David Cameron had been hoping he could keep a safe distance from the scandal engulfing News International.
As things stand he is struggling to do so and the closure of the News of the World does nothing to bolster the Prime Minister's position.
There is widespread agreement in Westminster that Cameron needs to take a stronger lead on the scandal, along with the growing suspicion that his close links to some of the key players are holding him back.
The imminent closure of the News of the World does not change the fact that Cameron is closely linked to the paper through his associations with Andy Coulson, Rebekah Brooks, Elisabeth Murdoch and others.
Writing in the Telegraph today, Peter Oborne was clear about the problem: 'The Prime Minister has allowed himself to be horribly compromised by his connection with News International and its employees.'
Rupert Murdoch is now sacrificing one part of his empire to protect his TV interests. His primary aim is to push through the BskyB takeover. Cameron could still stop the takeover in its tracks. Does he have the cojones?
Such a move would undoubtedly be an immediate PR hit for Cameron. It could prove to be the only way to ensure the whole episode is not still hanging around his neck at the 2015 election. But such a move comes at a cost. As well annoying some close pals, does the PM really want to lose the backing of The Sun and The Times?
The subject is certain to be dominating discussions within Cameron's inner circle. It is an almighty dilemma. But it is by no means the first time that a Prime Minister has been faced with an audacious demand from a powerful media baron.
In 1919, David Lloyd George had to decide what do when Lord Northcliffe demanded a seat at the peace conference that reordered the world after the war. Cameron's team should bear in mind his response:
'I would rather cease to be prime minister than be at the beck and call of Northcliffe, Rothermere and co.'
Follow David Singleton on Twitter: www.twitter.com/david_singleton
Coulson was positively vetted and so Cameron was quite right to hire him - and - it seems that Coulson did a good job while he was in Downing Street.
Murdoch has met every US President alive during his lifetime. Why should Cameron have declined to meet him?
There's a lot of axes being ground on this issue and it's not a pretty sight.
The British press is partisan in this country with the Murdoch press wielding considerable influence at election time. This has led Murdoch to exercise this nefarious control over elected politicians ..... in simple language, they are afraid of him!
The issue is not one of if it is reasonable for Cameron to have met him, it is one of being BEHOLDEN to him.
I for one am not sorry to see the end of the News of the World, a racist, xenophobic, misogynistic rag. I am however, sorry to see 200 employees "thrown under the bus" to further the ambitions of the corrupt senior executives.
Now can anyone even imagine Mr Cameron making the same remark in the present situation re: Murdoch Inc?
Hmmm...NO
1) Murdoch's 200-year-old "News of the World," which today came to an ignominious end,...
1) Murdoch's 200-year-old "News of the World," which today came to an ignominius end, was not the only print and media outlet in Britain to be hiring private investigators and actors to pose as Sheiks and charlatans to entrap their targets into an indescretion or disclosure, and to be hacking into cellphone records, but basically everybody's been doing it.
2) Murdock has become way too powerful in his ability to be a king maker in British politics, even to the point of being able to influence who becomes (or remains) Prime Minister. As David Singleton in his excellent article above, and Peter Osborne in the "Telegraph," point out, British Prime Minister David Cameron has become "horribly compromised by his connection with [Murdoch's] News International and its employees." Specifically, "Andy Coulson, Rebekah Brooks, Elisabeth Murdoch, and others."
What hasn't been mentioned is Murdoch's cozy relationship with the extreme right-wing Prime Minister of Israel, Binyamin "Bibi" Netanyahu. Murdoch has an open invitation of free lodging in his lavish London digs, or his country estate, whenever Netanyahu visits Britain. Murdoch knows how to advance his own interests by playing to political power.
Murdoch today was quite willing to throw "News of the World" under the bus, which represented a paltry 3 percent of his empire, to protect his BskyB TV takeover, which is the real prize. Why let him get away with it?
With his failures in the online world Murdoch has shown that he is very much a 20th century player and the last time I looked the 21st century is very much being shaped by the internet and social networking.
Quote: 'George Osborne was targeted by the private detective employed by the News of the World to hack mobile phones, it has emerged.' Unquote.
Source:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/phone-hacking/8621915/George-Osborne-may-have-been-victim-of-phone-hacking.html
Yet, more embarrassment for 'Call me Dave'' and Rebekah probably won't be too far behind.
Chickens coming home to roust, Dave, my boy!
Cameron's former colleague, Andy Coulson, is about to be arrested for his role in the hacking scandal. Unless Cameron takes definitive action to separate himself from Murdoch and co Cameron is toast.