Leveson Inquiry

I watched David Cameron last night and fell asleep. Not because I was bored with it, far from it, but because it is on television at night over here. The Prime Minister of Britain being cross examined under oath, strewth!

jessm do write that novel, I am sure it would be a great bonkbuster best seller [

I am sure that there will be all sorts of spin offs: film , stories, plays etc once the dust settles.

Re fair trial.. I am sure that she will have lawyers who will make that point but if there is a case to answer she is not above the law.

Interesting stuff. I don't think it's so much that we live in a misogynistic society, more that, when a woman does something that hurts/affects other peoples lives we find it more difficult to accept than if a man does it eg Myra Hindley. Given that Ms Brooks has got friends in high places one wonders where this is going to lead and, had things been slightly different Murdoch and his cronies would now be in a very powerful position; now that is scary. If there is a witch hunt it will be the news media that instigates it; a touch of hubris there imo.

Especially as some of the papers were likening her appearance and dress to one of the Salem witches!

It's all so Jilly Cooper isn't it. RB and Cameron could have galloped straight of the pages. Called something like "Print!.
There is the quite serious issue though that she is a convenient hate figure. Because she is a woman - and we still live in a misogynistic society that likes a nice witch burning. So yes Maggie I agree. We should resist the temptation.

Rebekah Brooks as the subject of a media frenzy hmm.......... the biter bit comes to mind. After being responsible for the hounding of many, many others she is now sowing what she has reaped - and she is obviously feeling the stress of it. I do wonder if she feels particularly hard done by or if she has the self-awareness to make links between her own situation and what, in the past, she and her media colleagues have put others through.

How can you have a fair trial when everyone has already made up their minds?
The huge publicity scenario has made it impossible , surely?

Good.

Rebekah Brooks and her husband are apparently to be charged with perverting the course of justice!

nanaej I know - just shows how good he is at it. Hope it's no one interesting for the next couple of days as I'm going camping - brrr.

remember he is a spin doctor..do not be fooled!

Yes, I think that's it with me, too. We seem to have read so much about his private life/demons etc. that he seems more human than some of the others!

Amazed I can watch all this in my kitchen or bedroom or wherever. And I have to agree Anagram he did seem quite likeable even when I was trying not to like him. Perhaps his history of alcohol/depression (if true) influenced my viewing.

He is convincing, isn't he? And I can't help quite liking him....

He was very good - can see why he was spin doctor - I believed him! Kind of.

Blimey I thought Campbell got off lightly!. Am I the only one to find him a big old hypocrite, always was the master of spin. Thought the areas of Cross Media Ownnership and Iraq were worth a little more pursuing. I thought the questions were very weak and amazed the lack of media coverage. Perhaps he was lucky Manchester City won the cup and dominated the news.

Alastair Campbell now.

How fortunate for Blair to have been P.M. when mobile phones and computers were not so widely used. He apparently did not own a mobile and did'nt use a computer! What goodies would those conversations and e.mails throw up I wonder. Very little time spent on Brown's term as P.M. I thought.
Can't wait to hear from the past and present P.M.'s.

Faye, I am sure you would never be subject to such questioning because you would never get involved in such a web of corruption and deceit!

Oh I have to go out and it is really getting interesting - will have to catch up on the news feed later.

Must say I would hate to be grilled like this and the questions are getting a little bit tougher now....finally!

I get the impression that the questioning is lacking in challenge at the moment so he can lead her into relaxing and letting something slip. She does look rattled and keeps playing for time by asking for clarification of some questions that are quite significant. I had to laugh when she nearly called her paper a 'serious' paper - she just stopped herself in time and said it was a paper dealing with serious issues. I don't believe for a minute she is that deluded.

She has been playing with fire and got her hands burnt. Tony Blair has used her to plant information and she is refusing to disclose her sources. I bet he wouldn't protect her! She looks ready to drop a few people in it to save herself, so it should be interesting. Shame I have to go out!

He did say he was leading up to later question when he was asking about her relationship(s) with the Murdochs but I keep missing bits. She keeps looking at her statement. It is so intricate and I don't understand it as have only just got into it but are they implying that she slept around with lots of these guys to get to top?

The questioner is just letting her slide out of everything. Where are the hard-hitting questions? Where's the pressure? Everything's so vague....'indirect communications from number 10' - what? When we all know they used to meet up at dinner parties. Pah!

Thanks, I was planning to switch on after lunch. Watching it now.