News International Scandal - Political Implications For David Cameron

imme

What political implications will the ongoing phone hacking scandal have for British PM David Cameron.

Every day brings another story relating to the scandal. Metropolitan Police Chief resigns; Deputy Police Chief resigns; Cameron cuts short trip to Africa; whistleblower found dead.

What damage will this do to Cameron. What will be the impact be on his government.

More trouble might emerge when Cameron is forced to go into detail on why he hired former NOTW editor, Andy Coulson, after he resigned from the NOTW.

Fratton Fred

There will be a lot of mud slung at Cameron, but I don't think too much will stick unless there are more revelations.

I think he will be judged on how he handles the scandal, not the scandal itself.

anymore

It makes a nonsense of his main playing card ' The Big Society'. Here was a man at the beck and call of the Murdoch empire. And it mirrors the way in which he and Hague were so evasive over one over the tax status of one of the Tories grandees -

loldog

Probably what's most worrying for the man in the street is the suggestion of endemic police corruption. If your cops start to go bad that's an unhealthy sign for society. If he's seen to take a strong line with that he might slip away.

.

Yahew

He hired a guy who was involved intimately in the scandals, when it was common enough knowledge this was happening. And today: "Hacking suspect Neil Wallis may have provided "informal advice" to David Cameron's communications chief Andy Coulson before the general election, the Conservative party has said.". that's Neil Wallis who caused this:

"John Yates, has resigned over his handling of the phone hacking scandal and his links to Neil Wallis, the former News of the World executive."

Look this is going to run and run. The hacking story will last 4 years. Like the drip drip drip of the Irish tribunals.

The tories have a get out clause, some Tories were very good in the select committee today. They could take over.

Mr.Micro

I can't see this going anywhere simply because it appears that Cameron et al, the Police, and Blair before the first two were/ are all cozy with News Corp....so the people, usually the Police, will be investigating themselves and their masters, so nothing much will be done.

I will bet that the NOTW and others will have had more than access to phones, probably computers and info on Scotland Yard files. Its absolutely disgusting and it undermines the whole of society and how sensitive info given to Governments can be easily bought by the newspaper hacks who hold everyone to account but have no integrity themselves.

Nodin

imme wrote: »

What political implications will the ongoing phone hacking scandal have for British PM David Cameron.

Every day brings another story relating to the scandal. Metropolitan Police Chief resigns; Deputy Police Chief resigns; Cameron cuts short trip to Africa; whistleblower found dead.

What damage will this do to Cameron. What will be the impact be on his government.

More trouble might emerge when Cameron is forced to go into detail on why he hired former NOTW editor, Andy Coulson, after he resigned from the NOTW.

While it might damage him, there doesn't seem to be a leader in the wings of the Tory party waiting to pounce and make the most of it. Far worse would have to emerge to make the Lib Dems walk, as they face destruction at the polls. Or so I reckon.

Sand

The worst thing Cameron has done here is hire Coulson, who wasnt convicted of anything and still isnt afaik. Its at worst a minor lapse of judgement - afterall, who better to help a politician deal with a tabloid media driven campaign than a veteran of the worst tabloid around?

The way people are going on youd think they thought Cameron had hacked Milly Dowlers phone. Its vastly more likely Cameron himself was a target of the hacking.

Its a 10 minute hysteria - no one can afford to get too puritanical about it. All political figures were begging for media support, and theyre begging for media support from toliets like the News of the World because the wider public lapped up whatever ****e those tabloids served up.

Cameron just needs to remain calm, not panick and it'll be forgotten about in a few weeks.

Mr.Micro

Nodin wrote: »

While it might damage him, there doesn't seem to be a leader in the wings of the Tory party waiting to pounce and make the most of it. Far worse would have to emerge to make the Lib Dems walk, as they face destruction at the polls. Or so I reckon.

I agree, the pathetic Lib Dems will lose big time in the next election like the vile Greens here....so they will pretend like the spineless Greens did here, that they are making a difference.....keeping the sleazy Tories in power.

Yahew

Sand wrote: »

The worst thing Cameron has done here is hire Coulson, who wasnt convicted of anything and still isnt afaik. Its at worst a minor lapse of judgement - afterall, who better to help a politician deal with a tabloid media driven campaign than a veteran of the worst tabloid around?.

It's going to run and run. The resignations haven't finished yet. The court cases have yet begun, the Murdoch empire might be dismantled. Cameron was warned about Coulson by Tory colleagues and the resignations were by high ranking policemen who hired the wrong people.

Cameron is a massive liability.

RJGMovie

After yesterdays hearing
Murdoch 1 Left Wing witchhunt 0

LondonIrish90

Yahew wrote: »

It's going to run and run. The resignations haven't finished yet. The court cases have yet begun, the Murdoch empire might be dismantled. Cameron was warned about Coulson by Tory colleagues and the resignations were by high ranking policemen who hired the wrong people.

Cameron is a massive liability.

The resignations in the Metropolitan Police Service were not as a result of "hiring the wrong people". As Mr Cameron has stated fairly forcefully (and somewhat convincingly) in the phone hacking debate in the commons which is ongoing, the two situations are very different.

Ed Milliband has once again shown his frailties and naivety during this commons session. He is a terribly weak leader of the Labour party.

LondonIrish90

Nodin wrote: »

While it might damage him, there doesn't seem to be a leader in the wings of the Tory party waiting to pounce and make the most of it. Far worse would have to emerge to make the Lib Dems walk, as they face destruction at the polls. Or so I reckon.

There are certainly capable potential leaders among the ranks of the conservatives, but as it stands I don't believe there is that great a movement for the Prime Minister to step down.

Theresa May is one such minister who many believe would make a more than suitable leader of the conservatives, should future developments concerning the manner of David Cameron's implication in the scandal be so dramatic as to make his status as PM untenable.

Lapin

Its a been a good while since I took the time to watch events in the Commons for any great length of time.

But having witnessed the PM under fire for the last hour and a half, I'm impressed by his ability to duck and dodge the same questions in such a quickfire manner.

It also reminded me how intolerably dull the Dáil chamber is by comparison. I would love to see our Taoiseagh being held to account in the manner of PMQs, rather than the advance written question method, whereby they respond with written statements usually delivered with hands in pockets to a half empty house.

LondonIrish90 wrote: »

Ed Milliband has once again shown his frailties and naivety during this commons session. He is a terribly weak leader of the Labour party.

Thats very true too.

whatstherush

RJGMovie wrote: »

After yesterdays hearing
Murdoch 1 Left Wing witchhunt 0

Your having a laugh. He was exposed as a doddering old man, worth every one of his 80 years. There was no smoking gun, but how could there be when he claims he didn't know (after a min pause) or no one told him on any difficult question.
Your right, it is a witchhunt and why shouldn't it be when he and his papers have stirred every populist witchhunt going for the last 30 years. Live by the sword, die by it.

Son Of A Vidic

imme wrote: »

What damage will this do to Cameron. What will be the impact be on his government.

Looking at his performance earlier today in the Commons, he came off the ropes fighting. He certainly gave a good account of himself, indeed he seem to positively enjoy it.

Exile 1798

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Looking at his performance earlier today in the Commons, he came off the ropes fighting. He certainly gave a good account of himself, indeed he seem to positively enjoy it.

He performed very well, he certainly had to.

I'd be surprised if Ed Milliband is Labour leader at the next election, he's very unimpressive.

The IRgAy

It never ceases to amaze me just how interested Irish people are in British affairs, even, dare I say it, over Irish matters of considerable importance --Cloyne report hint hint.

Is this boards.ie or boards.co.uk? :rolleyes:

Yahew

I live in Britain. Am I cool.

whatstherush

Robert Peston wrote:

Harbottle's letter to DCMS committee says it wants to find a way to help MPs understand instructions it got from News Int in 2007

This could be the smoking gun. Was the law firm told to hobble their investigation and if so by whom?

who the fug

Yahew wrote: »

I live in Britain. Am I cool.

For a brief nano yoke in 1996

who the fug

whatstherush wrote: »

Your having a laugh. He was exposed as a doddering old man, worth every one of his 80 years. There was no smoking gun, but how could there be when he claims he didn't know (after a min pause) or no one told him on any difficult question.
Your right, it is a witchhunt and why shouldn't it be when he and his papers have stirred every populist witchhunt going for the last 30 years. Live by the sword, die by it.

A witch hunt agaist a doddering old man is going to go far, me thinks the advisors played a cracking hand , bit over egged with the pie, but wifey saved the day

The IRgAy

Yahew wrote: »

I live in Britain. Am I cool.

That's fine, but why discuss a UK matter on an Irish website?

I wouldn't have a problem with this if people on here weren't so rabidly anti British. Rather ironically it seems to be these individuals who gorge the most on British affairs -- something which has positively nothing to do with them.

I know Irish politics is utter rubbish, but it won't improve if you continue to ignore it.

whatstherush

The IRgAy wrote: »

That's fine, but why discuss a UK matter on an Irish website?

I wouldn't have a problem with this if people on here weren't so rabidly anti British. Rather ironically it seems to be these individuals who gorge the most on British affairs -- something which has positively nothing to do with them.

I know Irish politics is utter rubbish, but it won't improve if you continue to ignore it.

FFS if ya want a thread on cloyne, start it. In the mean time can you stop spaming this one.

imme

The IRgAy wrote: »

It never ceases to amaze me just how interested Irish people are in British affairs, even, dare I say it, over Irish matters of considerable importance --Cloyne report hint hint.

Is this boards.ie or boards.co.uk? :rolleyes:

are we restricted to only talking about Irish affairs.
what a sad comment;)

Son Of A Vidic

Exile 1798 wrote: »

He performed very well, he certainly had to.

I'd be surprised if Ed Milliband is Labour leader at the next election, he's very unimpressive.

Indeed and I wonder will his brother return to take the reigns of leadership?

Son Of A Vidic

The IRgAy wrote: »

That's fine, but why discuss a UK matter on an Irish website?

I wouldn't have a problem with this if people on here weren't so rabidly anti British. Rather ironically it seems to be these individuals who gorge the most on British affairs -- something which has positively nothing to do with them.

I know Irish politics is utter rubbish, but it won't improve if you continue to ignore it.

Last time I checked, this forum was called the Politics Forum and I don't see the word "Irish only" anywhere in the title. Understandably Irish affairs will obviously dominate. But if interesting political events are occurring anywhere in the world, then surely Boardsies are entitled to start a relevant thread in this forum.

jmayo

whatstherush wrote: »

Your having a laugh. He was exposed as a doddering old man, worth every one of his 80 years. There was no smoking gun, but how could there be when he claims he didn't know (after a min pause) or no one told him on any difficult question.
Your right, it is a witchhunt and why shouldn't it be when he and his papers have stirred every populist witchhunt going for the last 30 years. Live by the sword, die by it.

murdoch has collected his fair share of enemies over that time and any chance they will get they will rightly put the knife in.
murdoch and his so called news organisations are contemptable and anything that see their influence lessened is good.

With regards to Cameron this episode has shown his misjudgement and even though he will probably survive it, it will have left it's mark.

The IRgAy wrote: »

It never ceases to amaze me just how interested Irish people are in British affairs, even, dare I say it, over Irish matters of considerable importance --Cloyne report hint hint.

Is this boards.ie or boards.co.uk? :rolleyes:

In case it hasn't escaped your mind, believe it or not Britain is our nearest neighbour, biggest trade partner and a hell of a lot of us Irish have either lived there, are living there and more than likely will be living there due to our own pathetic efforts at running our own country.

We share the same TV channels, the same newspapers which are mostly owned by the Ozzie slimeball whose was being questioned by the British parliament.

southsiderosie

Corvus Maximus wrote: »

Indeed and I wonder will his brother return to take the reigns of leadership?

I've met David Miliband in person, and although he looks quite young and can be a bit twitchy, he is very, very sharp. I would love to see him go toe to toe with Cameron in the Commons.

whatstherush

House of cards starting to fall in now.

Robert Peston wrote:

Myler/Crone also say James Murdoch's evidence to Select Cttee was "mistaken". They imply he knew hacking went wider than Goodman

Myler/Crone claim James Murdoch saw the 'for Neville' email at the time of the Gordon settlement (2008 IIRC). The Email indicates that hacking went beyond the one lone reporter story peddled by NI. Under a direct question from Tom Watson, James Murdoch denied seeing this mail at the time of the settlement.

Nodin

Hasn't gone away at all, at all.

Pressure on David Cameron to explain why Andy Coulson was spared tough security and background checks increased as it emerged both his successor as director of communications and his former deputy are being vetted to a higher level than he ever was.

A former senior counter-terrorism official said it was "unthinkable" and "very surprising, that someone would not be vetted to the higher 'DV' level when they are working in No 10, that close to the PM".

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/21/david-cameron-andy-coulson-security-vetting

Hayte

The IRgAy wrote: »

That's fine, but why discuss a UK matter on an Irish website?

I wouldn't have a problem with this if people on here weren't so rabidly anti British. Rather ironically it seems to be these individuals who gorge the most on British affairs -- something which has positively nothing to do with them.

Because at this point the scandal has global consequences for News International which controls a staggering amount of the press in not only the UK but in Australia and the US. What the scandal in the UK shows is how important it is to court the press if you ever want to get elected in this country and it is a damning indictment of the press role as the fourth estate (it is a complete corruption of the term).

I think there are currently two US Department of Justice probes going on into phone hacking at New International's US titles. Australia's anti trust regulator has recently blocked a $1.9 billion bid by Foxtel for Austar United Communications because it is likely to "substantially" cut competition. As more scrutiny is placed on the press role in politics and as we see more public interest hearings into News International, we might even ask ourselves at some point - why doesn't Sean Fitzpatrick have to testify at a public hearings like James Murdoch, Rupert Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks?

Andy Coulson is likely going to face criminal prosecution for perjuring himself in a perjury trial over information gleened from freedom of information requests from members of public inquiry hearings. I also note that after following this scandal in the US, UK and Ireland, both from News International titles and non News International titles, I have seen depressingly little of this story in Irish media generally and almost no questions raised about the role of the Irish press in Irish politics. Freedom of the Press over here, as in the US is enshrined in the constitution but it focuses on rights without responsibilities.

I value press freedom very highly but when it is used as a political enabler, when it is used to assert its rights for profit purposes by trampling on the rights of others, when there is an indication that this happens on an international and industrial scale, I fail to see how this is not of grave importance to Irish citizens.

Nodin

An explanation.....

A Whitehall source said the decision not to subject Coulson to developed vetting was taken by Jeremy Heywood, the Downing Street permanent secretary. The source said it was decided that, as director of communications, Coulson did not need access to highly secret material and that developed vetting was a costly, unnecessary expense.

The source stressed that Coulson's lower level of clearance, "security check" or SC, did allow him to have access to material designated "secret" and to "top secret" material under supervision. He also said that the controversy surrounding Tony Blair's press chief Alastair Campbell's access to intelligence material was a consideration in deciding to give Coulson a lower level of vetting.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/22/phone-hacking-scandal-live-coverage

whatstherush

Letter written by Clive Goodman in 2007 has just been released which fully implicates Coulson.
"In the letter, which was written four years ago but published only on Tuesday, Goodman claims that phone hacking was "widely discussed" at editorial meetings at the paper until Coulson himself banned further references to it; that Coulson offered to let him keep his job if he agreed not to implicate the paper in hacking when he came to court; and that his own hacking was carried out with "the full knowledge and support" of other senior journalists, whom he named."
Guardian Link

Not sure what the implication are for Cameron besides seeming extremely naive, if Coulson outright lied to him.