Another day, another phone hacking story. It’s hard to believe that it’s just a week since news broke that the News of the World hacked Milly Dowler’s phone. This story has moved on so much since then, and it continues today with Gordon Brown speaking out on allegations that his son’s medical records were obtained illegally. Brown has also suggested that there are links between News International and the criminal underworld, which echoes what Tom Watson was arguing in parliament just a few days ago. But is this revenge?
There’s an interesting intervention from Peter Mandelson over at Comment is Free this morning, in which he argues that Labour:
“simply chose to be cowed because we were too fearful to do otherwise. And David Cameron took up where Tony Blair and Gordon Brown left off.”
That kind of self-awareness from the British political elite is becoming more and more apparent with regard to News International. It’s just a shame that so few of these epiphanies happened several years ago…
How does this impact upon today’s leaders? Well according to polling out last night, 68% of people think that David Cameron made an error of judgement by hiring Andy Coulson, whilst Mary Riddell thinks Ed Miliband’s time has come…as the defender of a free press.
And parliament watchers may find something to keep the story going today – the Assistant Commissioner of the Met John Yates is in front of the home affairs select committee.
Elsewhere, there’s still plenty of news taking place below the radar:
– tuition fees will reach an average £8k per year
– and the government may have to borrow £100m more.
We’ll be keeping an eye on these stories, as well as any other bad news which might otherwise get buried…
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