Phone hacking - Leveson enquiry via Andy Coulson and Cameron

[TonyGosling]

former headlines
Phone Hacking - Andy Coulson Time Bomb under Cameron
Phone hacking inquiry strikes at heart of Murdoch empire

In today's Grauniad
Home office seeks police briefing on phone hacking
.............Senior executives within Murdoch's empire, including Rebekah Wade, are also likely to be called, as well as Andy Coulson, the ex-News of the World editor who is currently the Tory party's director of communications.
Two other key figures at the heart of Rupert Murdoch's media empire will also be questioned as part of the Commons investigation into the hacking of phones on behalf of the News of the World.
Les Hinton, the chief executive of Dow Jones, and Stuart Kuttner, the outgoing managing editor of the News of the World, are to be challenged about News International's relations with private investigators who hack into phones.
Hinton is to be asked whether he misled the Commons culture select committee when he gave a categorical assurance that Goodman was the only person on the paper guilty of such conduct. Kuttner, who in an unconnected move resigned last week, is to be asked about his role in approving payments to private investigators who, it turned out, had hacked into phones.
A letter from News International to the Commons committee two years ago made clear that Kuttner was ultimately responsible for such payments. News International have always maintained that these were legitimate payments...........
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/jul/10/news-of-the-world-phone-ha cking-scandal

[Thermate911]

Some possible background to the move against Murdoch?

[TonyGosling]

This is a big news story for the size of the payout AND for its horrifying political implications... but embarassing for David Cameron.
http://news.google.co.uk/news/more?ncl=dU689WmPZfE5x4M3VRMLpEZ5bPlUM
As Google shows, apart from in the Guardian it is not news lol



Conspiracy of silence as nationals ignore News of the World's £800,000 payout

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/greenslade/2009/nov/25/newsoftheworld- newsinternational

Imagine for a moment that a bank employee in the City of London was awarded £800,000 for unfair dismissal after a lengthy period of bullying by his or her boss. I haven't the slightest doubt that it would be a major news item in every newspaper - from the Financial Times to the Daily Star.

Or how about this? Imagine The Guardian being required to pay out £800,000 to a journalist because its editor had been exposed as a bully. You can bet that would have made headlines in rival papers.

So why, I wonder, was The Guardian the only national paper to report on the fact that former News of the World football reporter Matt Driscoll was awarded almost £792,736 for unfair dismissal and disability discrimination by an employment tribunal?

The Guardian story appeared online on Monday night and in Tuesday's morning's paper. It was covered by the Press Gazette. It was reported on a lawyer's website. There were also mentions on various blogs, notably here, here and here.

But this record payout - believed to be the largest award of its kind in the media - was not considered to be newsworthy enough for any national to mention.

Yet it must surely be in the public interest for people to know about misbehaviour by Britain's best-selling newspaper, which is renowned for its own heavy-handed treatment of those it considers to have acted immorally.

Similarly, since the editor said to have carried out the bullying is none other than Andy Coulson, now the communications chief for the Conservative party leader, David Cameron, there was a powerful secondary reason for the case to be reported as a matter of public interest.

But it is becoming more and more apparent that most of the national press is now involved in a routine cover-up about its internal affairs, especially when the stories concern the News of the World's owner, News International.

The Daily Mail and the Daily Telegraph appear overly reluctant to report on any story that appears critical of Rupert Murdoch's Wapping operation.

Then again, The Times (the so-called paper of record) returns the favour. It avoids reporting on any internal matters about its (supposed) rivals. And, of course, it did not touch on the News of the World's record payout since they share the same owner.

Ever since the the Telegraph Media Group's owners, the Barclay brothers, withdrew their libel claim against The Times in 2007, the two papers have not reported critically on each other.

It was also noticeable that The Guardian's recent allegations about the News of the World's phone-hacking activities, made in front of a parliamentary committee, received little coverage in other papers.

This failure by national papers to report on media matters in the public interest amounts to a conspiracy of silence. And the loser is the public with a right to know just how its self-selected moral guardians act in their own back yard.

[TonyGosling]

New claims of phone hacking put pressure on Andy Coulson

Tory media chief in spotlight as football agent begins action against private investigators working for News of the World

Jamie Doward and Cal Flyn
The Observer, Sunday 25 April 2010
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/apr/25/andy-coulson-phone-bug-cla im

Andy Coulson was appointed David Cameron’s director of communications in 2007, seven months after leaving the News of the World. Photograph: David Fisher/Rex Features


The Tories' chief spin doctor, Andy Coulson, faces more awkward questions about a phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World during his time as editor. The Observer understands that a leading football agent has launched a legal action alleging that his phone was hacked by private investigators working with the newspaper's journalists while Coulson was in charge.

More than 10 MPs and at least one former football star, ex-England midfielder Paul Gascoigne, are also in discussions with lawyers looking to bring similar cases against the newspaper's owner, News Group Newspapers (NGN), part of Rupert Murdoch's empire. The pending legal action will severely embarrass Coulson who, as director of communications and planning for the Conservative party, will wield significant influence if it comes to power after the election.

Sky Andrew, who represents Arsenal defender Sol Campbell and has acted on behalf of former Liverpool player Jermaine Pennant and Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, issued proceedings last week. Andrew's move comes just weeks after the newspaper agreed to pay more than £1m to PR agent Max Clifford, who dropped an action in which he alleged that his voicemail messages had been intercepted.

A similar case involving Gordon Taylor, the former chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association, was settled out of court in 2008 with a £700,000 payout.

Labour has been quick to use Coulson's past to embarrass David Cameron. Last week Lord Mandelson, Labour's election strategist, blamed Coulson for a "dirty tricks" campaign waged in some newspapers against the Liberal Democrat leader, Nick Clegg.

"This is pure Andy Coulson-style News of the World territory turned into political form," Mandelson said. "It is cheap and rather squalid. If a Tory campaign is subcontracted to someone like Andy Coulson, it is no surprise that things like this are going to appear on the front pages of our newspapers."

Andrew's decision to launch a legal action means the phone-hacking allegations will continue to dog Coulson after the election, storing up headaches for Cameron, who has defended his spin doctor, saying: "I believe in giving people a second chance."

Gascoigne's solicitor, Gerald Shamash, confirmed that he was in correspondence with NGN on behalf of his client. "I am advising him in relation to a potential claim," he said. The Observer also understands that three law firms are in discussion with at least 14 MPs, including several cabinet ministers, with a view to taking legal action.

Victims whose phones were hacked by private investigators reportedly include Prince William, Prince Harry, model Elle Macpherson, Olympics minister Tessa Jowell, London mayor Boris Johnson, MP George Galloway and a former executive director of the Football Association, David Davies.

Andrew's claim is believed to be almost identical to the one made by Clifford. This raises the possibility that if the case goes to court, potentially explosive evidence similar to that which was never disclosed following the settlement of Clifford's action will be made public. Clifford said he knew others were looking at taking legal action against the paper. "When someone had to fight, there were a lot of people who wanted to get on board but didn't have the balls to stand up and be counted. I've heard all kinds of names."

Coulson has denied knowing that phone hacking went on under his watch and has blamed one "rogue reporter". In January 2007, Clive Goodman, the News of the World's royal reporter, was sentenced to four months in jail for hacking into the phones of members of the royal family. A private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, was sentenced to six months for hacking into the phones of several royal family members and a number of celebrities and sports stars.

Coulson, who resigned within hours of the verdicts being handed down, told parliament's culture, media and sport select committee last year that during his time running the paper he had "neither condoned the use of phone hacking nor do I have any recollection of instances when phone hacking took place".

However, Coulson's critics have questioned whether his position is tenable if the Tories come to power. During the select committee hearing, Labour MP Paul Farrelly told Coulson: "If the leader of the Conservative party becomes prime minister you will have to deal with spokesmen at the Palace, for example. Do you think it is sustainable to have a relationship with the Palace when you were the editor while journalists on your watch hacked into the phones of the private and personal secretaries to the princes and future king of England?"

[TonyGosling]

Murdoch in some dodgy conference last week
Horribly smarmy interviewer
But he's probably now been sacked for asking about News Of The World'a alleged phone hacking editor, now Cameron's spin doctor Andy Coulson.
WHAT A BIT A VIEWING!
Murdoch refuses to answer question on Andy Coulson News of the World phone-hacking scandal

Link

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHlGQPYJGu0

[TonyGosling]

Jowell's revelations add to Coulson's discomfort - and Cameron's
By Andy McSmith, Robert Verkaik, Ian Burrell and Mark Hughes
Saturday, 4 September 2010
AFP / REUTERS
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/jowells-revelations-add- to-coulsons-discomfort--and-camerons-2070190.html
Tessa Jowell, left, said her phone was tapped 28 times. The Tory spin doctor Andy Coulson, right, resigned as editor of the News of the World when his reporter was jailed
Hackers illegally tapped a mobile phone belonging to Tessa Jowell at least 28 times while she was a serving cabinet minister, it emerged last night.
Until now, Ms Jowell, the former Culture Secretary, has not spoken publicly about the phone-tapping scandal.
The scale of the hacking of a serving Cabinet minister’s telephone was uncovered by detectives who had been looking into the tapping of Prince Harry’s mobile phone.........
..................Files seized by the police when they raided Mulcaire’s home contained 4,332 names, 2,978 mobile numbers and 91 PIN numbers used to access mobile phone voicemail messages, but most of the potential victims of his activities were not warned of the risk that they had been tapped – unlike Ms Jowell. The police say that “at least” 11 people had their voicemails hacked by Mulcaire, eight of whom were named in the indictment. They have not given a figure for the precise total.
Labour jumped on the scandal, which was revived by fresh allegations published in the New York Times suggesting that phone-tapping by News of the World journalists was much more widespread than previously claimed, and that Mr Coulson knew it was going on – something he denies.................
hahahahahahaha

[TonyGosling]

Potential phone-hacking victims put alleged police failures in spotlight
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/sep/03/phone-hacking-judicial-rev iew
Claim for judicial review could extend to all individuals on former News of the World employee Glenn Mulcaire's list
Afua Hirsch - guardian.co.uk, Friday 3 September 2010
Lawyers are looking at thousands of potential claims against Scotland Yard for its alleged failure to conduct effective investigations into allegations of unlawful phone interceptions.
The Guardian has learned that a claim for judicial review – which will ask the high court to scrutinise the conduct of Scotland Yard in dealing with the case – could extend to all individuals on Glenn Mulcaire's list. Mulcaire was a private investigator hired by the News of the World .
If a judge was in the future to rule against News Group, the owner of the News of the World, one of the court orders could be for the individuals to be paid damages.......

[scienceplease 2]

Former Met Police Investigator now works for the Times...

[TonyGosling]

Amazing. No wonder Murdoch the Poisoner doesn't want to talk.

[Aaron Joseph]

Andy Coulson, the government's communications director is currently facing pressure as a new investigation gets under way that could implicate him in the phone hacking issue that caused him to resign as Editor of the News of the world.

So why is it so important for Cameron to keep on this man in the face of so much criticism? The communicator has become the story.

This looks like the influence of Rupert Murdoch. Having Coulson as his communications director is part of the deal through which News International
supports the Tory [coalition] government. Murdoch has convinced Cameron that through his media empire this storm can be weathered.

Think about it: Through Coulson, Rupert Murdoch has control of the coalition government's communications.

[TonyGosling]

No Dave just demanding justice & a trial for your Andy. So not a good idea to order the police chiefs to shut up about the cuts right now is it?

Of Mr Coulson, the subject of speculation about his knowledge of phone hacking while editor of the News of the World, Mr Cameron disclosed that there had been just four letters and eight emails of complaint to No10. “People are trying to punish him twice for the same offence,” he said.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/david-cameron/8024 513/David-Cameron-praise-for-Andy-Coulson-and-a-warning-for-the-police .html

[TonyGosling]

Police pass fresh News of the World phone-hacking file to prosecutors
Crown Prosecution Service to consider new evidence supplied by Scotland Yard a week after interview with Andy Coulson
Vikram Dodd, crime correspondent, guardian.co.uk, Friday 12 November 2010

Andy Coulson, No 10 communications director, was interviewed by police last week as part of the phone-hacking inquiry. Photograph: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images

Scotland Yard said today it had uncovered new material about phone hacking at the News of the World and had sent a file of evidence to prosecutors who will now consider if there is a strong enough case to bring criminal charges.

The controversy presents a danger to David Cameron's communications director, Andy Coulson, who was editor of the News of the World when a reporter and private investigator were convicted and jailed for hacking voice messages involving Princes William and Harry.

A number of journalists have come forward to say the practice was more widespread than the tabloid has admitted and known about by Coulson, a claim that he denies.

Scotland Yard reopened its investigation following revelations by the Guardian about the extent of the practice at the News of the World.

Last week detectives interviewed Coulson as part of the inquiry. The Guardian understands he made no admissions of knowledge of the practice during the interview. Coulson voluntarily attended a meeting with detectives at a solicitor's office on Thursday morning and was interviewed as a witness.

In a statement Scotland Yard said: "The Metropolitan police service has today, Friday 12 November, provided a file to the Crown Prosecution Service relating to new material in connection with phone hacking. This file will now be subject to CPS consideration."

One of the most significant new witnesses to come forward was Sean Hoare, a former News of the World reporter. He was quoted in a New York Times investigation as saying Coulson was aware that phone hacking went on.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2010/nov/12/phone-hacking-cps-andy-cou lson

[TonyGosling]

Coulson faces uncomfortable day in court
PM's press chief may face questions about phone-hacking at Tommy Sheridan trial
By Jonathan Brown - Thursday, 9 December 2010

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/coulson-faces-uncomfortable -day-in-court-2155002.html
For nearly four years, ever since he resigned from the News of the World, Andy Coulson has distanced himself from the scandal over the red-top's illegal phone tapping during his editorship.
Last year, he told MPs he knew nothing of the news-gathering techniques that saw his royal editor, Clive Goodman, and the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire jailed when they were caught listening to the private phone messages of celebrities in attempts to provide his newspaper with stories.
Today the Prime Minister's communications supremo will face more questions over events under his stewardship at Rupert Murdoch's flagship newspaper – this time in Glasgow High Court
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/coulson-faces-uncomfortable -day-in-court-2155002.html

[TonyGosling]

Sheridan on trial – but it's Coulson in the dock
Jonathan Brown sees former News of the World editor defend himself against accusations of complicity in phone-hacking
Friday, 10 December 2010
Shortly after 2.30pm yesterday it was the turn of defence witness 21 to swear the oath at Glasgow High Court in the perjury trail of Tommy Sheridan.
After a morning spent embroiled in the minutiae of the internal procedures of the executive committee of the Scottish Socialist Party, for the jury, the packed press benches and dozens of members of the public who have sat through all 38 days of evidence so far, there emerged into the witness stand a visitor from the lofty world of Westminster power politics.
Dressed in a grey suit and navy blue tie, Andrew Edward Coulson, 42, was asked twice to confirm his position as director of communications at Downing Street. Over the next 45 minutes he faced a volley of questions from the former socialist firebrand who is representing himself in the proceedings......
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/sheridan-on-trial-ndash-but -its-coulson-in-the-dock-2155932.html

[TonyGosling]

Cameron's 'dinner date with James Murdoch' just days after Vince Cable was stripped of his role deciding BSkyB's future

....Labour's Tom Watson has written to Sir Gus O'Donnell, the Cabinet Secretary, about the meal to ask him if he were aware of it and whether minutes were taken.
He told The Independent: 'The idea that the Prime Minister was secretly wining and dining with two people so close to the bid is highly unusual.
'This deal is worth a lot of money for News Corp if they get it, and while it is ultimately Jeremy Hunt's decision, the Prime Minister is key to it too.
'In order to be able to defend the integrity of the decision, a civil servant should have been present.'..
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1350060/Camerons-dinner-James- Murdoch-Vince-Cable-stripped-BSkyB-decision.html

[scienceplease 2]

The Crown Prosecution Service is facing demands that it should investigate the Metropolitan Police for perverting the course of justice during its inquiry into phone-hacking by journalists.

[TonyGosling]

It was the anti terrorist branch of the met that failed to investigate these crimes. Post 7/7 clearly the most corrupt part of the met.
Despite having plenty of evidence. Lists of names from mulcaire of individuals whose phones he had hacked.

Still it will be further met people investigating their own... so difficulties in getting justice will be immense.

[scienceplease 2]

Watch out for "Akers of the Yard"

Perhaps it's just me that finds that funny...

Anyway she is to be the new broom to sweep through the Yard according to the FT... and just finally to mix a few more metaphors:

[scienceplease 2]

[scienceplease 2]

Deserves a thread of its own!

[scienceplease 2]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/mar/28/news-world-email-archive-p hone-hacking

[TonyGosling]

Two arrested in phone hacking probe
(UKPA) – 17 minutes ago
The former head of news and current chief reporter of the News of the World have been arrested on suspicion of phone hacking in London, sources said.
Ian Edmondson, 42, and Neville Thurlbeck, 50, were held by Scotland Yard detectives when they attended separate police stations in south-west London by appointment on Tuesday morning.
The pair were questioned on suspicion of conspiring to intercept communications and unlawfully intercepting voicemail messages.
These are the first arrests since the Metropolitan Police reopened its inquiry into claims that staff at the top-selling Sunday newspaper hacked into the answerphone messages of celebrities, politicians and Royals.
Scotland Yard has endured a torrent of criticism over its handling of the original case, which led to the conviction of the News of the World's royal editor, Clive Goodman, and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire in 2007.
In January the force launched a fresh investigation, codenamed Operation Weeting, after receiving "significant new information" from the paper's publisher, News International.
The decision came amid a steady flow of new allegations about the practice of intercepting the mobile phone messages of high-profile public figures, said to range from actress Sienna Miller to former prime minister Gordon Brown.
Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson resigned as Prime Minister David Cameron's director of communications in January after admitting that the drip-drip of claims about illegal eavesdropping under his command was making his job impossible.
Scotland Yard refused to give any more information about the inquiry, saying: "The Operation Weeting team is conducting the new investigation into phone hacking. It would be inappropriate to discuss any further details regarding this case at this time."
Edmondson's solicitor, Eddie Parladorio, said: "I can confirm that Mr Edmondson was arrested today. He attended voluntarily at the police station. Other than that I have no comment."

[scienceplease 2]

Top rated newstory in Guardian is about Celebrity Leslie Ash.

[scienceplease 2]

"The Pigs are telling Porkie Pies"

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/07/phone-hacking-john-yates-evid ence

[scienceplease 2]

Damage control

£100,000 to say 100 celebs is only £10m. Murdoch would get off lightly with that sort of figure...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/apr/08/news-corp-phone-hacking

Apparently only £20m has been put aside...

Now spreading....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/09/phone-hacking-rupert-murdoch- gordon-brown

[scienceplease 2]

I think there have been a few new developments on this story

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/07/news-of-the-world-to-close

[scienceplease 2]

All News International media needs to boycotted...

[scienceplease 2]

Cameron trying to explain why he hired Coulson...

When are they going to get Andy Hayman?

And don't forget the emails...

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/08/phone-hacking-emails-news- international

[fish5133]

gonna be interesting who comes out the rabbit hole especially if one of the rabbits turns fox.

[Husq]

Phone-hacking scandal: Church of England could withdraw £4 million from News Corp

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8627499/Phone-hac king-scandal-Church-of-England-could-withdraw-4-million-from-News-Corp .html


"The Church's ethical investment advisory group said it would first seek to persuade Mr Murdoch to discipline senior executives before considering the "nuclear option" of withdrawing its investment in the company. "

EH???

Talk about supping with the Devil.