Cameron: "Cuts will change our way of life"

[lifetime fan]

Plain daft and belies his reputation of being experienced and able.

 

It would have been the correct decision too imo.

 

Stupid old sod.

[Anubis]

He won't be making that decision on the BSB takeover now. Idiot. Murdoch must be sitting back with a large scotch and a self-satisfied grin.

[dennis tooth]

Still good to see they acted swiftly and honourably in dealing with any possible conflict of interest the Tories might have vested in the project.

[lifetime fan]

Still good to see they acted swiftly and honourably in dealing with any possible conflict of interest the Tories might have vested in the project.

 

Dennis you cynical old cunt you...

[dennis tooth]

Who me? Seriously though....

...the truth will leave you cynical, I laugh when people say them politicans are in it for the money, not cynical enough you see, no it's much worse than that, they are in it for the power.

[Section_31]

Pretty underhand of the journalists to pose as constituents IMO.

[Anubis]

We wouldn't want those little scamps to develop a love of books and reading now, would we? They might grow up to educate themselves and find out what we're up to....

 

Booktrust to lose funding for all bookgifting | theBookseller.com

 

 

Booktrust to lose funding for all bookgifting

 

21.12.10 | Charlotte Williams

 

Booktrust is to lose all government funding for its bookgifting programmes in England from 1st April next year.

 

The book charity's bookgifting programmes, Bookstart, Booktime and Booked Up, received £13m from the Department for Education last year. This sum was used to generate a further £56m-worth of sponsorship from publishing partners and corporate sponsors.

 

Booktrust chief executive Viv Bird said: "We are immensely surprised and disappointed by this decision and know that families, teachers, librarians, health visitors, our publishing partners and many others up and down the country will be sharing these feelings."

 

She added: "We passionately believe in these programmes and the proven extraordinary transformative power of reading for pleasure. We will be consulting with our partners and exploring alternative funding opportunities to do our utmost to make sure that every child continues to be given the opportunity to develop a lifelong love of books."

 

Bookstart is a national programme that gives a free pack of books to babies, and guidance materials to parents and carers. Booktime promotes reading aloud with children, and Booked Up aims to give a free book to every child starting secondary school in England.

 

Booktrust stressed that the cut applies to England only

[dennis tooth]

And then try and cover part of the story up as it didn't fit their agenda.

 

Yes these days we see how clean the sport of politics and the media are. Covered in feaces and vomit rinsed with piss and throwing great cobs of it at each other while screaming 'Look at that filthy, dirty bastard Mr and MRs public. I hope your seeing this.' before settling down to rummage through some binbags while snorting badly cut coke off the rinsed feaces and vomit filled floor between writhing hills of maggots spilling out of the sky and into their hair.

[Section_31]

Sorry SM, but that scheme sounds like a genuine waste of my money. Free packs of books for babies and guidance for carers (on what? How to read a book to a kid?) The fuck? Can't the kid just wait until its old enough and buy its own buck? As for giving secondary school kids a book each, I bet most of them end up covered in drawings of cocks.

 

As an interesting aside, my stepdad said the following before - and he genuinely meant it - 'Did Vince Cable invent cable (TV)? That's probably why he hates Sky.' I was laughing for about 30 minutes.

[torahboy]

Vince was confronted with two female journalists who were posing as a couple of his constituents. He was probably just trying to impress them with the size of his political cock and, being a vain old gobshite, gave them a hell of a lot more than he intended.

 

Now he is going to suffer a slow and painful political death. I can't wait for his next dispatch box performance. It should be great fun.

[Anubis]

Sorry SM, but that scheme sounds like a genuine waste of my money. Free packs of books for babies and guidance for carers (on what? How to read a book to a kid?) The fuck? Can't the kid just wait until its old enough and buy its own buck? As for giving secondary school kids a book each, I bet most of them end up covered in drawings of cocks.

 

Encouraging a child to read is the greatest gift you can give a child. The one's who draw the cocks are usually the ones who were not encouraged. If you can turn that round, or at least try, then it is worthwhile.

[dennis tooth]

Vanity.

Murdoch's favourite sin.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Pretty underhand of the journalists to pose as constituents IMO.

 

That's one way of looking at it. The other is, if you're a public representative, don't blurt stuff out and you have no chance of getting caught blurting stuff out.

 

He is, or was, a pivotal member of the government. Fair game for some undercover reporting, surely?

[cochcaer]

The Telegraph never revealed the BskyB story in their 'full transcript' this morning. I suspect Murdoch has been talking (ahem, blackmailing) to the coalition all day and when he never got what he wanted - 'leaked' the story.

 

Wouldn't be surprised if more has been held back.

[Thants]

Just when one of them tries to do something good he fucks it up. Jesus Christ they so weren't ready for government were they. Go back to keeping Bees Mr Cable.

[Section_31]

That's one way of looking at it. The other is, if you're a public representative, don't blurt stuff out and you have no chance of getting caught blurting stuff out.

 

He is, or was, a pivotal member of the government. Fair game for some undercover reporting, surely?

 

I don't know, something about it doesn't sit right with me. The PCC code of conduct says secret recording should only be done when it's in the public interest. This is by no means adhered to, obviously, especially by the red tops, but I believe in the principle, and think that if you're a journalist you should only be misleading people about your identity if the public stands to gain something by your investigation.

 

Presumably these two didn't know he was going to run away at the mouth, but just thought they'd take a chance that he did, taking up valuable time when he could be meeting a constituent in what should be a private meeting - as private as that between a patient and a doctor IMO.

 

If I went to my MP complaining about British Gas, I'd like to think he could feel fee to say in passing, man to man, 'yeah they're a bunch of knobheads' and not presume I was some hack fuck and out to bring him down.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

I don't know, something about it doesn't sit right with me. The PCC code of conduct says secret recording should only be done when it's in the public interest. This is by no means adhered to, obviously, especially by the red tops, but I believe in the principle, and think that if you're a journalist you should only be misleading people about your identity if the public stands to gain something by your investigation.

 

Considering he was the main reason - right or wrong - for riots on the streets of London, I'd imagine he'd be classed as somebody who is a fair target under the PCC Code of Practice. The findings certainly where.

 

I know what you mean, it's got sleaze written all over it. I guess it's a judgement call as to whether or not that is worth doing. Any clandestine activity is pretty sleazy, but sometimes necessary and sometimes worth it.

 

Presumably these two didn't know he was going to run away at the mouth, but just thought they'd take a chance that he did, taking up valuable time when he could be meeting a constituent in what should be a private meeting - as private as that between a patient and a doctor IMO.

 

You know I love you like an incestuous sister, but I really, really disagree with that.

 

If I went to my MP complaining about British Gas, I'd like to think he could feel fee to say in passing, man to man, 'yeah they're a bunch of knobheads' and not presume I was some hack fuck and out to bring him down.

 

Fair point, but the counter argument is the one I set out above: if you're in a position where you're a public representative, don't say that sort of stuff. There's nothing stopping ordinary constituents from going straight to the papers with this stuff anyway.

 

Don't get me wrong, it's obvious, by the very definition of it, that it's underhanded and deceiving and a little sleazy, but so are many of the things they find out.

[Section_31]

Considering he was the main reason - right or wrong - for riots on the streets of London, I'd imagine he'd be classed as somebody who is a fair target under the PCC Code of Practice. The findings certainly where.

 

Fair point, but the counter argument is the one I set out above: if you're in a position where you're a public representative, don't say that sort of stuff. There's nothing stopping ordinary constituents from going straight to the papers with this stuff anyway.

 

On the first point, the outcome means the PCC won't touch it I would imagine, if they had found nothing suss they probably wouldn't have published anything anyway. But choosing to carry out the 'sting' was totally without reason because there was no indication that anything untoward was going on in his surgeries. If someone had said he'd been touching people up, or asking for bribes, then yeah - fair enough - but a random scouting operation like this, as I say, it doesn't sit right.

 

I know what you're saying about him being a public figure, but where does that stop? What if he says something to someone at a bus stop? Or when he's pissed in the pub within earshot of someone? Do you think he should never be able to take his Government hat off?

[dennis tooth]

"I assume you don't read the Daily Telegraph or Daily Mail but Cameron is being attacked by his own people for being a liberal.

 

"You see the same thing is happening to both sides. He and Osborne are both hated by their own party faithful. And I'm not kidding, if you read the Daily Telegraph I am described as a communist. They are saying 'why have you got this anti-bank communist in your government?' And they are attacked for betrayal in the same way that we are."

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

On the first point, the outcome means the PCC won't touch it I would imagine, if they had found nothing suss they probably wouldn't have published anything anyway. But choosing to carry out the 'sting' was totally without reason because there was no indication that anything untoward was going on in his surgeries. If someone had said he'd been touching people up, or asking for bribes, then yeah - fair enough - but a random scouting operation like this, as I say, it doesn't sit right.

 

I think it's a completely fair journalistic operation aimed to unearth details about currently relevant political concerns. I really do. He's the second most important person in one half of the coalition. We deserve to know what they really think about their bedfellows. In public he's saying their stronger for the tuition fee rebellion, but in private he's saying otherwise.

 

I think the outcome has probably vindicated the methods, even without prior knowledge of the outcome.

 

I know what you're saying about him being a public figure, but where does that stop? What if he says something to someone at a bus stop? Or when he's pissed in the pub within earshot of someone? Do you think he should never be able to take his Government hat off?

 

Sure he should. I'm not saying he shouldn't be honest. I'm not even saying he's done anything too bad - stupid in the case of Murdoch impartiality, but not particularly bad. I just think they're right to go after somebody who is so important to the democracy of the nation. He's more than just a public figure, I'd argue.

[dennis tooth]

Double delight for Murdoch today. Maybe he'll get a manicure?

 

 

 

Phone hacking: 'News of the World' emails 'lost' on the way to India

 

 

Information watchdog launches inquiry as potentially vital messages go missing

 

By James Hanning and Paul Bignell

 

Sunday, 19 December 2010

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The privacy watchdog, the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO), has launched an investigation into claims that vital emails between senior executives and journalists on the News of the World have been "lost" while being transported to India, The Independent on Sunday can reveal.

 

 

Experts fear the missing emails – on computer hard disk drives that have reportedly vanished – could have major implications for the multiple investigations into claims the newspaper was involved in widespread hacking into the phone messages of targets from the worlds of politics, royalty and entertainment.

 

The investigation will add to mounting pressure on Andy Coulson, press secretary to the Prime Minister, David Cameron, and a former editor of the News of the World. Coulson, who denies any knowledge of the hacking, resigned from his post after Clive Goodman, the paper's former royal correspondent, was convicted of hacking the phones of Prince William's aides.

 

The latest investigation comes just days after lawyers acting for the actress Sienna Miller lodged a document at the High Court in London, saying they had found new evidence that would justify bringing prosecutions against other journalists from the Rupert Murdoch-owned paper.

 

The loss of the emails was revealed during the perjury trial of the former Scottish Socialist Party leader Tommy Sheridan. Mr Sheridan claims he was targeted by the newspaper and that his personal phone records were hacked by a private investigator hired by the News of the World.

 

The former MSP, who is representing himself in court, accused Bob Bird, the Scottish editor of the News of the World, of failing – in defiance of a court order – to reveal internal company documents that would support his claims. Mr Bird claimed in court he had done his best but that "many emails had been lost when they were being moved to an archive in India".

 

Tom Watson, Labour MP for West Bromwich East, who is following the Sheridan trial closely, complained to the ICO that the loss of data was in breach of the Data Protection Act.

 

Under this legislation, personal data is not allowed to be transferred to a country that lacks an adequate level of protection. Mr Watson claims India has only basic provisions and so would not comply.

 

The revelations could add to the pressure on the Crown Prosecution Service to reopen the long-running News of the World phone-hacking case, after it announced earlier this month that there would be no further charges over the allegations.

 

The ICO confirmed that its head of enforcement is now investigating the complaint and would pursue it when the Sheridan trial finishes.

 

Mr Watson said yesterday: "When will this scandal ever stop? It has been admitted that key emails have been inadvertently lost. How many other pieces of information have News International managed to lose? Had the Metropolitan Police seized this electronic file when they did the original inquiry into phone-hacking, we wouldn't be in this position now."

 

The News of the World said yesterday: "We have received a request for clarification from the Information Commissioner and will be responding shortly."

[dennis tooth]

Robert Verkaik: The wall of silence erected by those in the know

 

 

Analysis

 

 

Saturday, 11 December 2010

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The Crown Prosecution Service's decision not to bring phone-hacking charges against Andy Coulson may amount to no more than a brief respite for the former editor of the News of the World.

 

 

The Prime Minister's spin doctor has become so closely associated with the politically charged allegations that yesterday's legal developments in Scotland are unlikely to put an end to the scandal.

Related articles

Coulson cornered by Sheridan – but cleared over phone-hacking

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There is a stench of disbelief over what Mr Coulson says he knew about the illegal actions of at least one of his reporters who intercepted the personal mobile phones of public figures.

 

Yesterday Mr Coulson's evidence as a witness in the perjury trial of former MSP Tommy Sheridan and his wife Gail added more smoke to the fire.

 

He confirmed to the court that he had enjoyed a limited social relationship with Andy Hayman, the assistant commissioner at Scotland Yard who headed the inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal at the paper.

 

And under cross examination Mr Coulson further told the court that his own private office wasn't searched by Mr Hayman's officers.

 

Such admissions will raise further questions about the cosy relationship between the Metropolitan Police force and Rupert Murdoch's media empire. When Mr Hayman left the Met in 2007 he was employed by News International as a columnist.

 

MPs have already criticised the Met for what they saw as a hasty decision to end their original investigation after Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire were convicted in 2006.

 

Yesterday the CPS's decision not to bring further charges confirmed what many people already suspected, that the investigation had been met with a wall of silence. Had former News of the World reporter Sean Hoare not declined to repeat to officers what he had told the New York Times about questionable news-gathering practices at the paper, yesterday's news may have been much more gloomy for Mr Coulson.

 

But Mr Coulson and his new employer must be aware that it only takes one insider to break ranks for the police investigation to be reignited.

[cochcaer]

Apparently more on three other Libs in the Telegraph tomorrow.

[dennis tooth]

Until now, any public figure who believed they may have been subject to illegal tapping could request a summary of references to them in the mass of evidence siezed from private investigator Glenn Mulcaire in August 2006.

 

But now the Metropolitan Police have announced they will no longer distribute the evidence unless people can convince them there are "reasonable grounds" for believing their voicemails were accessed without authorisation.

 

The move has been interpreted as an attempt to check the spread of information from Mulcaire's papers, computer files and audio cassettes, extracts from which have already been provided to 194 public figures.

 

It has been suggested that the information could include the names of journalists employed by former editor Andy Coulson, now David Cameron's media advisor, who commissioned Mulcaire to target politicians and celebrities.

 

Mark Lewis, a lawyer acting on behalf of some of the suspected victims, said the change of policy was "a bit like the police discovering that your house has been burgled, but you don't know that it's happened – and they won't tell you anything about it unless you can come up with your own evidence to show you've been a victim of the crime."

 

Police have admitted that their initial investigation failed to include a thorough analysis of the material taken from Mulcaire, but have frequently refused to re-examine it.

 

Sections of the material that have been released during court cases have been redacted by police, including the bulk of references to journalists giving Mulcaire his orders.

 

Keir Starmer, the director of public prosecutions, announced last week that Coulson would not be prosecuted due to a lack of cooperation from witnesses and a lack of evidence on which to bring criminal charges.

[Guest Numero Veinticinco]

Apparently more on three other Libs in the Telegraph tomorrow.

 

Please be Clegg. Please, please, please be Clegg.