Mehdi Hasan

Mehdi Hasan’s polemical take on politics, economics and foreign affairs

Cameron's friendships are the problem.

When will the PM distance himself from the toxic trio of Murdoch, Coulson and Brooks?

By Mehdi Hasan Published 08 July 2011 12:14

One particular line stood out to me in Cameron's remarks on phone-hacking this morning, when the Prime Minister was asked whether he was still friends with his former communications director, and the ex-News of the World (NoW) editor, Andy Coulson:

He became a friend and is a friend

For me, this goes to the heart of the issue. This isn't just about the pernicious influence that the Murdoch-owned media have long exercised over British politics; nor is it just the latest example of another British prime minister - after Messrs Blair and Brown - bowing and scraping before the Sun King. Cameron's relationship with those around Murdoch was a close and personal one; it was one of friendship. And it is this friendship that has clouded his judgement and put him on the backfoot this week.

As Peter Oborne, the pro-Cameron commentator, pointed out in his brilliant Telegraph piece earlier this week:

Mr Cameron allowed himself to be drawn into a social coterie in which no respectable person, let alone a British prime minister, should be seen dead.

It was called the Chipping Norton set, an incestuous collection of louche, affluent, power-hungry and amoral Londoners, located in and around the Prime Minister's Oxfordshire constituency. Brooks and her husband, the former racing trainer Charlie Brooks, live in a house scarcely a mile from David and Samantha Cameron's constituency home. The two couples meet frequently, and have continued to do so long after the phone hacking scandal became well known.

Is it any wonder then that the Prime Minister would only say that he "would have taken" Rebekah Brooks's resignation while refusing to join the explicit calls for her to go? Most newspapers, commentators and the Leader of the Opposition, Ed Miliband, have recognized that her position is untenable and that the NoW staff have been sacrificed by the Murdochs in a desperate and outrageous attempt to save Brooks.

I'm surprised that more hasn't been made of Cameron's dinner with Brooks, at the latter's Oxfordshire home (half a mile away from the PM's!), over the Christmas holidays. When Ian Katz, deputy editor of the Guardian, tried to get hold of more details about the dinner and what was discussed, he was rebuffed at every turn by Downing Street officials.

Katz wrote, back in February:

For more than two weeks the Guardian has been trying to establish a few details about an evening Cameron spent at the Oxfordshire home of Rebekah Brooks, chief executive of News International, during the Christmas holidays. Here's what the most open government in the world told us: first, No 10 categorically denied the PM had visited Brooks on Christmas day itself; then, when we asked instead if the PM had been entertained chez Brooks over the Christmas period it declined to confirm or deny.

Later Downing Street elaborated on its position, pointing out that Brooks was a constituent of Cameron's and, in any case, "the prime minister regularly meets newspaper executives from lots of different companies". But still No 10 refused to provide a date, or even confirm whether the dinner took place.

When it emerged that James Murdoch was at the dinner too, Downing Street became fractionally more transparent: an unattributable source reassured lobby reporters that neither Rupert Murdoch's controversial takeover bid for Sky nor the phone-hacking scandal had been discussed. So that's all right then.

I love this line from Cameron's spinners that he visited her at home because she happens to be a constituent of his. Hilarious. There are 78,220 voters in Witney - is the Prime Minister planning on visiting each and every one of them for dinner? Over Christmas?

It seems clear that the reason Cameron can't seem to cut Brooks or Coulson or News International loose is as personal as it is political.

Tags: Phone hacking scandal Rebekah Brooks Ed Miliband News of the World Andy Coulson David Cameron Rupert Murdoch

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38 comments

Sat, 2011-07-09 01:51 — Lady J (not verified)

ALERT, ALERT.ALERT.

The neo-fascist Tory appologist Trolls are visiting this site to spread their ISLAMOPHOBIA and RACISM.

Apart from Thatcher, 'Call me Dave' has been the most involved with the Murdoch gang, but then again 'Call me Dave' will 'buy' any media figure, army geberal, Blairite or celebrity he must to stay in power'. Afterall that is how he got into power.

Brooks use to help him keep Blair and Brown in conflict, I suspect to help their man come to power.

Sat, 2011-07-09 09:36 — James (not verified)

Paradoxically, the government and police becoming involved will actually perpetuate Murdoch's hold over the British media. If there hadn't been any government and police involvement, a lot of people would have abandoned the Murdoch papers such as the Sun and NotW. There would have been great shame in buying the papers after hacking into people such as Milly Dowler's phone.
By government and police saying 'we will sort it', you are taking responsibility away from the individual that buys these papers. They will now think 'I don't have to take responsibility for buying this paper. I will just enjoy the salacious gossip. No need to worry about how the story was acquired. The government is holding an inquiry so everything is above board.' There will hardly be a dent in sales for The Sun and Notw (or Sunday Sun). They may even go up.
Those who think that the phone hacking of Milly Dowler is just one instance of a larger malaise in newspaper culture bought about by Murdoch should have been campaigning for no inquiry.
In his attempt to score political points Ed Miliband has seen off a great chance to see the Murdoch empire crumble due to public opprobrium.
Other points:
How much is the inquiry going to cost in money and police resources?
Is this prolonging the agony for people such as the Dowler family? For what, a white wash years down the line? An earnest apology would be better and allow them to move on.

Sat, 2011-07-09 09:55 — matthew fox (not verified)

I see Iain Dale has had to apologise for his Sept 10 article supporting Coulson.

Pity he's not big enough to apologise to Campbell and Prescott, surprise, surprise.

Sun, 2011-07-10 22:22 — benji (not verified)

birds of a feather flock to-gether

Sun, 2011-07-10 22:25 — benji (not verified)

shes more like bodicia

Sat, 2011-07-09 12:28 — Villan (not verified)

Yes, he may be free of these undesirables, but what is more dangerous is his connections with the top Establishment. Was there not a story, for example, that when it became time for Cameron to actually do a job instead of hanging onto politicos, there was a mysterious 'phone call from Buck House to the PR firm that eventually took him on?

Either way, would anyone buy anything from this snake oil salesman?

Mon, 2011-07-11 04:06 — Reza (not verified)

Flashbuck,

I don't understand your point at all. Everyone has varying views on everything and that is what makes life interesting and worthwhile, the fact you need to pigeon hole people's views as fitting a typecast set is dispiriting and simplistic.

Why should a POLITICAL editor of a magazine ever need to comment on personal matters such as sexual orientation. When would it ever come up?

If he were the social issues correspondent, that point may be more valid, but its not valid at all.

And I reiterate, you would never ask this question of a liberal magazine editor who was christian or jewish, despite their religious texts having comparable views on the issue.

Fri, 2011-07-08 13:50 — Alexis (not verified)

Er, yuck. You don't think it DC and RB were more than just friends?..

If that is the case then he has no taste as she is a total minger.

Fri, 2011-07-08 14:32 — matthew fox (not verified)

@ Mehdi Hasan

Do you think Iain Dale telling Andy Coulson's accusers to go to hell in Sept 2010 will be scrubbed of his blog?

Fri, 2011-07-08 15:48 — Freeman2

No Alexis, whatever you can accuse her of - and there are obviously many things - being unattractive is not one of them.

Sat, 2011-07-16 00:42 — swatantra nandanwar

Those who sup with the Devil should use a long spoon.
Mandelson put it very well. All the politicians were dead scared of Murdoch. now we know the Emporor has no clothes and has been reduced down to size. The Tory Press are a absolute disgrace. The sooner we have a Free Press, free of the Tory Press Barons the better.
an lets givr the press Commission some real teeth. Its about time the Tories caught on to the fact that 'self regulation' doesn't work.

Fri, 2011-07-08 16:32 — Alexis (not verified)

Freeman - she looks like Medusa.

Sat, 2011-07-16 01:44 — Sue (not verified)

I've looked and looked and looked, but I can't find any evidence of Mehdi Hasan or Matthew Fox criticising the Browns for their very close, personal relationships over many years with Rupert Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks, which only ended when NI decided that Labour was becoming unelectable under Brown. No criticisms of the dinner dates, slumber parties, birthday parties, wedding invites, articles written for NI papers, guest editing for NI papers, briefed exclusives for NI papers etc etc. Ain't that funny?

If Gordon and Sarah had their way, their tongues would still be flicking Rupert's and Rebekah's sphincters as we speak.

Matthew Fox posted:

"I see Iain Dale has had to apologise for his Sept 10 article supporting Coulson.

Pity he's not big enough to apologise to Campbell and Prescott, surprise, surprise."

Hilarious; exposes Fox for what he is.

- When's the last time one of your precious Labour darlings apologised for their wrondoings?
- Will Brown apologise for his lies on Wednesday, now exposed?

- You complain a Tory doesn't complain enough for a wrong opinion, but refuse to call on any Labour politician to apologise for blatant lies and wrongdoings. What an utter fool you are.

swatantra nandanwar said:

"The Tory Press are a absolute disgrace."

Aaaaahahahahahaaaaa. For most of the time this was going on, the papers doing these things were SUPPORTING LABOUR. Also, the Mirror (Labour) and the Observer (Labour) were also doing hacking and blagging.

Stop rewriting history, you fraud. There is only one press baron left, and he spent 14 years supporting Labour.

Oh, and it was the free Tory Press which exposed all those thieving MPs and the corrupt views of Saint Vince of Cable. The Guardian was too busy sucking a rapist's dick and the BBC (the biggest and most powerful media organisation of them all) was too busy making programmes about how Tory cuts were going to kill off all the poor and let bankers steal their effects.

God, this sport is just too easy. You lot make this my favouite site. Just so entertaining.

Fri, 2011-07-15 11:41 — treborc

Lucky Blair and Brown and Miliband kept their distance then, for god sake New labour were ten times worse then Cameron

Fri, 2011-07-08 18:56 — MatthewBlott

It seems like Mehdi Hasan is making some fair points but it was interesting that Douglas looked uncomfortable on Question Time last night when it was pointed out that he was present at a party with Rupert Murdoch only a couple of weeks ago. Cameron's friends are a problem but I wouldn't try and make too much out of it as Labour politicians haven't behaved too much better. And we were to have a full inventory of Mehdi Hasan's personal friendship list is there not a fair chance we might uncover one or two unsavory individuals, especially those with Islamist sympathies?

@Flashbuck

I would have no problem with Mehdi Hasan if he turned out be a closet homophobe. My only issue is that he is the political editor of a left-wing "liberal" magazine.

Fri, 2011-07-08 18:59 — MatthewBlott

@ matthew fox

I didn't know Dale had done that, interesting. I always thought he had a bit of integrity.

Sun, 2011-07-10 01:26 — Reza (not verified)

Cameron is a poor PM, with no mandate who has aped the even less consequential and less intelligent PM Tony Blair in his slavish courting of newscorp.

Mehdi as always a great article, a polemic, and an enjoyable one.

Fri, 2011-07-08 19:23 — betterdeadthanred (not verified)

@Flashbuck

Ever noticed than when prominent muslims (Hasan, Yaqoub, han)are on QT or AQ gay rights issues never feature? Co-incidence?

Sun, 2011-07-10 01:34 — Reza (not verified)

Flashbuck, don't all abrahamic religions frown on homosexuality? Where is your vitriol for Jewish or Christian journalists that are not pro gay marriage?

Surely sexuality is a personal matter.

Sun, 2011-07-10 01:39 — Reza (not verified)

Flashbuck, talking of prejudice over minority groups such as gay people, which you seem to feel strongly about and I comend you for.

Would you ask the same questions of a non muslim journalist? If not why not? Aren't you guilty of the exact same prejudice you claim Mehdi harbours? In that case aren't you a hypocrite?

Sun, 2011-07-10 01:54 — Reza (not verified)

Flashbuck has stated:

" I'm certainly dead against the promotion of the gay lifestyle and all that but each to their own as long as they don't push it in schools"

According to your own words Flashbuck, there is such a thing as a "gay lifestyle". That in itself is patronising and insulting to the many gay people of the world that live incredibly varied lifestyles.

Fri, 2011-07-08 19:29 — matthew fox (not verified)

@Matthew

Dale will be busy deleting all his pro Coulson posts, I laughed when he wrote that Cameron would have done his due diligence, as he was a responsible employer.

Those words will comeback to haunt him.

Sun, 2011-07-10 09:10 — KarenManc (not verified)

Hey Flashbuck, isn't this article about Cameron and his unhealthy relationship with News International? Stick to the point,Prick.

Sun, 2011-07-17 17:21 — El Ferhano (not verified)

Stick to the topic people. Most of the comments are a load of nonsensical garbage!

Mehdi, I do find it interesting that it is only now that so many people, including yourself, have questioned the relationships between past & present governments with News International.

What I find rather amusing is that we, the UK, & the States try to dictate how all other nations should behave. We're as corrupt if not more corrupt than many of the other nations around! We just have the means to hide it better!

Fri, 2011-07-08 22:06 — kenny jenkins (not verified)

Cameron's friends are not the problem. He's a scumbag, it's only natural he should be mates with other scumbags

Fri, 2011-07-08 22:22 — MatthewBlott

Comments not working?

Fri, 2011-07-08 23:02 — adam (not verified)

New Labour not the Tories has most to worry about an Inquiry about the influence of News Internationl

The Independent reports:

"Yesterday the Cabinet Office said there were six telephone discussions between Mr Blair and Mr Murdoch in 20 months, all at crucial moments of his premiership. The subject of their calls was not revealed.
In 2003, Mr Blair phoned the owner of The Times and The Sun on 11 and 13 March, and on 19 March, the day before Britain and the United States invaded Iraq. The war was strongly supported by Murdoch-owned newspapers around the world. The day after two of the calls, The Sun launched vitriolic attacks on the French President Jacques Chirac".

Alastair Campbell dairies reveal, that Blair was afraid that the press would find out about Murdoch's influence on him: "[Blair] said he didn't fear [the press] coming at him about me, but about the relationship with Murdoch".

Blair was Murdoch's biggest conduit of influence in the last 15 years. If the Tories are smart they will drop New Labour right in it by having a wide ranging Enquiry.

Fri, 2011-07-08 23:48 — MatthewBlott

Sort your f***in' website comments out!

Sat, 2011-07-16 16:50 — Hannah (not verified)

@ Flashbuck you are a moron. You askign things about a editor when you incoherent views. Go back to readign the star and eating KFC and dating your 20 stone girlfriend.

Sat, 2011-07-16 17:01 — Lou (not verified)

@Hannah

asking not 'askign'
an editor not 'a editor'
you have incoherent views not 'you incoherent views'
reading not 'readign'

Homework - look up 'misspelling' and 'indefinite articles'

Sat, 2011-07-09 00:57 — Mrs.Josephine Hyde-Hartley (not verified)

I don't suppose a true friendship can ever become a problem really, not if we continue in the grace bestowed upon all individual UK citizens by virtue of our being here and now in this wonderful jungle that is the charity world.

There's nothing wrong with the capacity to make friends even with privacy, dignity and autonomy - not to mention any reasonable measure of hospitality. There should be no need here in the UK to cut friends loose, however apt and/or trendy this soundbite seems eg when speaking into the largely unregulated gap that is the modern way of telephone communication. That's why the written word is till so important, probably.

And in any case, what judgement does a P.M here in the UK have to make given all those appropriately qualified and skilled workers supporting this Office? Doesn't a P.M just make the best decisions possible at any given time, given the best possible information? (perhaps another reason to keep a free traditional press)

There may be more to Mr.Murdochs "conservation" of an otherwise endangered species ie newspapers, than immediately meets the eye.

I'm very sorry to hear the news about the loss of the News of the World. Such a valuable name and well established brand.