Leaked Labour email: lay off Murdoch

Opposition leader attempts to turn down the heat on the phone-hacking scandal.

By Dan Hodges Published 02 February 2011 12:07

An email, forwarded on behalf of Ed Miliband's director of strategy, Tom Baldwin, to all shadow cabinet teams warns Labour spokespeople to avoid linking hacking with the BSkyB bid, to accept ministerial assurances that meetings with Rupert Murdoch are not influencing that process, and to ensure that complaints about tapping are made in a personal, not shadow ministerial, capacity.

The circular, sent by a Labour press officer on 27 January, states: "Tom Baldwin has requested that any front-bench spokespeople use the following line when questioned on phone-hacking. BSkyB bid and phone-tapping . . . these issues should not be linked. One is a competition issue, the other an allegation of criminal activity."

It goes on: "Downing Street says that Cameron's dinners with Murdoch will not affect Hunt's judgement. We have to take them at their word."

Referring separately to the phone-hacking allegations, the memo states: "We believe the police should thoroughly investigate all allegations. But this is not just an issue about News International. Almost every media organisation in the country may end up becoming embroiled in these allegations."

It adds: "Front-bench spokespeople who want to talk about their personal experiences of being tapped should make it clear they are doing just that – speaking from personal experience."

The guidance concludes with the warning, "We must guard against anything which appears to be attacking a particular newspaper group out of spite."

The memo follows a number of recent high-profile interventions from Ed Miliband in the phone-hacking issue. In the wake of the resignation of Andy Coulson, the Labour leader criticised David Cameron, stating that the affair raised "questions about David Cameron's judgment about hanging on to him as long as he did".

Miliband also raised Coulson's impending departure at last Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions.

Here's the full text of the email:

From: xxxx | Sent: 27 January 2011 To: xxxx
Subject: Important: Phone hacking

Dear all,

Tom Baldwin has requested that any front bench spokespeople use the following line when questioned on phone hacking.

BSkyB bid and phone tapping
These issues should not be linked. One is a competition issue, the other an allegation of criminal activity.

On BSkyB, we have been consistent in calling for fair play. We believe ministers should conduct themselves properly in what is a quasi-judicial process. We said Vince Cable showed he was incapable of behaving fairly towards News Corp. We have since raised questions about whether Jeremy Hunt can be fully impartial given his record of past statements. We do believe the bid should be referred to the Competition Commission and think Hunt should get on with it. Downing Street says that Cameron's dinners with Murdoch will not affect Hunt's judgement. We have to take them at their word.

On phone hacking, we believe the police should thoroughly investigate all allegations. But this is not just an issue about News International. Almost every media organisation in the country may end up becoming embroiled in these allegations. This goes to the root of a wider problem in public life. MPs are taking a hard look at themselves in the mirror over expenses. It is time the media did so too over the way it conducts itself.

Frontbench spokespeople who want to talk about their personal experiences of being tapped should make it clear they are doing just that – speaking from personal experience.

We must guard against anything which appears to be attacking a particular newspaper group out of spite.

Thanks,

xxxx

Labour Party Press Office

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28 comments

Sun, 2011-07-10 19:06 — Alex (not verified)

I love that they've signed off with kisses.

Thu, 2011-02-03 10:22 — DK (not verified)

Tom Baldwin is just Andy Coulson in a different suit. This is corporatism, the journalist-spin community putting its own shared interests above anyone else's. And in the end, this community will always bow down before its ruler, Murdoch, has been very possibly the pre-eminent figure in a global attack over the last 30 years on all forms of social egalitarianism; he is a political actor and not an impartial purveyor of information. News of the World was engaging in criminal activity. Why should Labour keep a low profile in speaking out against criminals openly devoted to sabotaging its political agenda?

Wed, 2011-02-02 12:40 — gault (not verified)

Adam Curtis has a brilliant post on Murdoch up.

Wed, 2011-02-02 12:44 — mike cobley (not verified)

Well, isn't that an eye-opener? Cat now firmly out of bag - both the government AND the opposition are gagging to cosy up to that raddled old crud-flogger, Murdoch. Free press? Do me a favour.

Wed, 2011-02-02 12:45 — DJones (not verified)

on a lighter note, I read the censored xxxx's as kisses and thought 'oh how sweet, they leave kisses at the end of memos' ha!

xxxx

Wed, 2011-02-02 12:48 — Max Sang (not verified)

Er, that sounds fairly reasonable to me. The reason most tabloids studiously ignored the scandal for years is that they were all at it. So attacking only NI would show blatant bias, which is not smart. Given the likely scale of the shitstorm, Labour need do nothing more than stand back and watch.

Tue, 2011-03-01 18:45 — chicgoods3

===== http://www.chic-goods.com/ =====

Mon, 2011-02-07 13:53 — Union Steve

Time for a clause four moment. denounce Murdock once and for all as the unaceptable face of media capitalism. The people will back you.

Wed, 2011-02-02 13:40 — Sylvia (not verified)

Very disappointing message from Baldwin and contrary to what we are campaigning for.

Ed Miliband and the shadow cabinet now have a unique opportunity to take a stand against Murdoch and move away from the relationship of the past. They should be bold enough to do so. Times have changed and Ed will gain respect. Now is the moment.

Wed, 2011-02-02 14:22 — Sylvia (not verified)

Clarification and apologies re my previous comment, whch omitted some words at the end of the first sentence ... The "we" (who are campaigning for a fairer and more plural media) is DemocracyFail.

Indeed we believe Labour's opportunity now is so important that we blogged on this - Waste No Time, Weep no More - on 28 Jan. http://democracyfail.wordpress.com

We are not the only ones. The Independent had a leader on 31 Jan, calling on Ed to be bold and perhaps "finally break the spell Rupert Murdoch has cast over British politics."

Fri, 2011-02-04 12:33 — Cassandra (not verified)

Seems Ed and the Murdoch flunky in his office have decided it is best to back off. To me that shows 2 things

- just how worried Murdoch (or more likely Ms Wade) is - already courting Labour again;

- just how ruthless Ed is - prepared to be Blair-like in his worship of Murdoch.

Wed, 2011-02-02 15:02 — michal karski (not verified)

What's the betting - if anyone dares ask him at the unveiling in the US of his latest gadget, about some unsavoury allegations being made against a newspaper of his - that he'll shrug it all off with a charming smile and call it a "storm in a teacup"?

Thu, 2011-02-03 14:05 — Union Steve

Ed get a grip get rid of the new labour fear of the press only 20% or less, after all the free ones they give, away read the lies they print.
Get some advisers who have lived in the real world or who live outside London. Don't suround you're with these idiots.

Wed, 2011-02-02 16:38 — resista

Crisis of representation in the Labour Party. As in who the fuck can they claim to represent when most right minded people are vehemently opposed to Murdoch and NI?

Thu, 2011-02-03 15:43 — Chris (not verified)

Sounds like old New Labour to me.

Wed, 2011-02-02 16:51 — j c (not verified)

well well milli minor has more political savy than one first thought. Imho all the tabloids were at it not just one news group. They all need taking too task not just murdock. Re the sky deal its going to the competiton commison, unlikely to get passed, expect years of litigation. Hubris has done for murdock sit back and enjoy the show.

Thu, 2011-02-03 16:05 — Squire (not verified)

Adam Curtis's post on Murdoch is an absolute must-see:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/adamcurtis/2011/01/rupert_murdoch_-_a_portrai...

Wed, 2011-02-02 17:20 — Tom Wildy (not verified)

This is not unreasonable. It is for MePo to do it's job, and likewise competition commission. Dealing with rich foreigners who have disproportionate influence on our media is a matter for legislation, but NI can work round it. Phone hacking appears to be rife, though going through the bins, phone taps and tampering with email/snail mail are all alternatives. We need the police to protect our privacy. Perhaps we need an extension to DP law.

Sat, 2011-02-05 18:23 — lusina

So Murdoch has dinners at Downing Street. Bit revealing isn't it? Maybe, that's where he got the "lady (sorry - coalition)is not for turning" thing.

Wed, 2011-02-02 18:58 — paul miller (not verified)

this is excellent from labour. if they made a song and dance about it ,it would allow opponents to say it was all political propaganda against murdoch because he switched support to the tories. labour only need to sit back and smile. murdoch is in serious trouble particularly after findind the "lost" email database from news of the world a couple of days ago.

Wed, 2011-02-02 19:44 — Mulligrubs (not verified)

Max Sang;
very brave and well-observed post - you've risked arousing the wrath of the digger - I salute you - but surely Labour could lead the cheers from the sidelines when the shitstorm starts? Can it really be true - an all-consuming shitstorm after all these years of Murdoch being fireproof? My money is on the wrinkly old blagmonger buying it off somehow. The devil looks after his own

Thu, 2011-02-03 18:08 — Son_of_Attlee

Can't say I'm massively surprised by this. Lets be honest, if Labour go anti-Murdoch all of a sudden it'll be as massive hypocrisy. Theres plenty of MPs still on the Labour benches who were foaming at the mouth in 1997 when the likes of The Sun etc came out in support of Labour. This is also a sensitive issue and proper conduct is needed from both sides if its to be resolved; seriously, going all 'Murdoch is a Fascist' won't win any votes!

Wed, 2011-02-02 22:02 — thomas vesely

surely the linkage is "character"
this man is democracy averse.

Wed, 2011-02-02 22:19 — michal karski (not verified)

Fascinating to observe how - in the middle of the Egyptian crisis - we still find time to shadow the latest pronouncement from Planet Murdoch. I think some of us have forgotten that this is a real human being and not some big giant head on our screens.

As for Labour instructions about singing from the same hymn-sheet; yes, it's probably a shrewd move, nevertheless it does have the slight aura of being a tad too respectful.

Let's have some healthy difference of opinion. We are a democracy, are we not?

Thu, 2011-02-03 08:55 — Lobbywatcher (not verified)

And Tom Baldwin used to work for who? Oh yes, Rupert Murdoch.

Thu, 2011-02-03 09:01 — michal karski (not verified)

Murdo the Magnificent has been skilfully dodging obstacles for many a year. It will be interesting to see which individual or grouping will be the first to finally slam a brick wall across his (seemingly) unstoppable progress.

It's also looking increasingly likely that his tired old media machine is running out of steam and is about to seize up of its own accord.