Ed Miliband’s best week as leader yet has reached a new peak with News Corporation withdrawing their bid for to take full control of BSkyB, writes Tom Rouse.
Ed Miliband’s best week as leader yet has reached a new peak with News Corporation withdrawing their bid for to take full control of BSkyB.
Coming hot on the heels of weeks of bad press and leaks, the phone hacking revaluations could not have come at a better time for the Labour leader. The steady stream of scandals has given him the chance to rehabilitate both his public image and his standing within the party. Even more significantly, this latest triumph is primarily his.
He has boldly led from the front, dragging not only his party, but also the government in his wake. This is in spite of suggestions he was warned by senior figures from within the party not to pursue the link between phone hacking and the BSkyB deal so energetically and publicly.
The decision to do so was a courageous one and he deserves the credit that comes his way. Though Tom Watson has been a fearless crusader against excesses in the press and deserves huge praise for this, he is a less recognisable figure and has not had the same influence over the public debate. In the coming days, it will be interesting to see if his next crusade, against the Lobby system, draws the same level of public and political support.
The test now is whether he can maintain his upward momentum and continue to be perceived by the public as the politician with the best grip on this crisis. The debate in the Commons tonight serves as an opportunity to stake out the high ground and ensure Labour continues to set the agenda.
It is clear that large sections of the Tory backbenches still don’t grasp the scale of public outrage or its significance, as demonstrated by Jacob Rees-Mogg in an interview with Sky, where he described the public sentiment towards phone hacking as:
“Extraordinary hysteria and frenzy.”
Politically, the tactic of linking David Cameron to Andy Coulson and using that to draw links to News International at every possible opportunity is a good one, but is in danger of becoming over-used. He has already forced Mr Cameron into a corner over the issue and drawn an admission of regret; it’s not sure what else the Labour leader hopes to gain from this.
It is not an issue the public cares as significantly about and with the summer recess fast approaching there are other, more important issues, to be focused on.
Although this week has been an undisputed triumph, it is important to remember News Corporation still own 39% of BSkyB and equally significantly this move ends any chance of Sky News being spun off. Similarly, unless there is hard evidence to implicate other NI papers in the scandal, Murdoch is likely to retain ownership of them and will doubtless be nursing a grudge, particularly if he is finally forced to abandon Rebekah Brooks to the wolves.
Ed has won this battle and has public opinion firmly behind him, but the war is far from over.
34 Responses to “Murdoch’s BSkyB capitulation is far from the end – the fight must go on”
Hitchin England
Murdoch's BSkyB capitulation is far from the end – the fight must go on: http://bit.ly/oUAxBt by @TRouse11 #phonehacking #NewsCorpse
Ray_North
This article is spot – this issue is far more significant than simply ‘dodgy’ journalism – it goes to the heart of democracy and political culture.
It also goes to the door of David Cameron – the following link takes you to a very good piece outlining the questions that David Cameron must answer in the midst of this – http://www.allthatsleft.co.uk/2011/07/andy-coulson-ten-questions-for-david-cameron/
Ed Miliband has had a good week, but he must use this as a springboard to continue to establish himself as a courageous and honourable leader – otherwise the electorate will dismiss his good week as simply bandwagon jumping.
Robert
But I love Labour saying about when it started in 2003 that was then this is now, so that’s ok then Labour did sod all but that was then this is now. Brown speaking yesterday you have that sneaky feeling that if he had not been hacked he would have asked somebody to do it for him.
I just think once this dies down and I suspect labour will keep it going for as long as possible that way you do not need to fight for policies, once it is over labour will be back at the starting block looking again for a niche to bit into.
Selohesra
Why has Ed Balls been so quiet as this story has developed – he is accepted by most people left & right as Labour’s most effective attack dog and could have really twisted the knife. Is Miliband affraid to let Balls share the glory or does Balls have something to hide?
Robert
Or does balls know this will die a death soon and we will see Miliband trying his best to keep it going.
After the great Gordon Brown yesterday blaming everyone except him self for not having review, I was advised by everyone and Jesus not to have a review, it now been released at at the bottom it states Your the Prime Minster it’s up to you to decide what you want to do, and like everything Brown did in politics, he decided not to, same as the non election he hesitated , he is one of those people who can never decide himself.