The phone hacking scandal seems to change hourly, so by the time your reading this anything could have happend. However, what is becoming increasingly clear is that Labour are trying to score points, and make this a political issue about Cameron, not just about illegal practices in the media.
When Jeremy Hunt addresses Parliament this afternoon on the News Corp/BSkyB takeover, he will be replied to not by his Shadow, the invisible Ivan Lewis, but by Ed Miliband. This is to make the point that Cameron should be dealing with the issue, the further implication being that he isn’t due to his closeness to Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson. I said a while a go that Andy Coulson should never have been employed by David Cameron, but if Labour personalise the issue the Prime Minister and the Conservatives will close ranks, making the News Corp’s takeover more likely.
I was initially worried about the seeming silence of Nick Clegg. I believe he cares deeply about having a liberal, free, press, so thought this would be an issue he would be keen to speak out on. However, he seems to have just about got it right now, as he is the first senior politician to meet the Dowler family and other phone hacking victims. As Helen Duffett highlights, he has also called for Rupert Murdoch to withdraw his bid for the remaining BSkyB shares. Surprise, surprise, minutes later Ed Miliband said the same.
There is a risk that Labour trying to take the lead and get a ‘win’ will turn it into a partisan issue, when there could be widespread agreement. Labour pushing for something, particularly by attacking Cameron, means the Conservatives have to oppose it. I’m not saying it’s right, I’m saying it’s politics.
Just because Labour have now decided to declare ware on Murdoch, doesn’t mean it will help us win the battle for a more liberalised media.
July 13, 2011 at 12:13 pm