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Harman: People will be disgusted at the prospect of Jeremy Hunt and No. 10 colluding with News Corporation

May 11, 2012 4:16 pm

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Responding to the allegations that Jeremy Hunt asked Fred Michel to privately advise him and No. 10 on positioning on phone hacking, Harriet Harman has released a statement, saying:

“People will be disgusted at the prospect of Jeremy Hunt and No. 10 colluding with News Corporation to avoid a public inquiry into phone hacking.

“Jeremy Hunt was not on the side of victims and their families. Instead, he wanted it swept under the carpet because he was straining every sinew to support News Corporation’s bid for BSkyB.”

TomFairfax

It does rather look like DC has a terrible problem choosing the right option when the Murdoch empire is concerned.

Employ Coulson, refuse to acknowledge he was leaving himself open to damage because of this.

Back the Hunt Jeremy, refuse to acknowledge he was leaving himself open to damage because of this.

It’s likely in both cases that DC will use the same excuse. They were less than honest with him.

As for the number of times his previous statement last year that he hadn’t discussed the BSkyB takeover with anyone at RB soirees, contradicted by James Murdoch and others. I’ll like to see how he explains he was less than honest with himself.
billbat

I thought the Official Tory Line was that Fred Michel was not known to them and was a Walter Mitty Character who Hunt and Cameron had only met once accidentally.
Mike45

Yes appalling but so was Labour’s disgusting relationship with the Murdochs for so many years. I thought HH was pathetic on the news this evening trying to dodge questions about how thw Blairite New Labour machine was deep in bed with the Murdochs. A reason many of us will never trust the Labour party again.
- trotters1957
  
  Are Cameron, Hunt and Osborne in the Labour Party?
  
  Sorry, forgot, it’s all Gordon Brown’s fault isn’t it.
  - treborc1
    
    The problem of course Labour Tory did the same, which one was daft enough i will agree is Cameron for knowing the breaking news, does not mean Labour are clear
Daniel Speight

That Hunt is as guilty as hell is becoming pretty obvious. That Harman is still prepared to go on TV, as she did within the last couple of weeks, defending Blair defies any common sense.

So Harriet, did Blair change or water-down Labour policy on the press and News International in particular when he was first became prime minister, as Chris Mullin relates?

Do you have the courage to answer Harriet?

I suspect not.

(If any of the Westminster LL readers sees her walking past see if you can get an answer;-)
- AlanGiles
  
  Totally agree Daniel. If Hunt had any self-respect he would have resigned weeks ago. If Ms Harman had any sense she would keep her mouth shut.
  
  Blair was just as bad as Cameron and his friends wanting to be Rupert Murdoch’s best friend. It was inappropriate and foolish in his case just as much as Hunt and Cameron.
  
  Listening to Mrs Brooks yesterday, I was astonished at how stupid she wanted to show herself (probably through desperation). In answer to Mr Jay’s questions, she had no idea that publishing photographs names and addresses and inflammatory langauge might encourage vigillantes to take the law into their own hands – forcing a Paediatrician from their own home – “you have the benefit of hindsight, Mr Jay” she said mournfully, like some Victorian heroine.
  
  * Tony Kinsey (1927 – )
  - trotters1957
    
    She is a real lightweight. I was amazed at the depth, lack of, of her understanding of journalism generally and ethics, in particular. When Leveson tried to talk to her towards the end of her shift, he couldn’t get her to understand his point.
    I don’t think it was prevarication just boneheadedness.
    - Alexwilliamz
      
      With her still technically facing potential charges as with Coulson, neither was going to reveal anything for fear it might incriminate themselves and be used against them in a courtroom where they are the accused. This part of the Leveson inquiry is pointless.
      - Daniel Speight
        
        Alex there was never going to be an adversarial cross-examining of Coulson and Brooks for the reason you give above. What’s interesting is even without that we still get glimpses of the corrupt relationships between News International and politicians. If only we could get glimpses of BP’s influence on foreign policy, I’m thinking of Libya here, and BAE’s influence on defense.
      - AlanGiles
        
        Mrs Brooks of course has bought herself some insurance. I bet Mr Coulson wishes he, too, could become pregnant by A.I !
        
        *Keith Christie (1931-1980)
      - Daniel Speight
        
        Didn’t I read somewhere that the Brooks had used a surrogate mother?
      - AlanGiles
        
        So she did!. The joys of motherhood are preferable to the miseries of Holloway, I suppose :-)
        
        * Curtis Fuller (1934 – )
      - Daniel Speight
        
        Maybe she can ask her surrogate to serve her time.
- Alexwilliamz
  
  The point is that we are trying to make a break from the past and part of that must be the way the party did business with organisations like NI. So why not come clean. Until some of those involved step down is the rest of the Labour party going to be lashed to their misdeeds?
  - AlanGiles
    
    What I think is even more unfortunate is that part of our new start seems to involve Ed talking on a regular basis to Tony Blair, and Blair having regular meetings with the 2010 intake – you get the feeling he is “grooming” them.
    
    Labour must now cut all contact with Blair, to prove that we have moved away from him and his tricks. Until that happens Ms Harman can attiudenize all she likes, but it will mean nothing.
    
    Blair himself ought to realise there is nothing sadder than an ex PM back seat driving.
    
    *Chris Karan (1937 – )
    - treborc1
      
      Blair if he is back seat driving has a start and a finish in mind, that bloke does nothing unless it increases his wealth
leslie48

What New Labour did or did not do having been out of power for so many, many years back in the late 90s is history. But its also a serious distraction used a lot by the BBC’s Nick Robinson who always wants to reduce the heat on his Tory friend’s as he did last night.

What Her Majesty’ s Government Minister Hunt did only a few months ago is different and very serious as he, the Minister, allegedly colluded to help Murdoch’s company by seeking methods to help dilute the illegal consequences of their hacking people’s communications. It cannot be more serious.

Clearly and precisely and well supported by the Labour party and their voters, Harriet Harman is indeed doing very well to rebuff the BBC’s artificial attempts to distract us with the history of Tony Blair. If I do a serious unethical misdeed I take the can for it. The history of what other people may or may not have done is irrelevant. As always Channel 4 news shows up how sloppy and unfocused BBC 1 news has become. I think its time Nick Robinson was closely monitored and a complaint was lodged with the BBC authorities.
- Daniel Speight
  
  The problem is Leslie that it’s very hard to lecture others when you are guilty, as a party, yourself.
  
  Let’s take this latest example. Hunt seems to be verging on criminal behaviour, not just parliamentary rule-breaking. Labour should have a field day on this until Hunt either resigns or is fired by Cameron.
  
  But Chris Mullin suggests that Tony Blair changed Labour policy to keep News International (NI) onside, going as far as dropping media bills that would have hurt NI. The only honest answer that Labour spokesman or women can give is to say yes we did wrong too, but two wrongs don’t make a right. Of course to be really rid of the toxicity of Blair the easiest way would be to expel him from the party!
  - leslie48
    
    On the principle – if – TB did bend policy to suit NI you are right. But politics was never a pure game for saints. The reality was back then especially after 1992 Kinnock massacre we had lost – four – yes four – general elections in a row and it was the case to regain power Labour had to get on board the daily press popular with Essex Man such as the Sun. New Labour had to also appeal to the middle ground and the aspirational working class. We did and so we won Labour’s greatest post-war victory in 1997.
    
    Do not forget this was a society dominated by the Murdoch press, the other Right Wing press and its political and its Neo-Liberal economic agenda. If you believe as I do that “the drip-drip effect” of this right wing press does shape many voters you could argue we had no choice. They always do it at voting time as we saw last week with the London Standard’s attacks on Ken.
    
    Currently it should be Hunt in the frame – not every prime minister since Maggie Thatcher who began this awful corrupting affair with the stinking Murdoch empire.
    - derek
      
      Why not Leslie48? do we tear down this bridge then replace it with an exact carbon copy?
      - leslie48
        
        Of course I did not mean to say “forgive and forget” all the P.M.s for their closeness to the Murdoch empire that’s partly what Levensen is about. I mean do not dilute Hunt’s serious misdeeds by New Labour attacks which are pointless at this stage.
      - Daniel Speight
        
        I mean do not dilute Hunt’s serious misdeeds by New Labour attacks which are pointless at this stage.
        
        But the Tories and their friends in the press will do it Leslie.
        
        The only chance for the likes of Harman is to come clean and say “Yes we did some pretty awful things for Murdoch too, but we will never do it again. We’ve learned the lesson and Blair’s relationship with Murdoch is an embarrassment to the party. Now let’s talk about the illegalities of Hunt.”
        
        Anything else looks shifty.
      - treborc1
        
        It’s funny how you say what new labour has done is pointless
    - AlanGiles
      
      Leslie, With respect you are not the first person whom I have seen in effect saying – whatever Blair did was OK because “he did win three elections”. If that is a get out of jail free card, Putin and Mugabe should be considered saints as well.
      
      If something is wrong, it is wrong regardless of which colour rossette the leader wears.
      
      As for the 1997 election virtually anybody could have won that election, since the Tories were killing themselves between 1992-1997 – John Smith died 17 years ago today (May 12th) – he certainly would have won.
      
      We cannot pretend everything is a lesser offence just because Labour did it.
      
      Hunt though should be gone by now.
      
      * Bobby Orr (1928 - )
- treborc1
  
  2010 is not years ago is it
Amber Star

It’s been shown that Thatcher colluded with Murdoch when he wanted to buy the Times; it’s been shown that Hunt – or at the very least the department he was responsible for – colluded with Murdoch’s emissaries over BSkyB.

This is not about political parties trying to get favourable media coverage. This is about showing partiality to the Murdochs during business mergers & take-overs. When Leveson, or similar, can show a major UK business deal Labour helped the Murdochs with, it will be time for Harriet to ‘sit down & shut up’. Until then, Labour is absolutely entitled to criticise the Tories & call for Hunt’s resignation.
- Daniel Speight
  
  There is no need for Harman to sit down and shut up. To call for Hunt’s resignation is correct and hopefully calling for Cameron’s is not too far away.
  
  What there is a need for is a bit of honesty. To hold up our hands and say yes we did it too. Amber the comparison with Thatcher helping Murdoch with the Times takeover and Hunt and Cameron trying to help with the BSkyB takeover is when Tony Blair changed government and Labour policy on media ownership to please Murdoch. Seeing that he hasn’t taken umbrage with Chris Mullin’s diaries we have to suspect this is what happened. We can wait and see if it comes out in Leveson if you want, but sometimes better to clear the air early.
Daniel Speight

Seems like Ed Miliband understands the problem better than some here. This is from a report on the Progress speech.

Mr Miliband admitted that Labour had made mistakes in Government under
Tony Blair and Gordon Brown, which had led people to believe the party
was “not willing to take on the media giants, even though everyone knew
that things were not right”.
- treborc1
  
  Does this mean Brown will step down now, calling for heads of politicians of course means a few in labour should walk away as well. Including not allowing Blair to have meetings with MP’s.
  
  The Murdock empire will be a massive stain on politics for many years, it will also mean many millions of voters may well say what the point it’s easy to buy a political party if you have the money and the power.

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