[Update] The News Corp scandal

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Derek

I still can't stand that Keith Vaz is allowed to question anyone on links to dodgyness and corruption.

Stephenson is having a bit of a disaster, his assurances that the rank and file Met were behind him were laughable, still fair play for ignoring Vaz's attempt to make a political comment regarding budget cuts.

Vaz is just at the head of a committee which now seems very determined to apply standards of judgement and powers of hindsight to the police which many of their peers have failed miserably to live up to over the years whether it be in terms of the systematic abuse of expenses, cash for honours/questions or the sort of lies/spin which led us into the war in Iraq. Frankly their hypocrisy and opportunism make me sick!

As for the number of press related staff they employ, given its size, unique role and the extreme demands of today's news media it doesn't surprise me but I'd like to know how many similar staff other large forces employ?

To lighten the mood a little in this section spitting image had Mr Murdoch sussed out more then 20 years ago.

http://www.democraticunderground.com...ess=385x599128

Originally Posted by Osem

As for the number of press related staff they employ, given its size, unique role and the extreme demands of today's news media it doesn't surprise me but I'd like to know how many similar staff other large forces employ?

It was out of a staff of 45. They were talking about the press department.

---------- Post added at 15:58 ---------- Previous post was at 15:19 ----------

Finally they got something out of this. There continued to be payments to Clive Goodman and Glen Mulcaire. Not amazingly new info though.

[watzizname]

Who attacked who?.. i looked away

Someone tried to attack Murdoch, his wife stepped in and slapped the moron, think Murdoch was unharmed. What an idiot. Just detracts from the session and the focus on the illegality.

Murdoch custard pie'd in the face perhaps. White substance involved.

[watzizname]

How do you sneak a plate of anything into the room?

Hearing to reconvene without press or public - no word on whether the camera's will be allowed.

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Damien

It was out of a staff of 45. They were talking about the press department.[COLOR="Silver"]

Yes I know. I was asking, in response to Derek's point:

It's amazed me the Met has a PR dept with more than 50 people in it. Policing isn't a business FGS!!

A couple of people to put out press releases would do the job.

how many such staff would be employed in the press dept. of other large forces?

Anyway, given what looks like a paint attack on the Murdoch's, I wonder who's going to chair the soon to be announced enquiry into security measures at select committees.

Attacker known as comedian Jonnie Marbles.

[Acathla]

He tweeted before he did it:

"It is a far better thing that I do now than I have ever done before #splat"

[watzizname]

Originally Posted by Damien

What an idiot. Just detracts from the session and the focus on the illegality.

Indeed.. this incident will probably be the main focus of the hearing, on the news..

[Osem]

Originally Posted by Acathla

He tweeted before he did it:

"It is a far better thing that I do now than I have ever done before #splat"

That probably sums up, better than anything anyone else could say, just what a sad loser this guy is.

---------- Post added at 17:14 ---------- Previous post was at 17:11 ----------

I haven't heard all of the session but has anyone else noticed the relative absence of smug, snide remarks on the part of the committee members questioning the Murdochs? It's all a bit different from the approach taken with various police personnel. I wonder why that is?...

[Sirius]

Originally Posted by Mick

Attacker known as comedian Jonnie Marbles.

What a complete idiot.

Originally Posted by Osem

I haven't heard all of the session but has anyone else noticed the relative absence of smug, snide remarks on the part of the committee members questioning the Murdochs? It's all a bit different from the approach taken with various police personnel. I wonder why that is?...

Different committee. It also seems they didn't want to appear to be conducting a witch hunt or to attack and miss the Murdochs.

---------- Post added at 17:27 ---------- Previous post was at 17:20 ----------

Rubbish. Tom Watson was the only member who had probing, proper questions and when it came back to him he was cut of by the chair as he was chasing down another promising line in Inquiry while other members were left to babble about if News Corp ever paid people in gift vouchers ffs.