Channel4 news reported last night that given the big drop in News Corp's share price in recent days, Murdoch was going to be instituting a stock repurchase. Basically he's cutting his losses here - going on with the takeover at this point would just have continued to focus attention on his domination of the British media, and risk more stringent rules on market share of media ownership. This way he can spend the money consolidating control of his company, and then revisit the takeover in 6 months or so once all the fuss has died down (and the BSkyB share price has conveniently dropped).
By buying back shares in News Corps he also boosts the value of his holdings in the company and he may as well
The deal to buy Sky is dead. I don't know if you watched the debate in the House of Commons but there was universal agreement from all corners that it would be a bad thing. As far as I know parliament cannot order something to happen unless it refers to legislation but the message they sent out was as clear as it can get. Also the MP for Kirkaldy and Cowdenbeath made a few more allegations about some of the attempts made by News International to hack into his phone and bank accounts. These were made under parliamentary privilege.
Muroch senior and junior and Rebekah Brooks are going to be called before a Commons Select committee meeting next Tuesday.
I wonder if this Labour supporter (since his capaigning days at Oxford Uni) will keep publishing his greatest asset, Truckin Life? Or if he will be re-naming it?
From Private Eye SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Elle MacPherson declines to sue the News of the World over phone-hacking and now has a job on a Murdoch TV channel; Andy Gray sued and, er, doesn’t.
Chirpy Red said: 'I really think too many of you think too much.'
True - but better than not thinking at all Chirpy. You seem to be alone on this site. Just because YOU don't read newspapers doesn't mean that they and other media don't have a significant influence on British political life. Why the hell do you think that Parliament has stopped all other business today? Why the hell do you think that all politicians from Snatcher onwards have been desperate to court him? If you want a lesson from history just read about William Randolph Hearst and the power he exerted. And if you want modern days see about Berlusconi in Italy.
I don't believe the BSkyB deal is dead but it is certainly very much shunted into the very long grass.
This was the only thing he could do - retreat, regroup and hope that the various sacrificial lambs they put up - the in house lawyer and eventually/inevitably Rebekha Brooks will draw the sting out of the situation. The passage of time will help to heal.
Murdoch will hope that once the furore dies down, that the deal can be resurrected. It depends to a large extent upon how close to these acts both Senior and Junior Murdochs are seen to be plus how quickly and at all the law is changed to define what a "fit and proper person" actual means.
The bbc reported that was going to cost NI £26-28 million in dropping there proposal to acquire sky, in some sort of retention money.
The meeting next week will be interesting as I am not sure they can demand that Murdoch and his son have to appear.
Brooks is another matter as she is a UK national, and i think she can be arrested at least technically.
For the 'digger' the wider picture will be the effect this has on his share price and legal actions in the USA.
If litigation is started in the USA, and by the sound of it that seems a distinct possibility the costs would be eye watering.
I think it will take quite some time for the police investigation to come to any conclusions, and then you have the public enquiry, findings etc.
Until then I cannot see the sky deal being resurrected, and an lot of shit has to flow under the bridge till that dawn.......
Still as we used to say in newspapers at least you have something to wipe your arse on? ( unlike a sky remote). I hope that 'fact' gives the digger some comfort for the 'shit' he has dished out to colleagues in the past.
See that the Murdochs were apparently ' unavailable' to attend the MP's meeting next week, so have now been summoned ...... Ginger is apparently going to attend as well.
We now have the situation where politicians are clambering over each other to distance themselves from Murdoch and his influence for the forseeable future is pretty much dead. Cameron took a long time to realise this had to be his and his parties position which is worrying as plebs like me could see it from the beginning and he is running the country!
I think Cameron has misjudged the situation badly. By waiting and not condemning outright Murdoch and NI in the hope that if things panned out ok, it would still seem to Murdoch that The Conservatives were onside and should continue to receive his dark empires support alied to the fact that Ed MIlliband has seemingly burnt his parties boats with NI. Now with Murdoch being under attack on all sides including now in the USA it would appear that Cameron looks the weak indecisive leader we all knew he was. I don't think it unreasonable to suggest that this might be the beginning of the end for Dave with the parties knife wielding men in grey suits.
Could be wrong here, but I don't see how the enquiry has any power over whether or not the Murdochs attend as I don't think either of them are British citizens. Brooks, on the other hand, does fall under their 'jurisdcition' and is surely toast now.
Could be wrong here, but I don't see how the enquiry has any power over whether or not the Murdochs attend as I don't think either of them are British citizens. Brooks, on the other hand, does fall under their 'jurisdcition' and is surely toast now.
you're right, as US citizens (or with US citizenship) they aren't obliged to attend. she is, however.
Could be wrong here, but I don't see how the enquiry has any power over whether or not the Murdochs attend as I don't think either of them are British citizens. Brooks, on the other hand, does fall under their 'jurisdcition' and is surely toast now.
As I understand it, that's the case.
The Murdoch clan are doing their best to make life difficult for themselves. The good news is that a US Senate Committee is considering investigating the allegations that they hacked the phones of victims after 9/11. As US citizens they will be called, on sub poena if necessary, and put on oath. The US congressional committee system has real teeth, any porkies told before them and they'll be facing perjury charges and a lot more.
I think Cameron has misjudged the situation badly. By waiting and not condemning outright Murdoch and NI in the hope that if things panned out ok, it would still seem to Murdoch that The Conservatives were onside and should continue to receive his dark empires support alied to the fact that Ed MIlliband has seemingly burnt his parties boats with NI. Now with Murdoch being under attack on all sides including now in the USA it would appear that Cameron looks the weak indecisive leader we all knew he was. I don't think it unreasonable to suggest that this might be the beginning of the end for Dave with the parties knife wielding men in grey suits.
Hate to disagree especially about the final bit. I don't see the end coming for him. The men in grey suits wont touch him unless they think that the Tories will do worse at the next GE.
There is really no way of knowing that now. Labour, despite Ed M having a good week, do not yet look like a government in waiting. The LD's could be wiped out at the next election with Tories gaining most of their seats.
Its all to play for. My guess is that there isn't enough mileage in the "bad judgement call" over Coulson to really deal Dave a knockout because both Tories and Labour were equally toadying up to Murdoch.
I think Cameron has misjudged the situation badly. By waiting and not condemning outright Murdoch and NI in the hope that if things panned out ok, it would still seem to Murdoch that The Conservatives were onside and should continue to receive his dark empires support alied to the fact that Ed MIlliband has seemingly burnt his parties boats with NI. Now with Murdoch being under attack on all sides including now in the USA it would appear that Cameron looks the weak indecisive leader we all knew he was. I don't think it unreasonable to suggest that this might be the beginning of the end for Dave with the parties knife wielding men in grey suits.
Hate to disagree especially about the final bit. I don't see the end coming for him. The men in grey suits wont touch him unless they think that the Tories will do worse at the next GE.
There is really no way of knowing that now. Labour, despite Ed M having a good week, do not yet look like a government in waiting. The LD's could be wiped out at the next election with Tories gaining most of their seats.
Its all to play for. My guess is that there isn't enough mileage in the "bad judgement call" over Coulson to really deal Dave a knockout because both Tories and Labour were equally toadying up to Murdoch.
The mention of Cameron and judgement in the same sentence is akin to rabbit and headlights!
This issue alone may not do for Cameron but it is potentially part of death by a thousand cuts. He is steadily alienating many rank and file Conservatives and, by definition, their constituency MPs as the perception is that he is toadying up to Labour and the Lib Dems.
I think Cameron has misjudged the situation badly. By waiting and not condemning outright Murdoch and NI in the hope that if things panned out ok, it would still seem to Murdoch that The Conservatives were onside and should continue to receive his dark empires support alied to the fact that Ed MIlliband has seemingly burnt his parties boats with NI. Now with Murdoch being under attack on all sides including now in the USA it would appear that Cameron looks the weak indecisive leader we all knew he was. I don't think it unreasonable to suggest that this might be the beginning of the end for Dave with the parties knife wielding men in grey suits.
Hate to disagree especially about the final bit. I don't see the end coming for him. The men in grey suits wont touch him unless they think that the Tories will do worse at the next GE.
There is really no way of knowing that now. Labour, despite Ed M having a good week, do not yet look like a government in waiting. The LD's could be wiped out at the next election with Tories gaining most of their seats.
Its all to play for. My guess is that there isn't enough mileage in the "bad judgement call" over Coulson to really deal Dave a knockout because both Tories and Labour were equally toadying up to Murdoch.
The mention of Cameron and judgement in the same sentence is akin to rabbit and headlights!
This issue alone may not do for Cameron but it is potentially part of death by a thousand cuts. He is steadily alienating many rank and file Conservatives and, by definition, their constituency MPs as the perception is that he is toadying up to Labour and the Lib Dems.
It would be interesting if you were right Len but I fear its wishful thinking.
All parties who aspire to govern have to do so from the centre. Sometimes they drag the centre towards them and sometime they sit astride it. The Tories, despite Labour running out of steam with a dysfunctional leader, were still unable to win outright power. They were too toxic for enough of the electorate to keep them from a majority. Going into coalition with the LD's has to some extent de-toxified them and at the same time any toxicity from the cuts agenda has largely affected the LD's.
Yes they will be losing leverage at the margins of their support base - the further right that support is, but they are gaining from the centre more. If not, and despite the unpopular cuts that are being made, they would be miles behind in the polls and that just ain't happening.
Could be wrong here, but I don't see how the enquiry has any power over whether or not the Murdochs attend as I don't think either of them are British citizens. Brooks, on the other hand, does fall under their 'jurisdcition' and is surely toast now.
They've agreed to go now anyway, but I'm sure there'd be the power to reel them in somehow. After all if you get summonsed to court it doesn't matter whether you're a citizen or not, just whether or not your in the country. If it's serious enough they'll arrange to have you extradited just so that you'll be in the country. If the enquiry was deemed important enough, they'll have dragged up some old law or power to get them there. Either that, or leaned on them pretty heavily with some other sanction so that it becomes an offer they can't refuse.
Could be wrong here, but I don't see how the enquiry has any power over whether or not the Murdochs attend as I don't think either of them are British citizens. Brooks, on the other hand, does fall under their 'jurisdcition' and is surely toast now.
They've agreed to go now anyway, but I'm sure there'd be the power to reel them in somehow. After all if you get summonsed to court it doesn't matter whether you're a citizen or not, just whether or not your in the country. If it's serious enough they'll arrange to have you extradited just so that you'll be in the country. If the enquiry was deemed important enough, they'll have dragged up some old law or power to get them there. Either that, or leaned on them pretty heavily with some other sanction so that it becomes an offer they can't refuse.
They did quite a bit on this on BBC radio today. They could have been forced to come provided they remained in the country.
What was interesting is the MP who chaired the committee that interviewed the Maxwell Brothers said that they are going to have to be very careful with their questioning because he felt at the time that the Maxwell's refused to answer questions on counsels advice, which, had they chosen to answer, could have created grounds for prejudicing a fair trial at any later criminal prosecution.
News Corporation's Rupert and James Murdoch have agreed to appear before MPs to answer questions on the phone-hacking scandal on Tuesday.The Commons media committee had issued summonses after the men initially declined to appear next week.News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks had agreed to attend.http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-14148658Yes that was my view that the UK parliament could not force them to attend, but I think they were persuaded shall we say?....... 'Ginger' Brooks has to. Interesting that they were summoned? Be interesting to see if they will refuse to answer, or be advised by counsel...... or if they will be 'couched' before hand, and the questions will be submitted, but the persuasion was immense I am sure?. Probably told that the american courts would have taken a very dim view, which they still might........
Thank goodness the ruinously expensive wars Blair took us into didnt cost the country countless billions, not to mention the far more criminal senseless loss of life.
Blair? That's a typo and you meant Bush? Blame Thatcher, again, for making us follow the mighty Yanksnand not being able to turn back.
So Obill who "retired" went and worked for NoTW and some NoTW arsewipes worked as advisors to the Met !!!!!! and they think that dont stink ? One NoTW numpty"advised" the guy who did the first OBill hacking balls up and also the Top Met Cop the number 1. Would this also be the time they all desided that there was anything worth re looking into re phone hacking and police coruption ???????
So Obill who "retired" went and worked for NoTW and some NoTW arsewipes worked as advisors to the Met !!!!!! and they think that dont stink ? One NoTW numpty"advised" the guy who did the first OBill hacking balls up and also the Top Met Cop the number 1. Would this also be the time they all desided that there was anything worth re looking into re phone hacking and police coruption ???????
Agree GH. Very Cosy revolving door policy between NI and The Met.
Thank goodness the ruinously expensive wars Blair took us into didnt cost the country countless billions, not to mention the far more criminal senseless loss of life.
Blair? That's a typo and you meant Bush? Blame Thatcher, again, for making us follow the mighty Yanksnand not being able to turn back.
As I said earlier in the thread politicians on both sides of the Atlantic finally have the chance to lance the Murdoch boil and they are going to take it.
Payback's a bitch isn't it Rupert?
If you want to see the pure arrogance of News International check out this interview where the ex NOTW reporter effectively claims that phone-tapping people is the price of having a "free press" in the UK.
What really sums up the readers of these rags is that they will jump on the moral bandwagon, saying how outragous this is, and then jump off at their local newsagents to pick up their super soaraway Sun.
Comments
By buying back shares in News Corps he also boosts the value of his holdings in the company and he may as well
The deal to buy Sky is dead. I don't know if you watched the debate in the House of Commons but there was universal agreement from all corners that it would be a bad thing. As far as I know parliament cannot order something to happen unless it refers to legislation but the message they sent out was as clear as it can get. Also the MP for Kirkaldy and Cowdenbeath made a few more allegations about some of the attempts made by News International to hack into his phone and bank accounts. These were made under parliamentary privilege.
Muroch senior and junior and Rebekah Brooks are going to be called before a Commons Select committee meeting next Tuesday.
Or if he will be re-naming it?
From Private Eye
SPOT THE DIFFERENCE
Elle MacPherson declines to sue the News of the World over phone-hacking
and now has a job on a Murdoch TV channel; Andy Gray sued and, er,
doesn’t.
'I really think too many of you think too much.'
True - but better than not thinking at all Chirpy. You seem to be alone on this site. Just because YOU don't read newspapers doesn't mean that they and other media don't have a significant influence on British political life. Why the hell do you think that Parliament has stopped all other business today? Why the hell do you think that all politicians from Snatcher onwards have been desperate to court him? If you want a lesson from history just read about William Randolph Hearst and the power he exerted. And if you want modern days see about Berlusconi in Italy.
I don't believe the BSkyB deal is dead but it is certainly very much shunted into the very long grass.
This was the only thing he could do - retreat, regroup and hope that the various sacrificial lambs they put up - the in house lawyer and eventually/inevitably Rebekha Brooks will draw the sting out of the situation. The passage of time will help to heal.
Murdoch will hope that once the furore dies down, that the deal can be resurrected. It depends to a large extent upon how close to these acts both Senior and Junior Murdochs are seen to be plus how quickly and at all the law is changed to define what a "fit and proper person" actual means.
As I understand it, that's the case.
The Murdoch clan are doing their best to make life difficult for themselves. The good news is that a US Senate Committee is considering investigating the allegations that they hacked the phones of victims after 9/11. As US citizens they will be called, on sub poena if necessary, and put on oath. The US congressional committee system has real teeth, any porkies told before them and they'll be facing perjury charges and a lot more.
Murdoch was originally. He took US citizenship because you are not allowed to buy TV stations unless you hold US citizenship.
The mention of Cameron and judgement in the same sentence is akin to rabbit and headlights!
This issue alone may not do for Cameron but it is potentially part of death by a thousand cuts. He is steadily alienating many rank and file Conservatives and, by definition, their constituency MPs as the perception is that he is toadying up to Labour and the Lib Dems.
Blair? That's a typo and you meant Bush? Blame Thatcher, again, for making us follow the mighty Yanksnand not being able to turn back.
Agree GH. Very Cosy revolving door policy between NI and The Met.
I blame Churchill
As I said earlier in the thread politicians on both sides of the Atlantic finally have the chance to lance the Murdoch boil and they are going to take it.
Payback's a bitch isn't it Rupert?
If you want to see the pure arrogance of News International check out this interview where the ex NOTW reporter effectively claims that phone-tapping people is the price of having a "free press" in the UK.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV9Sh_R3wB4