Tom Watson
Harman: I cannot vouch for the strength of Tom Watson’s evidence
Tom Watson’s Twitter feed has gone a bit quiet recently. Strange, as he is normally quite vocal about media ethics and their failings. But his silence is well-judged: when he… Continue reading
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Rob Wilson attacks Tom Watson on child abuse claims
After Lord McAlpine’s statement this morning about the allegations and rumours of child abuse surrounding the Tory peer and other figures, Tory MP Rob Wilson has gone on the warpath… Continue reading
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Dial W for Wonga
I gather that self-important Labour MP Tom Watson has earned £10,812 in royalties for the book he recently co-authored on phone-hacking, Dial M For Murdoch. New parliamentary records show that… Continue reading
6 CommentsMPs squabble over their own phone hacking report
The education select committee reported earlier, but it is the report of another select committee that will get all the attention today. The culture, media and sport select committee has… Continue reading
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The Blair-Brown wars continue
It took the Tory party 15 years to recover from the bad blood created by Margaret Thatcher’s forced resignation. So it is, perhaps, unsurprising that five years on, the bitterness… Continue reading
47 CommentsMurdoch denies all knowledge
James Murdoch’s great advantage today was that he didn’t mind if people came away thinking he was a bit of an idiot. As various members of the Culture, Media and… Continue reading
22 CommentsTom Watson calls James Murdoch a "mafia boss"
During Murdoch’s appearance before the Culture, Media and Sport Committee, which has just concluded:
36 CommentsMiliband tries to re-energise the Opposition
The Labour reshuffle is an attempt to bring more energy and aggression into Ed Miliband’s top team. It is also a recognition that the party has failed to cut through… Continue reading
33 CommentsCameron’s letter to Watson
Tom Watson fired a barb at David Cameron during the oral questions following the prime minister’s statement. He referred to a letter about allegations against Andy Coulson he had sent… Continue reading
27 CommentsRegulators on the rack over phone hacking
The latest, hideous developments in the phone hacking scandal are emblazoned across all this morning’s papers — all, that is, expect the tabloids. And our political leadership is putting voice… Continue reading
10 CommentsPolitics needs to respond to the changed phone hacking terrain
The politics of the phone hacking saga have changed dramatically in the last 24 hours. Up to now, it has been a scandal that has been of huge interest in… Continue reading
21 CommentsCoulson to stay
The indefatigable Paul Waugh reports that Andy Coulson plans to break Tom Watson’s delicate heart: the government’s communications director is not going to resign for whatever it is that he… Continue reading
16 CommentsSense in Balls
Ed Balls has a reputation as a master of subterfuge and vicious smear – undeserved I’m sure. But the Shadow Home Secretary is right, incontrovertibly so, when he says that… Continue reading
19 CommentsThe Coulson saga rumbles on
Andy Coulson had a chat and a Bath Oliver with the Met recently. Rejoice! The News of the World phone tapping story continues. The allegations against Coulson do the government… Continue reading
21 CommentsLabour get the inquiry they wanted
To these eyes, this afternoon’s phone hacking debate was a surprisingly sedate affair. Chris Bryant – proposing a motion to have an inquiry conducted by the Standards and Privileges committee… Continue reading
27 CommentsCoulson loosens the noose
The New York Times has produced what last year’s Guardian phone-hacking campaign lacked: direct testimony against Andy Coulson. Sean Hoare and an unnamed former News of the Screws editor allege… Continue reading
15 CommentsThey think it’s all over
It looks like curtains for ‘President’ Blair. Every commentator besides Adam Boulton and James MacIntyre, who is possessed of a ruinous gambling streak, have now virtually written off the former… Continue reading
19 CommentsWorse Still
Just to clarify. I didn’t intend to suggest in my last post that Damian McBride’s smear tactics would have been excusable if they had worked. Sorry if I gave that… Continue reading
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