New depths?

[pedg]

Coulson's severance pay was a benefit related to the time that he worked for NI, it was just paid out in installments after he left. Once Tom Baldwin starts drawing his NI pension, is he not doing the same thing. Receiving income from a benefit earned whilst working at NI, even though he no longer works there?

 

Did you bother to read the tread? Coulson was paid under a compromise agreement because he left in a manner that could leave NI open to being pursued through the courts for wrongful dismissal had he otherwise been sacked. Tom Baldwin left under no cloud whatsoever.

 

Plus most people do not start drawing their pension till they are no longer employed by anyone so I fail to see any conflict of interest between Baldwin having a pension from a previous employer he is not drawing from and his current job.

[dubai_phil]

But it seems unlikely to have been a severance payment in any conventional sense of the term. Coulson had resigned from NI precisely because of the trial that sent Mulcaire and Goodman to jail on his watch. Just as both Mulcaire and Goodman have been made - or in Goodman's case promised - large after-the-event payments essentially as hush money (to keep quiet about the wider scandal inside NI) Coulson's payments should be seen in this light. They are in this sense clearly income.

 

Interesting, though, isn't it, that Yelland and Neill should resign from NI and receive nothing (as is usual), and yet there was no stain on their reputation, only for Coulson to resign in disgrace and receive a king's ransom, staggered over a payment period so long that it could only be perceived as continuing income?

 

You answered your own question. Shows you don't understand Severance Payments.

 

Yelland & Neil Resigned. They quit.

 

Coulson (like Pardew) received a Settlement

 

UK & EU Employment Legislation makes it extremely difficult legally to fire anybody for anything.

 

"Coulson had resigned from NI precisely because of the trial that sent Mulcaire and Goodman to jail on his watch."...

 

Yeah right. Perhaps "a better choice of words" would be that Couslon Was resigned. Pardew was resigned, hell even our Dutch joke "Was Resigned"

 

Settlements that payout for years are about Redundancy, playing clever politics or doing something that is so awful it amounts to Gros Misconduct BUT was under the "Awareness & Tacit Approval" of Management so that the employee would win ANY (EU) Employment Tribunal hearing.

 

Again change the words - that Settlement was Hush Money. Legal yes, moral no.

 

And no BTF it would not have been cash flow it was what he negotiated.

 

I had to "Was resigned" a guy down here for an incredibly "major" breach of UAE law let alone local employment law. Under our Employment Law I had the right (actually a legal obligation) to "deport" him and he had the right to NO notice period (Gross Misconduct). He was also liable to a 10 year Jail Sentence and a fine of around 10 grand.

 

However our Multi National "know it all lawyers" had imposed EU contracts on everyone. The laws he had broken (and their subsequent Jail terms down here) were not deemed to be "Grounds for Dismissal for Gross Misconduct" in Europe.

 

Anyway, he had to "get out of town fast" which he did, then promptly turned up in EU & "filed an appeal" with EU HR and of course he got a big lump sum, his medical insurance was retained up to the point the prepayment had expired) AND he received 6 months salary paid each month. It's about the negotiation & the Circumstances. NI are part of an MNC - they would have had similar rules.

 

(What did he do? Simples, the Company introduced VoIP phones which are illegal down here, so we had to have a specific internal process that meant they couldn't use that facility in the office. It was sent to all emplyees who signed their agreement. He used VoIP twice and was warned about future conduct. He brought a client to the office (from the Local Police IT Department FFS) and showed him the technology, and set up a VoIP conference call. next day, visit from the Police threatening to close down the office and put 30 people out of work. No brainer had to show the dosumentation to the police they then say - he is in the wrong and he must be arrested. As we say down here, leave the keys in the ignition at the airport car park)

Edited 23 August, 2011 by dubai_phil

[um pahars]

Just as both Mulcaire and Goodman have been made - or in Goodman's case promised - large after-the-event payments essentially as hush money (to keep quiet about the wider scandal inside NI) Coulson's payments should be seen in this light.

 

To me there is no doubt that the payments to Mulcaire and Goodman were an attempt to buy their silence (you don't pay off those you have sacked for gross misconduct and who are in prison, nor do you keep paying their solictor's bills!!!) and you may have a point that the longevity of the payments may also be an attempt to keep Coulson under their wing and to ensure his silence/co-operation.

 

However, at the time Coulson was still blame free and the insinuation was that his resignation was that he was doing the honourable thing, not that he was complicit, so he was unlikely to blab and ruin his own reputation.

[Verbal]

To me there is no doubt that the payments to Mulcaire and Goodman were an attempt to buy their silence (you don't pay off those you have sacked for gross misconduct and who are in prison, nor do you keep paying their solictor's bills!!!) and you may have a point that the longevity of the payments may also be an attempt to keep Coulson under their wing and to ensure his silence/co-operation.

 

However, at the time Coulson was still blame free and the insinuation was that his resignation was that he was doing the honourable thing, not that he was complicit, so he was unlikely to blab and ruin his own reputation.

 

I don't think anyone in the higher echelons of NI were in any doubt as to his complicity, um. That's what the 'For Neville' email is all about.

[Verbal]

You answered your own question. Shows you don't understand Severance Payments.

 

Yelland & Neil Resigned. They quit.

 

Coulson (like Pardew) received a Settlement

 

UK & EU Employment Legislation makes it extremely difficult legally to fire anybody for anything.

 

"Coulson had resigned from NI precisely because of the trial that sent Mulcaire and Goodman to jail on his watch."...

 

Yeah right. Perhaps "a better choice of words" would be that Couslon Was resigned. Pardew was resigned, hell even our Dutch joke "Was Resigned"

 

Settlements that payout for years are about Redundancy, playing clever politics or doing something that is so awful it amounts to Gros Misconduct BUT was under the "Awareness & Tacit Approval" of Management so that the employee would win ANY (EU) Employment Tribunal hearing.

 

Again change the words - that Settlement was Hush Money. Legal yes, moral no.

 

And no BTF it would not have been cash flow it was what he negotiated.

 

I had to "Was resigned" a guy down here for an incredibly "major" breach of UAE law let alone local employment law. Under our Employment Law I had the right (actually a legal obligation) to "deport" him and he had the right to NO notice period (Gross Misconduct). He was also liable to a 10 year Jail Sentence and a fine of around 10 grand.

 

However our Multi National "know it all lawyers" had imposed EU contracts on everyone. The laws he had broken (and their subsequent Jail terms down here) were not deemed to be "Grounds for Dismissal for Gross Misconduct" in Europe.

 

Anyway, he had to "get out of town fast" which he did, then promptly turned up in EU & "filed an appeal" with EU HR and of course he got a big lump sum, his medical insurance was retained up to the point the prepayment had expired) AND he received 6 months salary paid each month. It's about the negotiation & the Circumstances. NI are part of an MNC - they would have had similar rules.

 

(What did he do? Simples, the Company introduced VoIP phones which are illegal down here, so we had to have a specific internal process that meant they couldn't use that facility in the office. It was sent to all emplyees who signed their agreement. He used VoIP twice and was warned about future conduct. He brought a client to the office (from the Local Police IT Department FFS) and showed him the technology, and set up a VoIP conference call. next day, visit from the Police threatening to close down the office and put 30 people out of work. No brainer had to show the dosumentation to the police they then say - he is in the wrong and he must be arrested. As we say down here, leave the keys in the ignition at the airport car park)

 

Could you at least try to stay on the subject, DP, rather than impose this winding-road diatribe on us? And by the way, no 'hush money' settlement is legal if it is to conceal a criminal offence (or a whole raft of them as seems to be the case here).

[um pahars]

I don't think anyone in the higher echelons of NI were in any doubt as to his complicity, um. That's what the 'For Neville' email is all about.

 

Oh I agree that he and others at NOTW and NI must have known he was complicit in the underhand methods, but at that time the general consensus outside of Wapping (and outside of Watson's office) was that he was not a part of the scandal and so he was unlikely to blow the whistle. Whereas Mulcaire and Goodman, having been fired, were much more likely to blab unless someone made it worth their while to keep schtum.

[CB Saint]

I wonder why NI paid Coulson in instalments? Did they have a cash-flow problem?

 

And he would have had to pay tax on his 'entitlement' - why didn't the clever clogs at Conservative Central Office not pick up on his tax code?

 

On the second point, the settlement are usally paid outside of the employment period. So you get paid as usual for the last month and then issued with a P45. You then receive your settlement under basic rate deduction and given a second P45. You then have to settle up with HMRC as part of the normal tax return process. If I were to hazard a guess thenl I would guess that the value of the car lease was included in the settlement amount so that tax was deducted and then reduce the net amount paid accordingly.

 

As to why Conservative Central Office didn't pick up on it - perhaps they assumed it was his personal car.

[Verbal]

On the second point, the settlement are usally paid outside of the employment period. So you get paid as usual for the last month and then issued with a P45. You then receive your settlement under basic rate deduction and given a second P45. You then have to settle up with HMRC as part of the normal tax return process. If I were to hazard a guess thenl I would guess that the value of the car lease was included in the settlement amount so that tax was deducted and then reduce the net amount paid accordingly.

 

As to why Conservative Central Office didn't pick up on it - perhaps they assumed it was his personal car.

 

None of this though alters the fact that the director of communications for the Conservative Party was driving around in a car provided by News International, who were also picking up his medical bills, all arranged as part of a 'generous' financial agreement offered by senior executives who were all aware of the 'For Neville' email and the implications of this for Coulson.

[CB Saint]

None of this though alters the fact that the director of communications for the Conservative Party was driving around in a car provided by News International, who were also picking up his medical bills, all arranged as part of a 'generous' financial agreement offered by senior executives who were all aware of the 'For Neville' email and the implications of this for Coulson.

 

True, perhaps NI should have said all benefits stop and we will pay up in full the value of them as part of the settlement agreement. Of course if the settlement agreement was agreed prior to him getting the job, how would they overcome that as the agreement would be legally binding on both sides.

 

It is obvious that the appointment of Coulson was a poor one, but I think that for the media to insinuate that NI were making payments to Coulson for anything other that his contractual settlement is misleading at best.

[bridge too far]

A couple of very good articles in today's Guardian:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/23/andy-coulson-payments-tories

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/23/andy-coulson-payments-news-international

 

If you have the time, it's worth reading them in full.

[Gemmel]

None of this though alters the fact that the director of communications for the Conservative Party was driving around in a car provided by News International, who were also picking up his medical bills, all arranged as part of a 'generous' financial agreement offered by senior executives who were all aware of the 'For Neville' email and the implications of this for Coulson.

 

verbal, even little lowly old me had their private medical 7 months and car allowance 6 months paid after I left. As already posted, if this is all part of the severance then it is non story, if was salary for work he was doing for NI durning his time working for the goverment it is.

[Verbal]

verbal, even little lowly old me had their private medical 7 months and car allowance 6 months paid after I left. As already posted, if this is all part of the severance then it is non story, if was salary for work he was doing for NI durning his time working for the goverment it is.

 

Maybe so, but in your ever-so-'umble position, you were not. I suspect, moving from a media group who had interfered routinely in the political process, manipulating politicians and hacking murder victims' phones, and into the most influential non-elected position in the Conservative Party. Capiche, Uriah?

[Gemmel]

Maybe so, but in your ever-so-'umble position, you were not. I suspect, moving from a media group who had interfered routinely in the political process, manipulating politicians and hacking murder victims' phones, and into the most influential non-elected position in the Conservative Party. Capiche, Uriah?

 

Yes but that was the whole story, way back when he got appointed, with subsequent stories of what he did an didnt know.

 

It's old news verbal, just like I have been saying all along (Certainly not defending Coulson) you seem to desparately want it to be important ...its not.

 

The story is as it has always been the goverment hired someone from a company who in your words "interfered routinely in the political process, manipulating politicians and hacking murder victims' phones".

 

That's the story...... and his severance pay is irrelvant.

[pedg]

More from the guardian.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/24/andy-coulson-news-international-payments

 

Andy Coulson appears to have broken House of Commons rules by failing to declare payments and benefits he received from News International while holding a parliamentary pass sponsored by David Cameron.

 

Registers held in the Commons archive, seen by the Guardian, reveal that in September 2007 – three months after Coulson was employed by Cameron's office – the former News of the World editor failed to declare the health insurance, company car and severance payments he was receiving from his old employers.

 

The records also show that for at least two months after he resigned from his position as No 10's head of communications in January this year, Coulson continued to hold a parliamentary pass, sponsored by Downing Street, which allowed him access to parliament as a No 10 employee.

 

That will raise new questions about whether Coulson – who Cameron has admitted seeing on a social basis since his resignation – continued to perform an unofficial role for the Tories after he had left.

[Verbal]

Yes but that was the whole story, way back when he got appointed, with subsequent stories of what he did an didnt know.

 

It's old news verbal, just like I have been saying all along (Certainly not defending Coulson) you seem to desparately want it to be important ...its not.

 

The story is as it has always been the goverment hired someone from a company who in your words "interfered routinely in the political process, manipulating politicians and hacking murder victims' phones".

 

That's the story...... and his severance pay is irrelvant.

 

So this would be the 'non-story', would it, that's been on the front pages of newspapers across the political spectrum, from the Mirror and the Guardian to the Mail and the Telegraph? Funny, how so many newspaper editors could have got so much wrong, when all they needed to do was consult ever-so-'umble Gemmel, who'd have put them right with his tale of how he's exactly like Coulson, no different, no story - how the lowly G had also led a media company campaign to manipulate British politics, then joined the party that had benefitted, dissembled about his continuing financial links to his 'previous' (in strong inverted commas) employer, whose key interests he then pursued through other means, while continuing to take a central part in a criminal conspiracy.

 

The Tory Central Office flat-earthers of public morality, of which you seem to be pleading unpaid membership, will continue to wail about this 'non-story', while all the time hoping against hope that Coulson doesn't wind up in jail (any bets on that one?) and drag a political party back into the morass of corruption.

[Verbal]

And now it seems Coulson has broken ethics rules in the House of Commons, by not declaring in the register the income and benefits received from NI while employed by Tory HQ.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/aug/24/andy-coulson-news-international-payments

[trousers]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23984694-dramatic-new-phone-hacking-twist-as-police-quiz-top-guardian-writer.do

[bridge too far]

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23984694-dramatic-new-phone-hacking-twist-as-police-quiz-top-guardian-writer.do

 

An alternative take on the matter:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/07/guardian-journalist-questioned-phone-hacking

 

The National Union of Journalists' (NUJ) general secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, said: "There is a vital journalistic principle at stake here. It is outrageous that an allegation of off-the-record briefings is being treated as a criminal matter.

"There is a clear distinction between legitimate off-the-record interviews and the illegitimate payment of bribes," she said. "In this case the allegation is simply that a Scotland Yard detective is an off-the-record source."

[Verbal]

An alternative take on the matter:

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/sep/07/guardian-journalist-questioned-phone-hacking

 

The National Union of Journalists' (NUJ) general secretary, Michelle Stanistreet, said: "There is a vital journalistic principle at stake here. It is outrageous that an allegation of off-the-record briefings is being treated as a criminal matter.

"There is a clear distinction between legitimate off-the-record interviews and the illegitimate payment of bribes," she said. "In this case the allegation is simply that a Scotland Yard detective is an off-the-record source."

 

Exactly so. No surprise that the Met higher-ups continue on the face of it to be staggeringly stupid.

[Saintandy666]

So now it turns out that the News of the World *KNEW* at least as early as 2008 that there were journalists breaking the law by hacking phones... despite denials. Pretty sure that is a crime in itself? Big cover up at all levels of the company if you ask me.

[bridge too far]

Hmmm there's more. I know this woman was vilified by much of the press, but it seems the Daily Heil sunk to a new low - and her phone's been hacked too, allegedly

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/nov/01/daily-mail-damages-carole-caplin?newsfeed=true

[Saintandy666]

Hmmm there's more. I know this woman was vilified by much of the press, but it seems the Daily Heil sunk to a new low - and her phone's been hacked too, allegedly

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/nov/01/daily-mail-damages-carole-caplin?newsfeed=true

 

The problem with the Daily Mail is once they hate a person, they seem to stop at nothing to stir up **** about them... and this is what leads to stuff like this. They should just leave Cherie Blair alone.

[Lord Duckhunter]

The problem with the Guardian is once they hate a person, they seem to stop at nothing to stir up **** about them... and this is what leads to stuff like this.

 

http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/475419/Guardian-pays-58000-libel-damages-Abu-Ghraib-abuse-story/

 

http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=44550

 

http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/846169/Guardian-apologises-pays-damages-settle-Tesco-tax-case/

 

So as you can see, even "Right on" papers sink to lows, or does that not count?

[pedg]

The problem with the Guardian is once they hate a person, they seem to stop at nothing to stir up **** about them... and this is what leads to stuff like this.

 

http://www.mediaweek.co.uk/news/475419/Guardian-pays-58000-libel-damages-Abu-Ghraib-abuse-story/

 

http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/story.asp?storycode=44550

 

http://www.brandrepublic.com/news/846169/Guardian-apologises-pays-damages-settle-Tesco-tax-case/

 

So as you can see, even "Right on" papers sink to lows, or does that not count?

 

Yes they count but in the almost personal vendetta competition they are in the Ryman's league compares to the Premiership Daily Mail.

 

Do you know what the mail's latest wheeze is? They basically libel people then when threatened with legal action they print a small bit in their new 'corrections' column months or years later.

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2011/oct/27/dailymail-medialaw

[Lord Duckhunter]

Yes they count but in the almost personal vendetta competition they are in the Ryman's league compares to the Premiership Daily Mail.

 

 

[/url]

 

"Colonel Jonathan Campbell-James said he feared for his life after The Guardian printed a story last September with the headline, "UK soldiers linked to torture jail", mentioning his name"

 

Pretty serious if you ask me. Brave senior officer, fearing for his life. But, it's nothing compared to the disgraceful treatment of the Blair's Guru.

 

All papers slander and libel people, all papers get things wrong, and all papers put their own slant on stories. Not just The Sun, Mail and Telegraph.............

[trousers]

[bridge too far]

 

Why is Nigel Havers a saucepan?

[pedg]

All papers slander and libel people, all papers get things wrong, and all papers put their own slant on stories. Not just The Sun, Mail and Telegraph.............

 

I agree I am just saying that IMO the daily mail is far worse in terms of personally libelling people. Yes there are cases involving the guardian but it appears that the Mail unleashes the hounds of hate, bias and lying on a daily basis. Also consider the case of Neil Morrissey in link above. The mail contacted him to say they were running the story. He told them it was complete fabrication but they just ran it anyway. Then they finally admitted it was wrong, agreed with his solicitor about where the apology would be printed and then did something completely different.

Edited 1 November, 2011 by pedg

[bridge too far]

And so it goes on........

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/15644038

[pedg]

Barry the Briefcase gets another mention (interesting viewing)

 

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/blog/2011/nov/10/phone-hacking-james-murdoch-live

 

Watson is now asking about the private investigator Jonathan Rees who worked for News of the World in the past.

Murdoch says he will check the company's records on his arrangements with the company and come back to the committee.

He is asked about other private investigators, John Ross, a Barry Beardall and an Alex Leighton.

Murdoch says he had not heard of John Ross before and says he will come back to Watson on the details.

[Jonnyboy]

Murdoch just talked absolute ****e for hours. he was like a robot spouting corporate nonsense.

[pedg]

...

 

misread something, ignore me.

[trousers]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/jul/04/milly-dowler-voicemail-hacked-news-of-world

 

Dreadful.

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16128342

 

A heated row has blown up after the Guardian newspaper admitted police now believe that the News Of The World paper's staff might not have deleted crucial voicemails from the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

The initial revelations that journalists had deliberately deleted Milly's messages caused a public outcry and eventually the closure of the paper (NOTW).

 

Several former NOTW staff have used micro blogging site Twitter to demand an apology.

 

Hayley Barlow tweeted: "Former #NotW staff demand Guardian apology over false claims paper deleted Milly Dowler's voicemails leading to closure and 300 jobs losses."

Meanwhile a Guardian spokesman said: "Our story on July 4 accurately reported the facts about the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone known at the time. It is uncontested that in April 2011, Metropolitan Police detectives told Sally Dowler that the News of the World had been responsible for hacking Milly's phone and deleting messages on it.

"Subsequent investigation by Operation Weeting has confirmed the key details reported by the Guardian: that the News of the World commissioned Glenn Mulcaire to hack into Milly's phone; that he succeeded; that journalists listened to some deeply personal messages; and that Surrey police knew this at the time and took no action.

"Although the investigation has found that the News of the World was not responsible for the particular deletion of voicemails which caused Milly's parents to have false hope that she was alive, the new evidence also suggests that it is likely the paper's staff were inadvertently responsible for deleting later messages.

Edited 12 December, 2011 by trousers

[Verbal]

http://news.sky.com/home/uk-news/article/16128342

 

A heated row has blown up after the Guardian newspaper admitted police now believe that the News Of The World paper's staff might not have deleted crucial voicemails from the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.

The initial revelations that journalists had deliberately deleted Milly's messages caused a public outcry and eventually the closure of the paper (NOTW).

 

Several former NOTW staff have used micro blogging site Twitter to demand an apology.

 

Hayley Barlow tweeted: "Former #NotW staff demand Guardian apology over false claims paper deleted Milly Dowler's voicemails leading to closure and 300 jobs losses."

Meanwhile a Guardian spokesman said: "Our story on July 4 accurately reported the facts about the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone known at the time. It is uncontested that in April 2011, Metropolitan Police detectives told Sally Dowler that the News of the World had been responsible for hacking Milly's phone and deleting messages on it.

"Subsequent investigation by Operation Weeting has confirmed the key details reported by the Guardian: that the News of the World commissioned Glenn Mulcaire to hack into Milly's phone; that he succeeded; that journalists listened to some deeply personal messages; and that Surrey police knew this at the time and took no action.

"Although the investigation has found that the News of the World was not responsible for the particular deletion of voicemails which caused Milly's parents to have false hope that she was alive, the new evidence also suggests that it is likely the paper's staff were inadvertently responsible for deleting later messages.

 

That's saying (a) the NoW probably DID delete but didn't do so consciously; and (b) the NoW DID nonetheless hack Millie Dowler's phone and listen in on her parents' and others' gut-wrenching messages.

 

Hardly an exoneration, is it.

[buctootim]

That's saying (a) the NoW probably DID delete but didn't do so consciously; and (b) the NoW DID nonetheless hack Millie Dowler's phone and listen in on her parents' and others' gut-wrenching messages.

 

Hardly an exoneration, is it.

 

Quite. And thats after the story has been buffed and put in the best light by Sky.

[trousers]

That's saying (a) the NoW probably DID delete but didn't do so consciously; and (b) the NoW DID nonetheless hack Millie Dowler's phone and listen in on her parents' and others' gut-wrenching messages.

 

Hardly an exoneration, is it.

 

Agreed

[trousers]

Piers Morgan now being interviewed live by the Levenson Enquiry.

 

He's squirming and ducking more than your average Pompey administrator....

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10318089

[bridge too far]

Piers Morgan now being interviewed live by the Levenson Enquiry.

 

He's squirming and ducking more than your average Pompey administrator....

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/10318089

 

He is, isn't he The lawyer Robert Jay has had him dangling on more than one occasion.

[Jonnyboy]

What a slimey weasel.

[trousers]

Bob Crow giving evidence to the Leveson enquiry at the moment. Good entertainment value...

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/democracylive/hi/house_of_commons/newsid_8167000/8167512.stm

[trousers]

Jonathan King now pleading to the judge that his treatment by the media should be included in the enquiry...

[trousers]

So, the Leveson enquiry resumes today....

 

I see John Prescott is on the witness list for today. Should be worth a laugh or two.

 

In other related news, Charlotte Church accepts £600,000 compensation from News International.

[Verbal]

So, the Leveson enquiry resumes today....

 

I see John Prescott is on the witness list for today. Should be worth a laugh or two.

 

In other related news, Charlotte Church accepts £600,000 compensation from News International.

 

More than a laugh, trousers - at least I hope so. Rumour is that this week is going to be pretty devastating for NI AND the government and police officials they've succeeded in corrupting.

[pedg]

Not a good day for News corp. Sue Akers reveals the Sun established a "network of corrupted officials" and created a "culture of illegal payments". Thus leaving News Corp open to prosecution in the state under their Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/feb/27/news-corp-us-authorities

[bridge too far]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/04/hnery-porter-rupert-murdoch-corruption?fb=native

[Verbal]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/04/hnery-porter-rupert-murdoch-corruption?fb=native

 

The moment News Corps is charged (as seems increasingly likely) under the US's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, I'd be willing to bet that The Sun is history, at least as an NI imprint. The sheer scale of newsroom criminal activity emerging from the Leveson Inquiry will also probably lead to the Murdochs being tied up in even more expensive and damaging Congressional inquiries for years to come.

 

The damage the Murdoch empire has done to journalism is immense, but even that pales compared to the damage done to British public life, which NI rags have turned into a mafiosi playground, filled with routine cash bribes to those craven enough to play ball, and sinister threats and intimidation directed at those with an ounce of dignity.

[Jonnyboy]

Maybe JackanorySFC will be extradited to the US?

[Saintandy666]

The moment News Corps is charged (as seems increasingly likely) under the US's Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, I'd be willing to bet that The Sun is history, at least as an NI imprint. The sheer scale of newsroom criminal activity emerging from the Leveson Inquiry will also probably lead to the Murdochs being tied up in even more expensive and damaging Congressional inquiries for years to come.

 

The damage the Murdoch empire has done to journalism is immense, but even that pales compared to the damage done to British public life, which NI rags have turned into a mafiosi playground, filled with routine cash bribes to those craven enough to play ball, and sinister threats and intimidation directed at those with an ounce of dignity.

 

Have to broadly agree. News Corp is a massive multinational business, and the money News International makes is peanuts to them. It also sounds like they would have offloaded it a long time ago if Rupert Murdoch wasn't so sentimental about it. Because of his position in the company however, and how profitable the rest of the company is, they seem to have let it go up till now. I doubt that will last much longer, now his British newspaper publishing business is threatening the stability of the entire company.

[trousers]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/mar/04/hnery-porter-rupert-murdoch-corruption?fb=native

 

The Guardian can't even get the spelling right on their hyperlinks.... ;-)

[Verbal]

The Guardian can't even get the spelling right on their hyperlinks.... ;-)

 

Yes, because THAT's what's wrong with British journalism.