Morning Report – July 7th

The phone hacking scandal rumbles on, after receiving considerable momentum from Ed Miliband’s performance at PMQs yesterday(£), and a remarkable debate in the house that included this intervention from Tom Watson. The pressure is ramped up another level again today, with Peter Oborne in the Telegraph saying “David Cameron is in the sewer because of his News International friends” – hard hitting stuff. As Michael White notes in the Guardian this morning, it is likely that yesterday saw the end of the uneasy friendship between Labour and Murdoch. Although some would say that was shattered in September 2009, when The Sun turned on Labour at party conference, for maximum effect. The Guardian have also sought to highlight what Brooks knew…

Elsewhere, there’s more bad news for Andrew Lansley – hospital waiting times are up, which sees the Daily Mail on the rampage against the abolition of targets. That’s an uncomfortable place for any health secretary to be, nevermind a Tory one. And if you thought John Bercow was being dispatched to Afghanistan, as was reported in some outlets earlier this week, think again. The speaker has denied that he has any plans to work in Afghanistan. Although Cameron may have those plans for him…