The Tories come to Murdoch's defence
Tory MPs vote against main criticism of Murdoch in select committee report.
By George Eaton Published 01 May 2012 12:08
"Rupert Murdoch is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company." That's the sternly-worded conclusion of the media select committee report into phone-hacking. It's a judgement that will do Murdoch no favours in the US, News Corp's main market, where his company is facing new lawsuits over hacking and a possible prosecution under the powerful US foreign corrupt practices act. "British MPs say Murdoch is unfit to run his own company," is a better headline than the Dirty Digger's many enemies could ever have hoped for.
Here's that damning paragraph in full (from p.70):
On the basis of the facts and evidence before the Committee, we conclude that, if at all relevant times Rupert Murdoch did not take steps to become fully informed about phone-hacking, he turned a blind eye and exhibited wilful blindness to what was going on in his companies and publications. This culture, we consider, permeated from the top throughout the organisation and speaks volumes about the lack of effective corporate governance at News Corporation and News International. We conclude, therefore, that Rupert Murdoch is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company (emphasis mine).
Of note is the fact that the committee split along party lines on whether to insert the paragraph into the report. Indeed, as a result, they divided on whether to endorse the final report. Labour MPs Tom Watson, Paul Farrelly, Steve Rotheram, Jim Sherdian and Gerry Sutcliffe, and Liberal Democrat MP Adrian Sanders all voted in favour of it, while Conservative MPs Therese Coffey, Damian Collins, Philip Davies and Louise Mensch voted against (see below). The committee's Conservative chair John Whittingdale has indicated that he would likely have voted with the Tories if required to cast the deciding vote.
The Committee divided.
Ayes, 6
Paul Farrelly (Labour)
Steve Rotheram (Labour)
Mr Adrian Sanders (Liberal Democrat)
Jim Sheridan (Labour)
Mr Gerry Sutcliffe (Labour)
Mr Tom Watson (Labour)Noes, 4
Dr Thérèse Coffey (Conservative)
Damian Collins (Conservative)
Philip Davies (Conservative)
Louise Mensch (Conservative)
The Tories would probably argue that it's not the place of politicians to say who should or shouldn't run one of the world's most successful media companies but it will do little to dispel the public suspicion that they are in hock to the Murdoch empire.
However, it's worth remembering that the committee unanimously agreed that former News of the World editor Colin Myler (who now edits the New York Daily News), former News International legal manager Tom Crone and former News International chief executive Les Hinton misled parliament with their testimony in the summer. The Commons motion on the report will focus on this charge, rather than the criticism of Murdoch, presumably allowing the Tories to vote with Labour and the Lib Dems.
Labour is using this as an opportunity to refocus attention on Ofcom's current review of whether News Corporation is "fit and proper" to hold a broadcasting licence. If found to be an unfit and improper owner, Murdoch could lose his existing 39 per cent stake in BSkyB.
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74 comments
http://www.roseshoesoutlet2012.com
how could some one like murdoch still even care about money . rupert there is an old proverb it goes like this , what does it prophet a man to gain the whole world but to loose his soul .
how could some one like murdoch still even care about money . rupert there is an old proverb it goes like this , what does it prophet a man to gain the whole world but to loose his soul .
Well !Well!Well! Rupert "Murky" Murdoch cleared by the Tory members of the committee of being a "fit" person . When the corrupt defend the even more corrupt in the world of Tory hypocrisy , morality and any seriousness of criticism of the main opposition party by Tories falls into the realms of insignificance .
The Tories for some reason believe that they have a huge Thatcherist support base amongst the majority of the voters in the UK , and they will just turn a blind eye to Tory immorality .
What however is astonishing is that the Lib-dem member did not vote with the Tories on this one . After all the Lib-Dems seem to support anything else the Tories approve !
WHen will that odious Toby Young be out of a job. Cannot come soon enough!!!
As many in our group are close to Rupert's great age we are concerned that the Old Rascal may beat this thing by going to meet his Maker in Paradise and thus leaving everything up in the air. A genUINE Martyr!
A modest interval in the scheme of things and then the Tories and their creatures will start beseeching the Pope to cannonize this media OZimandius.
However, don't forget Judas. He's young and hearty and may sing like a bird once he's before the beak.
Cameron certainly can pick 'Em!
Pontius Pilate
Jokes aside, whatever the outcome of the Ofcom ruling, the Murdoch family and business practices have been presented in a very poor light. Let us not forget too that there are criminal invstigations re Brooks and Coulson pending. Murdoch is damaged beyond repair and so too is his son James. How the mighty have fallen when before the general election the Murdochs were plotting ney boasting about the imminent fall of the BBC. LOL> LOL> LOL> Have you seen that awful creature Enders another publicity seeking moron talking up the Murdoch brand. That is truly despicable.
Its too early to celebrate.
Contrary to the views expressed in Guardian and NSM, with a very tiny bit of reach and readership, the country gives a toss about such minor issues. The lefty media has started believing its own hype. Already people have started asking "Milly Dowler", who? (This is not a comment on morals or otherwise). In 3 years the impact will be big fat zero.
Move on. The juice gone down the drain. News International would be there; making too much enemy out of it is not going to help Labour. Sounding all pompous and self-righteous when in reality you are no saint is bad bad bad policy.
The fat man should not have claimed £4800 in food bills; if he were to have a moral position; ever; on anything.
How can corrupting the police, the press, the politicians be a minor issue. These institutions are the bedrock of our democracy. As for your comment about Milly Dowler, you truly are despicable and vile. You show yourself to be a complete and utter pricx.
How can corrupting the police, the press, the politicians be a minor issue. These institutions are the bedrock of our democracy. As for your comment about Milly Dowler, you truly are despicable and vile....................
Each of these happened under Labour's watch. They, including Tom Watson are as culpable or infact more culpable than Murdoch.
When you stop looking from your hate filled glasses and look dispassionately, you will understand.
I'm sorry but the population loves public humiliation. We have been breast fed on regular investigations into corrupt behaviour and consequent resignations (as well as daily celebrity exposes). It's now a national sport. We'll see it trough to the end.
Oh, and by the way, we can go to ConservativeHome ourselves, if you've nothing of interest to add, don't bother posting.
'... the country gives a toss about such minor issues.'
Which is exactly what people like you were saying when this whole affair began. It didn't work then and it's not working now.
On what evidence do you claim that your hype is working instead?
On this matter, it's not really an issue if the general populace find the story of interest. It is significant in that it will be very difficult for Ofcom to provide a legitimate excuse for finding anything contrary to the parlimnetary position.
Thats labour's strategy, but the what makes you believe the old fox will lose and will not hit back? Now that he has been savagely attacked by his rivals and they have done all they could do to damage his reputation; what is stopping the old Fox to reciprocate?
I dont think Labours Strategy in long term is going to help them. Guardian and NSM are too small, Beeb, I dont know..but may not be sufficient.
News Corp. has been meeting privately with Conservative members of the Parliament Committee investigating the Company.
Rupert Murdoch’s Fishy M.P. Meetings
The mogul says that News Corp. has been meeting privately with members of the Parliament Committee investigating his empire.
The Daily Beast. Peter Jukes Apr 28, 2012
http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/28/rupert-murdoch-s-fishy-...
Just watched Newsnight, and Murdochs Number 1 groupie Louise Mensch was once again, making a complete fool of herself!, all she did was slag the Labour members off, and fawned admiration for the Murdochs!!, she really does come across like she`s auditioning for the Murdochs admiration?, Strange lady!.
The Labour Party should be calling for full disclosure from all Tory MP's as to the nature of their links and contact with Murdoch. LM made an absolute fool of herself yesterday on Newsnight. She has done a very good job of showing that the Tories have always been on the side of Murdoch. How this dim wit ever came to be elected as an MP is a mystery. SHe comes across as desparate, needy and ugly publicity seeker.
Strange indeed but I recall News International's role in Blunkett's exposure/resignation.
The same day he left the Cabinet - he was straight down to Wapping for lunch with Ms Brooks and a £100k a year deal to write a column.
Ms Mensch has no great Parliamentary majority and like all self serving parasites most likely she has her eye on the 'long game'.
Time will tell.
I was just about to make a simillar point, but you've already voiced my view. Louise Mensch looked more like a poppet peeping out of Murdoch's pocket. And as for Newsnight inviting a weak Labor representative I'd never seen or heard of that looked like he was just about having a heart attack just sitting there! Talking of a missmatch for such an important debate. Jeremy Paxman is too good for this BBC circus; he needs to move to a dependent, viable news channel.
Jim Sheridan's performance on newsnight was an utter disgrace. He came across as out of touch and noto in full possession fo the facts. Was this a deliberate policy by the BBC. As for Mensch, she came across as a Murdoch cheerleader. In the long run, that will damage her reputation, (though it seems fame desparation ahs brought her to this path).
These Tory types have an unusual idea of morality as in "if it makes money its ok"..also that did you notice that the Committee went beyond its remit in Judging Murdoch as not being fit to run company but Leveson is the appropriate place to Judge if Hunt has broken the Ministerial code.....funny that !!!!
Ironically Murdoch helped burying some bad news for the government.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2012/may/01/working-tax-credit-change...
So fat Tom Watson (how much did he fiddle on expenses, pray remind me) says that Murdoch is not a fit person to run a business. Should we care? What power has said Watson? None I trust. What does he know about business, or indeed about anything except climbing the greasy pole of politic?. Would I rather spend an evening with Rupert or with Tom? Would I rather the countrywas run by Rupert or by Tom? No contest, really. And what will this committee DO? Sweet Fanny Adams, don't you think?
Seiing as you have descended into the gutter, I must follow. WHat about that fat asxx Cameron whose complacent self satisfied smug frame seems to be ever expanding by the day. Not content with stashing away millions from Mummy and Daddy, he is expecting the state to pay for his home in Oxfordshire and had the cheek to claim for gardening expenses. That is ugly. How on earth did he manage to gte away with it. Let us not forget too that Boris was able to get away with all his expenses fiddlsing because the Daily Telegraph would not publish his expenses claim.
No doubt it was just forgetfulness on your behalf that when Tom Watson and his parasitic mates were filling their faces and bank accounts at the tax payers' expense, News International declined the opportunity to expose them.
The 'scandal' sold a few copies for the Telegraph, now why would such a successful businessman as Rupert Murdoch turn down such a lucrative opportunity?
Oh wait a minute - no-on told him, just like he wasn't told about the cheque for £700k to Gordon Taylor. His son didn't ask what he was paying for and naturally it is such a trivial sum to such a successful businessman that James didn't trouble his dad with it.
Yeah right?
You seem to be somewhere 'behind the ball'.
Your hero has been running the country for the past 30 years and judging by our current situation it would seem he has done about as good a job as the fat trougher Tom Watson.
You are talking complete and utter bull. The fact that the Tories have politcised the debate about Murdoch makes it more likely that the end game is near. Murdoch is finished and should be sent to prison for the way in which he has poisoned political debate in this country. Money talks. Ordinary Joe Bloggs would be in prison by now.
You are talking complete and utter bull. The fact that the Tories have politcised the debate about Murdoch makes it more likely that the end game is near. Murdoch is finished and should be sent to prison for the way in which he has poisoned political debate in this country. Money talks. Ordinary Joe Bloggs would be in prison by now.
Ordinary Joe Bloggs are in jails for Tax dodging using fake charities.
You clearly sound like you`re firmly up the Sphincter of Murdoch?, just like the rest of the Tories!!, i fear you`re talking a lot of what comes out of your hero Murdochs behind!!!.
Fat Fergus, fiddling Fergus, silly old Fergus.
If David Cameron is a multi millionaire, why does the taxpayer need to fund his house in Oxfordshire and pay for his gardening expenses. Greedy Cameron. Over privileged Cameron. My right to rule Cameron. I am always right Cameron. I know better than anyone else Cameron. I must and I always will look down on Oiks Cameron.
Does this Committee have any legal authority? If not, what does Murdoch care? I seriously doubt that News Corp. shareholders will revolt and kick him out.
Surprise, surprise::
Dr Therese Coffrey is a member fo COnservative Friends of Israel. WHY?????
It is interesting to note that the article by Michael Wolf is not open to comment by the general public. Is the Guardian still running scared on the Murdochs!!!!!!
It doesn't stop. Won't stop. Can't stop. Rupert Murdoch is going to be run out of Britain.
His is a worst-case scenario: a powerful political opposition moving against him, and a chain of evidence moving toward him.
I find myself feeling deeply and helplessly sorry for the man: he's cornered. He is not only "not fit" to run his company, but he's been "wilfully blind" about the company's crimes. He made a conscious and calculated decision to look the other way. Enron's former chief, Jeffrey Skilling, is in jail for innumerable years exactly for that reason.
No doubt, as I write (at 8am in New York), News Corporation is preparing a statement saying that Tuesday's damning parliamentary report is a partisan show, which, dividing 6-5, it is. And in a broader sense, too: Murdoch is as good a Labour party issue as it gets.
But that's merely identifying the problem – one of the problems. The reality is that the cost, real and psychic, of operating in the UK far outweighs the rewards. On top of that, the constant paralyzing media and legal distractions, make it virtually impossible for the company to function in the UK. Management can't manage.
michael wolff Guardian
It doesn't stop. Won't stop. Can't stop. Rupert Murdoch is going to be run out of Britain.
His is a worst-case scenario: a powerful political opposition moving against him, and a chain of evidence moving toward him.
I find myself feeling deeply and helplessly sorry for the man: he's cornered. He is not only "not fit" to run his company, but he's been "wilfully blind" about the company's crimes. He made a conscious and calculated decision to look the other way. Enron's former chief, Jeffrey Skilling, is in jail for innumerable years exactly for that reason.
No doubt, as I write (at 8am in New York), News Corporation is preparing a statement saying that Tuesday's damning parliamentary report is a partisan show, which, dividing 6-5, it is. And in a broader sense, too: Murdoch is as good a Labour party issue as it gets.
But that's merely identifying the problem – one of the problems. The reality is that the cost, real and psychic, of operating in the UK far outweighs the rewards. On top of that, the constant paralyzing media and legal distractions, make it virtually impossible for the company to function in the UK. Management can't manage.
michael wolff Guardian
I am all for getting rid of Toby Young who has to be the most annoying journalist in the UK. The sooner we could condemn him to the dustbin, the better for all!!
I'll second that!
so do i.
count me in too
Loiuse Mensch of I have to leave early because i am pciking up my children fame, is an absolute disgrace. She should resign and resign now. That she was ever elected says much about the intellectual level within the Tory party.
Go now LM you opportunist fame glory fortune hunter (Indeed it was reported in the Daily Telegraph that she had a facelift and hair extensions)
I am most reliably informed that the staff at Sky News would love to be rid of Papa and Baby 'Doch so that their channel could be taken fully seriously. It entirely deserves to be. Sky News is not half bad at all. Its revenue could be used to keep going The Times and the Sunday Times for saving which Murdoch undeniably deserves credit, with the Independent National Directors of all three elected by and from among Sky subscribers. Or perhaps, in the event of public ownership, by and from among the electorate at large. Though, in either events, strictly from among politically independent candidates.
The sport could go back to the BBC and ITV. The high quality American television could go back to the BBC and Channel 4. The low quality American television could go back to ITV and 5. The films could go back to whichever of those happened to buy them. And The Sun could go to the wall, thereby, as much as anything else, forcing the Mirror Group titles back to their roots as serious popular newspapers. After all, Maurice Glasman, never did take up that column on the Sunday edition, so let it go and take Toby Young with it.
There was a pre-Murdoch Sun, and even Auberon Waugh wrote for it. Before even that, it was the Daily Herald, which was at one time edited by George Lansbury, and for which both Chesterton and Belloc were known to write. It awarded the Order of Industrial Heroism, the medal of which was designed by Eric Gill of the Distributist League and of the Westminster Cathedral Stations of the Cross, and featured Saint Christopher carrying the Christ Child. That at a time when the awarding newspaper was the official organ of the TUC, recalling all those Biblical scenes and characters on many a trade union banner. Maurice Glasman, indeed. Rod Liddle, as now. Neil Clark. Tim Collard. Martin Meenagh. Oh, yes, there would be no shortage of people to write for it. With no more competition from the gutter or the sewer.
Sky News is half decent.???? Are you having a laugh. The level and standard of journalism on SN is woefully sub standard. I cannot imgaine anybody with half a brain taking this channel seriously. If we could get rid of that odious low lifes posing as journalists , that would be a god thing. Get rid of that ghastly Kay Burley ( whose own soon to be ex husband cannto stand her, Lisa Holland a thick wannabe and Sam Kiley the ?????? I cannot repeat the rumours. Get rid, good riddance.!!!
Just as Jeremy Hunt has been forced to disclose all emails and phone calls relating to the Murdoch empire, this same maxim should be applied to Louise Mensch , John Wittingdale and other Tory MPs' who sit on the select committee. LABOUR SHOULD BE CALLING FOR FULL DISCLOSURE AS THERE SEEMS TO BE ANOTHER COVER UP UNDER WAY DESIGNED TO PROTECT CAMERON.
SURELY DAVID CAMERON SHOULD NOW BE FORCED TO DISCLOSE ALL FROMS OF EMAIL AND TELEPHONE CONTACT WITH RUPERT MURDOCH, JAMES MURDOCH AND REBECCAH BROOKS.
WE SHOULD NOT LOSE SIGHT OF TOM WATSON'S SALIENT POINT NAMELY THAT THE MURDOCH BRAND WAS BEHIND THE CORRUPTION OF WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN OUR MOST VALUES INSTITUTIONS, THE POLICE, POLITICS AND THE PRESS!!!
Rupert Murdoch is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company.....
It is the same Rupert Murdoch which built the business empire and according to labour politicians the following are eligible people?
---------------------------------
Gordon Brown
I Sold the Gold. Architect of Collapse of British Economy
Tony Blair
Architect of dodgy dossier.
BBC Mandarins
Architect of spins around dodgy dossier
EU Politicians
Politics is first, middle and surname.
Tom Watson - Business What Business?
He was Chair of the National Organisation of Labour Students from 1992–93. He then worked as a marketing officer and advertising account executive. In 1993, he began to work for the Labour Party as National Development Officer for Youth. He then worked on the party's 1997 general election campaign before becoming the National Political Officer of the AEEU trade union.
------------
Ed Milliband - Son of Communist. What a qualification!
After a brief career in television journalism, Miliband became a speechwriter and researcher for Shadow Chief Secretary to the Treasury Harriet Harman in 1993, and then for Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown the following year. In 1997, following Labour's landslide election victory, Miliband was appointed as one of Gordon Brown's special advisers.[9] In 1999, Miliband was involved in the process of building Labour's manifesto for the forthcoming Scottish Parliament elections.[10] Initially doing so in an informal capacity, he was spotted leaving the Scottish Labour Party's headquarters on the night that a key policy meeting was held, involving the Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar and senior party officials, to consider the party's election strategy and details of Labour's manifesto. As a result, Miliband temporarily resigned from his post as a Special Adviser at the Treasury, to work on the Scottish election campaign full-time.[11] It was reported that part of Miliband's Scottish role was to take charge of Labour's rebuttal operation.[12]
----------------
Etc Etc
in response to Sense:
I am guessing you are OK with the corruption of the police, press and politics by the Murdoch cabal. Have you been instrcuted by Tory Central Office.
Just a point of information Gordon Brown was given specific advice by Whitehall Civil servants,in particualr Gus O Donnell and the Bank of England to sell UK Gold Reserves. May I also remind the readers that despite the rise in Gold prices recently, it is still has a value parity of ebing worth fifteen times less than the dollar.
I am not ok with pajama parties nor with Tax dodging protester-in-chief publication. As far as I am concerned, the rivals to Murdocs are no more cleaner, not by their supporting all kinds of murderous regimes and terrorists worldwide.
But thats not the point. The man has built the business, so he is eminently eligible to run it and the shareholders know it.
And your take on Gold is absolute nonsense.