Russell and Carol - hayle and hearty

The News International #notw story has probably been done to death - though I remain concerned that the big issues are being lost in the 'hacking' of phones (which of course wasn't hacking at all).

Seems to me that the real issue is privacy and ownership of data and we're reaching a tipping point where hopefully we might get some proper rights for once!

In the meantime - I loved Hugh Grant's comments in the Guardian which to me hit the nail firmly on the head

Grant told the Guardian: "I'm panicking that despite all the revelations coming out thick and fast, the government, with their history of collusion and obedience to News International, will find a way to make this inquiry insufficient and kick it into the long grass.

"Grotesque abuses have been allowed to continue because of the cowardice of our politicians, who have done pretty much – on both sides of the house – … what they've been told to, partly because they believe News International can get them elected and partly because of a kind of blackmail. There has been a grotesque power over our lawmakers."

He issued a direct challenge to the prime minister: "This is a watershed moment for David Cameron and his government. He can either continue to be Murdoch's little helper or he can be a statesman. If it's the latter, he needs to announce a wider inquiry. It must cover the press, police and politicians.

"The sad fact is that the prime minister and his wife, the leader of the opposition and his wife, members of the cabinet and shadow cabinet were all there at [Murdoch's] party on 16 June, sipping his Pimms and laughing at his jokes, and that's a sad reflection on the people who run our country."

from

Hugh Grant: expand phone-hacking inquiry to cover 'grotesque ...

www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/jul/.../hugh-grant-phone-hacking-inquiry

You +1'd this publicly. Undo

12 Jul 2011 – Comments echo call made by lawyer for family of Milly Dowler for politicians not to 'let themselves off the hook'

Hugh Grant for President!