David Blackburn

Wednesday

David Blackburn

A real crisis?

From our UK edition

David Cameron is under pressure now that the phone hacking scandal has slithered its way closer to his door. The news that Neil Wallis informally advised Andy Coulson in the run up to last year’s election will spark questions about Cameron’s judgement and the competence of his leadership, as will the revelations about his chief of staff, Ed Llewellyn. Criticism is likely to come from both sides of the House: Tories I’ve spoken to are none too pleased about yesterday’s events. Cameron rebuffed his critics at last week’s PMQs by rising above politics to strike a calm and prime ministerial tone, for the most part. He will have to do so again.

Tuesday

David Blackburn

Brooks comes to Cameron’s aid, perhaps unintentionally

From our UK edition

Rebekah Brooks’s  appearance before the Culture Media and Sport Committee was largely uneventful. Most of the questions addressed her editorship of the News of the World, a period about which she cannot openly speak at present because of the criminal proceedings brought against her. However, Brooks was very keen to distance herself from David Cameron. Towards the end of the session, Tory MP Philip Davies asked of the stories circulating about her relationship with Cameron. She took the opportunity to deny them and set the record straight. “I have not visited David Cameron at Downing Street since he has become Prime Minister,” she said and then added that she had visited Tony Blair and Gordon Brown there on numerous occasions.

David Blackburn

The Murdochs before parliament

From our UK edition

The major story of this session was the claim, made by Rupert Murdoch, that Colin Myler, former editor of the News of the World, appointed James Chapman to investigate phone hacking and the two were in possession of an explosive document on the subject for years, which has since come to light. It was these people that Rupert Murdoch described as having betrayed his trust throughout proceedings, but particularly in his closing statement. Myler has been furiously denying this ever since. Other than that, it was pretty much quiet on the western front.

David Blackburn

Euro crisis enters a new phase

From our UK edition

It was a problem that would be fixed with a snap of the Commissioners' manicured fingers, but now fresh euro-storms are louring in the near distance. As predicted over the weekend, the markets reacted to the European Banking Authority’s deeply flawed stress tests with fevered concern and a clear note of contempt. The FTSE shed 90 points yesterday, with banks among the day’s biggest losers. The performance in Frankfurt and Paris was equally baleful, as investors fled for safe commodity stocks. As Fraser has noted, Allister Heath argues that the Eurozone crisis is responsible for the booming price of gold.

Monday

David Blackburn

From the archives – Yates had previous

From our UK edition

As Theresa May put it in an impressive statement to the House earlier, “These allegations are not, unfortunately, the only recent example of alleged corruption and nepotism in the police.” She then vowed to open an inquiry into these matters, which will stand in addition to the two already announced by the government. The panel will have plenty to look at, as Michael White explained in the Spectator a few years back. John Yates has previous, by Michael White, 10 March 2007 When I was a young reporter on the London Evening Standard nearly 40 years ago I spent a lot of time in the press room at Scotland Yard, not learning very much.

David Blackburn

Yates has his say as new allegations against him emerge

From our UK edition

John Yates has spoken and those expecting a grovelling apology were met with dignified defiance. Where Sir Paul Stephenson threw dainty little parcels of mud at the government, Yates struck an earnest tone that was quite without contrition or malice. He admitted to “great personal frustration” that his part in the 2009 phone hacking scandal was still subject to debate and for this he blamed the press. “There has been much ill-informed and downright malicious gossip about me,” he said. “I have acted with complete integrity and my conscience is clear.” And he claimed that his actions would be examined in a calmer environment that that which prevails at present.

David Blackburn

Phone hacking tempest forces Cameron to shorten trip again

From our UK edition

David Cameron’s long-planned trip to Africa has been foreshortened again. He will now return on Tuesday evening, as opposed to Wednesday morning. This, we are led to believe, is so that he can finalise the terms and membership of the Leveson inquiry ahead of Wednesday’s emergency parliamentary session. The scramble for Africa has become the scramble from Africa.  As this crisis deepens, the forthcoming public inquiries grow ever more important for the Prime Minister. Lord Justice Leveson will examine the alleged misdoings between members of the police and the media; Leveson will not convene until the conclusion of the criminal investigation.

David Blackburn

Yates quits

From our UK edition

John Yates has offered his resignation, which appears to have been accepted. There are reports that he will make a full statement later this afternoon. More to follow as we get it.

David Blackburn

Cameron joins the scramble for Africa

From our UK edition

As James has said, David Cameron is in South Africa for the start of a two day trip to Africa to promote free trade and foster trade links. He projects his vision in an article for South African Business Day: ‘In the past, there were marches in the west to drop the debt. There were concerts to increase aid. And it was right that the world responded. But they have never once had a march or a concert to call for what will in the long term save far more lives and do far more good — an African free trade area. The key to Africa's progress is not just aid. It is time for some fresh thinking. Consider these facts. An African free trade area could increase GDP across the continent by an estimated $62bn a year.

David Blackburn

Across the literary pages | 18 July 2011

From our UK edition

The Observer reports that publishers are seeking out five major music stars who are to write their memoirs, such was the success of Keith Richards’s book and the life. ‘Call them the Big Five. Game hunters have their wish-list of trophy animals, and rock music has its own – the elite group of rock stars yet to be bagged for publishing deals. This month, after HarperCollins snapped up the autobiography of Pete Townshend of the Who after a bidding war, publishers' sights are firmly set on the few remaining major talents to have held back from a book deal. Paul McCartney, Elton John, Robert Plant and Bruce Springsteen are on that list, but at the top for many in the book industry is David Bowie.

David Blackburn

Quizzical eyes turn on Yates

From our UK edition

The phone hacking saga is now moving at such pace it threatens to engulf the political establishment (whether it is a sufficiently serious story to do so is another matter). After Sir Paul Stephenson’s theatrical resignation, timed to upset newspaper deadlines and plotted to embarrass the Prime Minister, attention has now turned to John Yates. Boris Johnson has said that Yates has ‘questions to answer’; and Brian Paddick argues that Yates should fall on his sword too. The Metropolitan Police Standards Committee meets this morning, and, as Laura Kuenssberg notes, it may discuss John Yates’ conduct.

Sunday

David Blackburn

Mitchell rejects allegation that UK aid is going to Islamists

From our UK edition

Yesterday, Andrew Mitchell was the toast of the broadcasters. They have turned on him to an extent today. The news that portions of the £52.25 million given in emergency aid to the starving masses in the Horn of Africa will be distributed in areas controlled by al-Shabaab has forced Mitchell onto the defensive. “We shall have no dealings with al-Shabaab,” he said, and then added that the aid will reach its intended recipients by means other than collusion with the jihadists. This is an embarrassing moment for Mitchell and, of course, it is vital that money and supplies do not fall into the hands of well-fed fighters. However, it is worth pointing out that Mitchell has always intended to distribute aid in al-Shabab controlled areas of Somalia.

David Blackburn

Miliband the hero

From our UK edition

Garlands go to the conqueror. The Observer has interviewed Ed Miliband about his response to the News International crisis, and it’s as if Caesar has returned home after crushing the traitor Pompey. Miliband told the Spectator in an interview with James Forsyth in this week’s magazine that Murdoch’s spell on British politics has been broken. He reiterates that sentiment with the Observer and adds that Murdoch’s endorsement will be a “double-edged sword at the next election”. When speaking to James he was careful to insist that there was nothing personal in his burgeoning crusade against Murdoch; he is not so careful now.

David Blackburn

Policing the Olympics

From our UK edition

The reputation of the police may be as black as mud at the moment, but the Met has a chance to atone during the Olympics. Security forces have been making their preparations as the Olympic construction site nears completion.  In May, police officers, counter-intelligence officials and the emergency services conducted their first major security exercise. Further stress tests are being undertaken on local transport routes and waterways. And permanent surveillance of Olympic venues is being established; in future, visitors to these sites will be subject to airport-style security and a number of armed officers will patrol the area. Nothing, it seems, is being left to chance. These operations are being delivered amid a background of spending cuts.

Saturday

David Blackburn

The Lib Dems try to exploit phone hacking

From our UK edition

The phone hacking saga continues interminably.  Simon Hughes appeared on Sky News earlier in the day to discuss the latest revelations. He refused to condemn David Cameron for entertaining Andy Coulson at Chequers and turned on Tony Blair instead. He said: "I'm much more critical of the fact that under the Blair era we knew, and this will all come out in the public inquiry, we knew that Blair flew just before the 1997 election to the other side of the world to meet Murdoch, we know that Tony Blair, three times in the ten days before the Iraq war was declared, was in touch with Rupert Murdoch" The Iraq War holds a special place in the hearts of some Liberal Democrats.

David Blackburn

The man of the moment

From our UK edition

Andrew Mitchell has announced that DfID will provide £52.25 million in emergency aid to ease suffering in East Africa, which has been wracked by drought. The supplies will be distributed to the Dadaab and Dolo Abo refugee camps in Kenya and Ethiopia, but the bulk of resources will be directed to Somalia, where an estimated 700,000 people are close to starvation. The state's assistance is in addition to the £13m that Britons have given voluntarily. The International Development Secretary said that surveying these numbers made him "proud to be British". Mitchell has been at the forefront of this aid effort and his star has risen accordingly. Jemima Khan was on television this morning, describing him as an “inspiration”.