of the Screws and the Bun since 1969, the two biggest circulation newspapers of their day, all through the Wilson/Callaghan/Heath years. And yet somehow Thatcher started the rot after 1979?

Looking further back to the activities of Beaverbrook and other early 20th Century publishing houses there ain't nothin' new in the world of politicians and media tycoons.

I take the point about Beaverbrook et al. Indeed, in some ways it was worse than nowadays: the elite were untouchable and the revelations of what went on were not so available.

Thatcher, or rather Murdoch, brought it into the modern world though, establishing the present system. He wanted to ignore the monopolies commission problems and did so.

To give Major his due, and I'm one of those who underrated him at the time, he ignored such pressures, but those that followed just built on the new system.

I remember Harman mouthing off when Murdoch jumped ship last election. It was almost as if she was suggesting that labour had done everything that was asked of them. But that can't be right of course.

The McTaggart lectures are well worth reading up on and then examining government policy, or rather actions, afterwards. It is almost as if . . .

I remember an article in the Eye listing visits to #10 and private meetings with the PM after the latest elections. I meant to record them but it slipped my mind. Whilst the totals were shocking, the stats for the previous mob would have to be listed for them to mean anything.

[Mr Snap]

12TS said:

Derek,

Very well put.

I do wonder why the politicans think that he gives them something though. In the modern age the influence of newspapers is diminishing so the need to have him on side isn't so great. And does anybody believe what's in the Sun enough to go and vote like they tell to?

I suppose it's a bit more subtle that that though, it's the drip drip drip of opinion that they need to buy and narture.

However did we allow it to get to this stage?

In my book, it's rare that Derek puts a foot wrong.

[12TS]

2 more charged from NoTW.

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/30/pho...

Mr Wallis is very upset.

[Soov535]

Coulson must be enjoying Belmarsh....... Not.

Assaulted for the second time and looking to move to nonce wing.


https://uk.news.yahoo.com/andy-coulson-injured-pri...

Unlucky that he's banged up with a criminal who was featured in the NOTW!


I do NOT envy him.

[Soov535]

And it gets better for him....

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/06/and...



Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

[Steffan]

Soov535 said:

And it gets better for him....

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/aug/06/and...



Oh dear oh dear oh dear.

That was almost inevitable given the way that the Sheridan case has gone. AC is clearly a liar of some distinction. I do not think his life is going quite as he planned. Pity. Worth remembering that David Cameron as Prme Minister made his appointment of Coulson at the highest level of government, when there rumours about Couson, were already fully extent, which confirms just how woefully inadequate Cameron's personal ad political judgment must be. Pity.

If Coulson is found guilty he might well get another significant sentence. I suspect he is still in a hard prison because he is accused of other crimes and until those are decided I think he s stuck in a pretty crap place. Mabe his well connected friends will effect a change for their former colleage. Maybe they will not.

[pcvdriver]

I'm sorry, but I just can't find any reason to feel anything but schadenfreude......when I hear of Andy Coulson's day going from bad to worse. Especially if his conniving sent an innocent man to jail. Hope his next ste is a hedgehog and his next cell mate is a 25 stone hulk who calls himself Mary..........lol!!!

[Zod]

pcvdriver said:

I'm sorry, but I just can't find any reason to feel anything but schadenfreude......when I hear of Andy Coulson's day going from bad to worse. Especially if his conniving sent an innocent man to jail. Hope his next ste is a hedgehog and his next cell mate is a 25 stone hulk who calls himself Mary..........lol!!!

Ah, the usual homo-erotic prison fantasy that so many PHers seem to enjoy!

[anonymous-user]

Yes, I've noticed that too, Zod. Car folk, eh?

[pcvdriver]

Zod said:

Ah, the usual homo-erotic prison fantasy that so many PHers seem to enjoy!

Zod, normally I'd avoid making replies insinuating such a fantasy......but there are times when you just have to make exceptions.... So Mary, if you're reading - you go for it, gal!!

[carinaman]

Reportedly he's out of Belmarsh and at an Open Prison:

http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/content/after-two-mo...

[jmorgan]

quelle surprise

[jbswagger]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-30142722

Andy Coulson freed from prison

[jmorgan]

quelle surprise

[Mermaid]

jmorgan said:

quelle surprise

Overdue on a library book - would be in for 5 years minimum.