Re: Murdoch says sorry - so that's all right then!!!
I don't know if anyone here is particularly interested in this story and the surrounding issues but thought I would pass on this message from campaign group 'Unlock Democracy'
I don't know if anyone here is particularly interested in this story and the surrounding issues but thought I would pass on this message from campaign group 'Unlock Democracy'
A murder victim whose phone was hacked. The UK’s top selling newspaper – closed. The UK’s two most senior policemen – resigned. People being arrested left, right and centre. I don’t know about you but it’s getting hard to follow what might happen next.
With so much going on, there’s a risk that the wider issues get lost in all the detail. This isn’t just about News International. In 2006 for example, it was found that the three newspapers which most used convicted “blagger” Steve Whittamore were the Daily Mail, the Sunday People and the Daily Mirror[1].
We can’t afford to let the Murdoch Empire take the blame for what is a wider problem with a feral, out of control press. Co-sign our letter to the Metropolitan Police today demanding that all the victims of newspapers’ illegal activities see justice.
http://action.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/investigate-the-press
Only yesterday, the Daily Mail was attempting to move on from this story, asking “has all sense of proportion been lost in this furore?”
The Daily Mail also complains that the UK has “some of the strictest privacy laws in the world”. Yet despite the prosecution of professional “blagger” Steve Whittamore in 2006, no charges have ever been brought against his biggest client – the Daily Mail.
Watching the potential fall of Rupert Murdoch’s domination of the world media may be enjoyable, but if he is used as a scapegoat we will have missed a real opportunity to reform the UK media once and for all.
In fairness to the Metropolitan Police, they have a small team looking into this called Operation Tuleta. Currently however, this is just a “scoping exercise”. With the Met in turmoil and the spotlight on the Murdoch’s, there is a risk this operation may get forgotten about.
That’s why I’m asking you to join us in writing to Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick to demand a proper investigation into the entire newspaper industry. Add your name here:
http://action.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/investigate-the-press
A free press is crucial in any modern democracy, but what we have right now frequently threatens freedom of expression, ordinary people’s privacy and has been allowed to bully Parliament for far too long. Don’t let it continue once the dust has settled.
All the best,
Andy May
Chair, Take Back Parliament
Notes:
[1] “What price privacy now?”, Information Commissioner: http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/corporate/research_and_reports/what_price_privacy_now.pdf
Take Back Parliament is now an autonomous project of Unlock Democracy, in association with the Electoral Reform Society.
With so much going on, there’s a risk that the wider issues get lost in all the detail. This isn’t just about News International. In 2006 for example, it was found that the three newspapers which most used convicted “blagger” Steve Whittamore were the Daily Mail, the Sunday People and the Daily Mirror[1].
We can’t afford to let the Murdoch Empire take the blame for what is a wider problem with a feral, out of control press. Co-sign our letter to the Metropolitan Police today demanding that all the victims of newspapers’ illegal activities see justice.
http://action.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/investigate-the-press
Only yesterday, the Daily Mail was attempting to move on from this story, asking “has all sense of proportion been lost in this furore?”
The Daily Mail also complains that the UK has “some of the strictest privacy laws in the world”. Yet despite the prosecution of professional “blagger” Steve Whittamore in 2006, no charges have ever been brought against his biggest client – the Daily Mail.
Watching the potential fall of Rupert Murdoch’s domination of the world media may be enjoyable, but if he is used as a scapegoat we will have missed a real opportunity to reform the UK media once and for all.
In fairness to the Metropolitan Police, they have a small team looking into this called Operation Tuleta. Currently however, this is just a “scoping exercise”. With the Met in turmoil and the spotlight on the Murdoch’s, there is a risk this operation may get forgotten about.
That’s why I’m asking you to join us in writing to Assistant Commissioner Cressida Dick to demand a proper investigation into the entire newspaper industry. Add your name here:
http://action.unlockdemocracy.org.uk/investigate-the-press
A free press is crucial in any modern democracy, but what we have right now frequently threatens freedom of expression, ordinary people’s privacy and has been allowed to bully Parliament for far too long. Don’t let it continue once the dust has settled.
All the best,
Andy May
Chair, Take Back Parliament
Notes:
[1] “What price privacy now?”, Information Commissioner: http://www.ico.gov.uk/upload/documents/library/corporate/research_and_reports/what_price_privacy_now.pdf
Take Back Parliament is now an autonomous project of Unlock Democracy, in association with the Electoral Reform Society.

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