Murdoch: Ouf! Is this meltdown?

**eighthobstruction** · 26-07-11, 19:03

aye....I cringe whenever Ed M stands up in the chamber....The Establishment is still utterly untouched....and a few boys and girls from the grammar schools and red brick uni's have drawn their formica chairs up to the top table....

**PJPJ** · 26-07-11, 19:07

Indeed - thanks for the link.

**Globaltruth** · 26-07-11, 20:35

Here we go again, evidence threatened re Piers.
Do we need to start a new thread because it's Mirror Group?

Forbes

http://onforb.es/nBbpyF

Forbes is a global media company, focusing on business, investing, technology, entrepreneurship, leadership, and lifestyle.

**amateur51** · 26-07-11, 20:41

Originally posted by Globaltruth View Post

Here we go again, evidence threatened re Piers.
Do we need to start a new thread because it's Mirror Group?
http://onforb.es/nBbpyF

You betcha, Red Rider!:biggrin:

**Globaltruth** · 27-07-11, 06:23

Originally posted by amateur51 View Post

You betcha, Red Rider!:biggrin:

Hmm - maybe not, turns out these were unguarded comments made on that white-hot centre of deep investigative journalism, Desert Island Discs in 2009; hardly a smoking gun, but may well be spun as such.

Still Trinity Mirror's share price down (not as much as NI's yet) which does tend to stimulate internal action...

**Eine Alpensinfonie** · 27-07-11, 07:56

Originally posted by Globaltruth View Post

Do we need to start a new thread because it's Mirror Group?

The Mirror group's greatest scandal was (and probably always will be) the pension fund raid.

Oh, but wait a minute - that's what governments have been doing to public service pensions for years and now complain there isn't enough money to pay... :erm:

**ahinton** · 27-07-11, 11:16

Originally posted by Eine Alpensinfonie View Post

The Mirror group's greatest scandal was (and probably always will be) the pension fund raid.

Oh, but wait a minute - that's what governments have been doing to public service pensions for years and now complain there isn't enough money to pay... :erm:

It is indeed, onloy not only to public service pensions but to plenty of other pensions as well.

**aka Calum Da Jazbo** · 27-07-11, 11:22

e.g. mine! :grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::grr::steam::steam::steam ::steam::steam::steam:

..and no doubt many others ...

**amateur51** · 27-07-11, 18:11

The Guardian has put 14 questions to No 10 about the issue of Andy Coulson's vetting and No 10 has replied; both elements are contained in this article:

The Coulson affair: Guardian questions to Downing Street

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/jul/27/andy-coulson-guardian-questions#hackgate

Fourteen questions submitted by the Guardian to No 10 regarding Andy Coulson's vetting, and the answers we received - updated Thursday 7pm

Does anyone else share my view that the questions are reasonable and important; and that the answers are patronising, obfuscatory and signs of deep funk? :sadface:

**mangerton** · 27-07-11, 19:10

Originally posted by amateur51 View Post

Does anyone else share my view that the questions are reasonable and important; and that the answers are patronising, obfuscatory and signs of deep funk? :sadface:

"Yes" to the first part, and "Did you really expect anything else?" to the second part.

Or to put it another way, "Do ursine creatures defecate in sylvan areas?"

**amateur51** · 27-07-11, 20:04

Originally posted by mangerton View Post

"Yes" to the first part, and "Did you really expect anything else?" to the second part.

Or to put it another way, "Do ursine creatures defecate in sylvan areas?"

:ok:

**aka Calum Da Jazbo** · 28-07-11, 07:03

excellent documentary on 4 last night ... some new material, but well put together in one place ...

**amateur51** · 28-07-11, 16:25

Sara Payne, whose eight-year-old daughter Sarah was abducted and murdered in July 2000, has been told by Scotland Yard that they have found evidence to suggest she was targeted by the News of the World's investigator Glenn Mulcaire, who specialised in hacking voicemail.

Eddie Mair on BBC Radio 4's PM has just described this development as 'a new low'.

Unfortunately I think he's right.

News of the World targeted phone of Sarah Payne's mother

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/28/phone-hacking-sarah-payne

Exclusive: Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire had personal details of murdered girl's mother

**Globaltruth** · 29-07-11, 13:21

..and denied by Rebekah Brooks

Rebekah Brooks immediately (in time to also catch the 5.00 pm r4 news program) issued a strong, credible and coherent denial on this topic.

Point 1 This denial was written (and obviously approved by her) by a PR firm called Business and Brand, a subsidiary of Bell Pottinger, who are on an ongoing retainer (from her lawyers) to provide PR assistance. Who is paying for them? Note also that NI haven't actually stopped paying for the legal services to Glenn Mulcaire, despite promising to do so. (viz: Mulcaire's legal firm, Payne Hicks Beach stated: "We have had no written confirmation that NGN is going to cease funding our client." on Thurs. 28th July) - this is an orchestrated PR campaign

Point 2 How can she keep pronouncing as if she too is an outsider horrified by events - I keep expecting her to start criticising the person who was the editor at the time...

And the head of the Press Complaints Commission has stepped down caught between a rock and a hard place with no place to go. But she will be able to give evidence at the Leveson hearing as an outsider, so more power to her elbow.

The latest news report about 'not recalling' James Murdoch isn't quite accurate...in fact, further written evidence has to be provided to the Culture Committee by August 11. The committee will then decide which witnesses to recall. My guess is that they will and that this will include Myler, Crone, Chapman Murdoch J, and probably Rebekah Brooks.

The level of careful investigative journalism around this topic is encouraging,especially when compared to the clumsy attempts to smear the unpopular Piers Morgan. In both cases though, scores are being settled and vested interests protected.