David Cameron when questioned yesterday, failed to answer the question of whether he had discussed the BSkyB bid by the Murdochs with either or the Murdochs, or Rebekah Brooks. Twenty-six times he was asked, twenty-six times he said 'I did not have any INAPPROPRIATE conversations'.
The inference is that he DID discuss it with them, but he justifies this by saying he 'took himself out of the decision making process', 'he had no part in making the decision', 'it was down to the Culture Secretary.
I have to disagree with him on that point. He had a CRITICAL role in the decision making process - which is that after Vince Cable had been stung by the Torygraph, it was Cameron who made the decision to take him off the decision making, and it was Cameron who also made the decision to appoint Jeremy Hunt, who of course, works for .....Cameron. I think he had no option but to take Cable off, but he could have appointed another LibDem in Vince's stead. Ministers will never go against their leader, unless on a strong point of principle, or to trigger a leadership election, because they all want to climb the greasy pole. And Hunt set off admirably up that pole - Ofcom had recommended the bid be referred to the Competitions Commission, Hunt saw no need, and just gave a green light.
Just because you have given the decision making to another person, if you choose that person, then you have influenced the result of the decision. And 2 days after Vince Cable was sacked from this role, and Jeremy Hunt put in his place, Cameron was at Rebekah Brooks' house for a party. Even then, he couldn't see this was inappropriate. Even if totally innocent, couldn't he have given the party a miss this one year?
The man is a fool.