So What Is An Appropriate Conversation With Rebekah Brooks About BskyB?
Scarlett MccGwire wants David Cameron to answer a few questions, before he starts criticising Ed Miliband.
20 Jul 2011, 22:00
Has Cameron answered enough questions?
Our Prime Minister was so determined to equivocate that his replies could contribute a valuable case study in and book on evading questions – without convincing the audience. It does not matter that David Cameron withdrew from all formal dealings; we all know the real work is carried out informally.
This is the man who, throughout his questioning, talked about being honest and open, while deliberately withholding information.
So more questions for David Cameron:
How often did he and Rebekah Brooks discuss BskyB, appropriately?
What exactly was the content of these appropriate conversations?
What informal conversations did he have with Jeremy Hunt about BskyB?
And he wants to know Ed Miliband’s contacts with journalists and editors during his campaign to become leader. We would like to know his contacts during his leadership campaign and, more importantly, during his time as opposition leader.
Then we can decide what constitutes being honest and open.
The author
Scarlett MccGwire
Scarlett MccGwire is a media trainer and communications consultant.
Full profile →
Comments (5)
Subscribe to this posts's comments feed
David Cameron is hugely impressive when speaking at the ballot box, but once he has left the chamber the effects of his charismatic sound and fury soon begin to wear off, and we are left with the fact that he evaded some very important questions.
21/07/2011 08:33He and his supporters will have been cheered by his performance yesterday, but given that new information keeps emerging so rapidly, one wonders how large the pile of evidence waiting for him will be when ministers return from their holidays. Cameron is off the hook for the present, but until he gives clear answers to the above questions, he cannot be taken seriously as the transparent PM he claims to be. What are the bets being offered on Parliament being recalled early?
Most of the niggly questions came some time into the session and Cameron knows that people pick up on momentum rather than detail.
Outside of those interested in politics and media, the rest of the country will have assumed a line has been drawn under this and will go into their summer holidays not really wanting to hear anything more about it.
With that I'm pretty confident Parliament will not be recalled early.
21/07/2011 09:43They are like two naughty children comparing notes outside the headmasters office.
Trying hard to get their shared stories straight.
Brooks uses the phrase "appropriate conversation" and the next day, Cameron uses the same phrase.
More than coincidence, methinks.
21/07/2011 10:02Truly amazing how sins which were allegedly perpetrated almost entirely during labour's 13 years in office have resulted in a narrow focus on David Cameron and the Tories who have been in power for less than fifteen months.
We all know that the left and the BBC (surely a tautology) hate and fear Murdoch and rejoice in the opportunity to kick him, as well as the government, when he is down but this disproportunate and largely synthetic outrage will eventually backfire.
22/07/2011 11:13Salmondnet, I agree.
It seems to work like this:
Ed Miliband: "And so, I accuse Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, David Miliband, myself, Ed Miliband and various other Labour Party members, fixers and hangers-on, of being far, far too cosy with Mr Murdoch and New International for the past 20 years. And as a result, I call on Mr David Cameron to resign as Prime Minister!"
Does Ed really stop to think what a silly Billy he looks when he carries on like that?
The shame is that the sheeple at the BBC and the Guardian do not see through Ed and tell him to bog off.
25/07/2011 01:07