God, those NoW journos were utter scum weren't they?

[headfairy]

apparently by deleting Milly's messages her family still had some hope that she might still be alive

"I am satisfied that she neither had knowledge of, nor directed those activities". James Murdoch on Rebekah Brooks' apparent non-involvement in any of these.

Oh to have such clean hands...!

Oh yay - the bookmark thing - finally got it!

I've just sent my reply to the consultation, just in time for the midday deadline.

It was quite impassioned.

I ended it by saying, "Mr Hunt, may I remind you, that as an elected M.P. you work for us, the British public. You do not work for Rupert Murdoch."

oops, word missing: in any of these events

There is a special 'the Media Show' at 12pm on radio 4, and a shortened 'You and yours'.

That's really interesting, lastonetoleave I wonder when she'll go? That takes it RM himself doesn't it?

I read that the rumours about RB offering her resignation twice were denied by NOTW sources (for what that's worth). Ditto her crying when she made the announcement. Anyone know?

Yes, I wondered whether to post that anecdote or not, but I think it does illustrate a couple of things about both Brooks and the Murdoch operation. Of course, RM was only 'in town' every few months, but he liked to be involved.

"I remember working for The Sun at the time when Rebecca (then Wade) was editor, and was arrested for assaulting her then-husband Ross Kemp. [...] I recall Wade getting out of the police station and coming into The Sun newsroom (which is lined with plasma screens showing rolling Sky news, all of which were running her story) to a standing ovation from the staff. "The boss (RM) is in town", she said, "I had to give you all something to write about..." They all loved her for it. "

That's just sick :(

But I think the most revealing thing is that the heat went off her to the "other" Mitchell brother - wasn't that such a lucky coincidence!!!

One of the reasons my parents emigrated here, was at the time their home country in South American was full of corruption (including the media), and my dad in particular saw the UK as a beacon of democracy, integrity and equality.

He actually said the other day, he no longer believes that, he said this whole story (and the BSkyB element to it) has him doubting the integrity and democracy of the government.

*South America, not South American, blooming hell.

Rebekah Wade has not a shred of integrity at all. Apparently she was flanked by security when she swanned into the NOTW offices yesterday and informed everyone that they had been sacrificed at the altar of news international to save her corrupt, immoral self.

I also think that Cameron needs to look at his position here - how can he possibly say publicly that he is still ' a friend of Andy Coulson?' how can he be on a job like Prime Minister and admit to that?

If the people in this country who wield the power are the media, the government and the bankers than I am in utter, utter despair.

( cat )

I reckon headfairy is right - last line of defence.

Just mo of course, we can't know.

lastone nothing would surprise me about RB. Anyone who can run that 'peados' campaign while simultaneously knowing that the phones of a missing child and the parents of child murder victims (clumsily phrased I know)were being hacked...well, people will draw their own conclusions about that.

I suspect RM's 'affection' for her is because she is made in his image.

"£I also think that Cameron needs to look at his position here - how can he possibly say publicly that he is still ' a friend of Andy Coulson?' how can he be on a job like Prime Minister and admit to that?"

Yes, I was wondering that too.

RB = amoral, self serving, corrupt. No wonder RM likes her so much. Just like him

It seems a good time to recommend a read of "The Way We Live Now" from Anthony Trollope. The 'now' being 1870's but there isn't need to change anything more than names and some detail to see it as a sharp satire on the 2010s...........bit concerning to see we haven't evolved very much in all that time.

Not to defend Cameron for his grave lack of judgement but Tony Blair also sucked up to RB. And tried to keep it quiet in a 'In the thick of it' manner.

And Gordon B went to her star studded wedding. Murdoch's hold over British governments is not a party political issue.

Actually, I would recommend Piers Morgan's diary The Insider of his time editing NOTW and working at The Sun. The man is clearly a moron, naturally, but having worked there I can say that book is an accurate portrayal of the news rooms, Murdoch (Piers Morgan was handpicked by him at just 27 - RM spotted another favourite young!), working for a Murdoch tabloid. Rebecca Brooks gets quite a few mentions too.

1989 Rebekah Wade joins NOTW; Piers Morgan editor Bizarre Sun; Andy Coulson dep ed Bizarre.
1994 RW dep ed NOTW; Piers Ed NOTW; AC Ed Bizarre
1995 Piers Ed Mirror; Phil Hall Ed NOTW
1998 RW Dep Ed The Sun
2000 RW ED NOTW; AC Dep Ed NOTW
2003 RW Ed The Sun; AC Ed NOTW
2009 RW CEO News International

What a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.....

goodman has just been arrested

yes, just read on guardian online that Clive Goodman has been arrested, the NOTW former royal correspondent. There are rumours that Rebekah Wade/Brooks will be arrested.

Interesting that Piers Morgan and now PR supremo Phil Hall have not contributed to the debate. They were in the thick of it. must have got amnesia........

I wonder if the House will move for no confidence in the PM? Now, that would be fun. Suspect there're a lot of them who feel that now's the time to shake RM's hold loose, and who better to sacrifice than DC?

Jux - I agree, I said earlier on that IMO Cameron should be seriously considering his position, a position which I now think is untenable.

No. You could say exactly the same thing about Tony Blair and GB. It is not party political. Successive British governments have sucked up to RM. In spite of the fact that most papers, both broadsheet and tabloid are right wing.