Paul Dacre at the Leveson Inquiry

[bananaistheanswer]

here

I was going to add comment to the other thread I started here at the beginning of the inquiry but purely for the comedy value alone, I felt this warranted it's own, shiney new thread. The above isn't word for word, just the guardian blog, but there are some crackers in there, and I haven't even got to the end.

Did you know, criticism of the Daily Mail stems from a lack of understanding on how journalism works? Next time you see a thread on here quoting the Daily Mail, just remember, we just don't understand how journalism works. Feast your eyes on the pearls of wisdom dished out by the one and only Mr Dacre, and enjoy...

You might well be right about gideon's appearance. He doesn't seem to be the sharpest tool in the box, jay will make mincemeat of him. And your toddler comparison is spot on next time I see him squirming on TV I'll think of that post and chuckle

I'll sit there and ponder..."Well, Gideon ? Have you shit yourself ?"

Statement from Fife NHS

www.nhsfife.org/nhs/index.cfm?fuseaction=nhs.newsdisplay&objectid=DB1CF21B-A501-17F0-3E74EEA52FCDA2C2

jeez - can't believe these kids are in charge of our country. I want to slap his chubby legs for telling big fat lies.

Just skimmed through GB's evidence on the guardian blog. He didn't hold back did he? NI are still sticking to the anonymous father spilled the beans story about his son, while Fife NHS publish an apology for a leak of personal info. It gets stranger and stranger. Also, none of this can't recall bollocks either he pretty much nailed his comments to the mast and no doubt many press will be scurrying around trying to pick this stuff apart. I look forward to the text between Sarah Brown and Brooks about Watson. Proof in the puffing and all that. For all the slagging off Brown gets, I actually have a teeny bit more respect for him after that. I guess time will tell once what he's said has been checked, if it stands up to scrutiny. Off to check out gideon's progress now

Bloody iPhone! Proof in the PUDDING!

gideon's not doing well. He's the worst case yet of 'didn't see, hear or say anything, not ever, no sir, except I have absolute clarity about any conversation that has no bearing on this enquiry'.

I think Fife may be falling on their sword unnecessarily - unless they actually know something rather than simply "can't rule out" staff.

Here's La Brookes at Leveson, 11 May afternoon:

[p31]
8 Q. Where did he[the source] get his information from?
9 A. He got it from the fact that he -- his own child had
10 cystic fibrosis and he was given this information when
11 information was sought about cystic fibrosis.
...
[p32]
14 Q. How had he got the information?
15 A. He'd got the information because his own child had
16 cystic fibrosis and he'd got the information, I should
17 say, through a very small -- it's not a small charity,
18 but there is a charity aspect to the Cystic Fibrosis
19 Society, and he got it slightly by involvement through
20 there.

The CF discussion starts on p30 and runs to p42 of that evidence, with some worthwhile diversion in the middle.

But that looks like Brookes is fingering someone at the Cystic Fibrosis Society, which the Browns may have asked for information.

Do you think they will ask about coulson? I am surprised he hasn't been mentioned or maybe i missed it as was out?

He got the information because his own son had CF, and could well have been told this by a member of NHS staff in giving him advice on support? It's still entirely plausible that a member of NHS staff was the original source of info. I doubt they'd have thought a conversation with a father of a child with CF would result in that father contacting a journalist. The bottom line is, that info was leaked against their wishes, and the initial source IMO had to have had knowledge of the situation through involvement in providing care or 'loose talk' between staff who provided that care. I do find it very 'odd' that a father of a child with CF would contact a journalist with information that he's been told by someone who I presume has told him while trying to provide support. I don't get how NI continue to defend their actions here. They gave the Browns no real choice in whether the story was published. That part of this I do believe.

It's a sad day when parents faced with a diagnosis, reach out for help and support and in doing so, get betrayed by someone either from the hospital who they asked for help or the charity they were referred to. It is still a pretty poor thing to do. And the paper don't get brownie points for not having paid someone to nick or look at medical records of a small child. They still published a story the browns didn't want 'out there'.

Oh agreed. Absolutely unacceptable who ever leaked it.

I've been surprised (perhaps foolishly) by the spread of organisations fingered by the papers, though. When the birth of Hugh Grant's baby was leaked, the first thought was to blame the hospital but the Mail iirc mumbled things at Leveson about having spies at the Register Office.

This may, of course, all be misdirection...

I think that's the real worry isn't it? It just seems endemic and far too many people willing to break the law for a few quid being paid by certain sections of the media. Anyway, need to check Gideon - wonder if there is a faint waft coming from him yet

Nothing really from Gideon - did we really expect anything ?

He asked RB if she thought AC was a 'good chap', and he is sad he hasn't been able to speak to his friend for a year. Poor lamb.

He also didn't mean anything by the text he sent JH "I hope you like the solution", merely that he meant that he hoped JH would enjoy the extra responsibility he was being given with his new job.

Never heard such a crock of shite in my life !

The waft is definitely there then!

It's just ridiculous really, isn't it ? It's like when he was talking about AC and said they went for a drink and he asked him if there was anything else they (the govt) needed to know about phone hacking etc...and AC said "no".

Oh, so no potential for arrest for perjury then ?

Although to be fair, the arrest wasn't related to the phone hacking !

A wee distraction

Got something on your mind shiney dave?

Oh dear, oh dear. Happens to the best of 'us' parents, but how could you 'forget' your 8 yr old DD when you would have had security coming out your ears? Wonder who noticed she was missing?

There is a huge thread running about this. Apparently the story is over 2 months old...

I don't care. How the hell, as a parent do you forget to check that you have all your children with you ?

Doesn't say much for the security either.

[oops] Only just seen the other thread.

It's all got carried away !

Can't believe how many people actually have and admit that they have forgotten their children doing various things.

Police have handed 5 files to the CPS over phone hacking

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18401624

Isn't brooks back in court this week?

I'm REALLY liking John Major - never thought I would say that about a tory! He is a classic example of the damage the tabloids can do. I was too young to care much about politics when he was in power but my over riding memory of him is being a bit of a joke. A wet, grey drip devoid of any personality which was how the papers constantly portrayed him. But I'm pleasantly surprised. I feel like I TRUST him. Amazing! Bring back John and get the school kids, Cameron, Clegg and Osborne, out.

Hmm, didn't Murdoch say 'I've never asked a PM for anything'

he did indeed.