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incandescensWeather actually somewhat sunnier today. The forecasts say that it won't last.
Interesting political news regarding the Culture Secretary and his cooperation with the Murdochs. Looks as if the Leveson Inquiry may be producing something useful.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/james-murdochs-revenge-evidence-that-shook-government-to-its-core-7675196.html
Mr Hunt faced demands for his resignation after hundreds of pages of explosive emails, released by News Corp to the Leveson Inquiry, showed that his political advisers engaged in intimate and frequent briefing of the Murdochs’ chief lobbyist to help get the deal through – despite Mr Hunt’s claim to have acted impartially in his exercise of quasi-judicial powers.
One email quoted Mr Hunt saying “we’d get there in the end” and that he “shared” News Corp’s objective of taking over the broadcaster.
Another email, sent by News Corp’s lobbyist the day before Mr Hunt made a statement to Parliament on the bid, drew gasps when it was read out at the Leveson Inquiry: “Managed to get some infos on the plans for tomorrow (although absolutely illegal...!)”
It's just... bloody hell. Hunt says he had "conducted this process with scrupulous fairness". Makes me wonder what he would consider less than scrupulous fairness.
I have never liked the current government, but now I think even less of it. Please excuse me while I go to think about its downfall. The sooner the better.
Interesting political news regarding the Culture Secretary and his cooperation with the Murdochs. Looks as if the Leveson Inquiry may be producing something useful.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/james-murdochs-revenge-evidence-that-shook-government-to-its-core-7675196.html
Mr Hunt faced demands for his resignation after hundreds of pages of explosive emails, released by News Corp to the Leveson Inquiry, showed that his political advisers engaged in intimate and frequent briefing of the Murdochs’ chief lobbyist to help get the deal through – despite Mr Hunt’s claim to have acted impartially in his exercise of quasi-judicial powers.
One email quoted Mr Hunt saying “we’d get there in the end” and that he “shared” News Corp’s objective of taking over the broadcaster.
Another email, sent by News Corp’s lobbyist the day before Mr Hunt made a statement to Parliament on the bid, drew gasps when it was read out at the Leveson Inquiry: “Managed to get some infos on the plans for tomorrow (although absolutely illegal...!)”
It's just... bloody hell. Hunt says he had "conducted this process with scrupulous fairness". Makes me wonder what he would consider less than scrupulous fairness.
I have never liked the current government, but now I think even less of it. Please excuse me while I go to think about its downfall. The sooner the better.
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Date: 2012-04-25 03:03 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-25 08:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-25 12:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-25 01:56 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2012-04-25 10:37 am (UTC)That is... wow.
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Date: 2012-04-25 02:01 pm (UTC)Hunt is currently claiming that he "strictly followed due process". His special adviser has just resigned, and, well, to quote the latest bit on the BBC news website...
But Frederic Michel, head of public affairs at News Corp, has said his references to "JH" in emails were actually shorthand for Mr Hunt's special adviser, Mr Smith, and has said he had no direct contact with the culture secretary, after he assumed responsibility for ruling on the BSkyB bid in December 2010.
Mr Smith said the "content and extent of my contact [with News Corporation] was done without authorisation from the Secretary of State".
He added that he was resigning because his "activities at times went too far and have, taken together, created the perception that News Corporation had too close a relationship with the department, contrary to the clear requirements set out by Jeremy Hunt and the permanent secretary that this needed to be a fair and scrupulous process".
Various people are also claiming that the "absolutely illegal" comment in the emails was some sort of joke, and was not meant seriously.
So is poor Hunt the victim of unfortunate circumstances, or are various people attempting to currently clear him of entirely justified guilt by throwing themselves on their separate swords?
I would have liked to think him the innocent-ish victim of circumstances. But I'm finding it difficult.