MPs today said Rupert Murdoch “is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company”, accusing him of “wilful blindness”.
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MPs today said Rupert Murdoch “is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company”, accusing him of “wilful blindness” to the immoral deeds being done in his name, in his company.
The culture, media and sport select committee report (pdf) News International and Phone-hacking said the culture of the company’s newspapers “permeated from the top” and “speaks volumes about the lack of effective corporate governance at News Corporation and News International”.
The report says:
“We conclude, therefore, that Rupert Murdoch is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of major international company.”
Of James Murdoch, it describes him as exhibiting a “lack of curiosity… wilful ignorance even” at the time of the negotiations surrounding the 2008 Gordon Taylor phone-hacking settlement. It concluded it was “simply astonishing” he did not realise the “one ‘rogue reporter’ line was untrue” until late 2010.
It says of him:
“We would add to these admissions that as the head of a journalistic enterprise, we are astonished that James Murdoch did not seek more information or ask to see the evidence and counsel’s opinion when he was briefed by Tom Crone and Colin Myler on the Gordon Taylor case.”
While on Rebekah Brooks, the report says it would not draw conclusions on evidence to the committee about Milly Dowler because of the ongoing police investigation. They did, though, say she must take responsibility for “the culture which permitted” unethical newsgathering methods over Dowler in 2002.
The report adds:
“The attempts by the News of the World to get a scoop on Milly Dowler led to a considerable amount of police resource being redirected to the pursuit of false leads.”
• Boris and Murdoch: The ten questions the Mayor still hasn’t answered 30 Apr 2012
• Miliband: ‘Osborne and Cameron tried to help Murdoch secure BSkyB deal’ 30 Apr 2012
• JH, BJ and the Murdochs 29 Apr 2012
• Is Jeremy Hunt a “cheerleader” for the Murdochs? 24 Apr 2012
• Just when you thought hackgate couldn’t get any worse… 29 Jul 2011
As well as the select committee report, there are several other probes into phone hacking currently under way, namely:
• Leveson Inquiry: Judicial probe into press standards, investigating the extent of unlawful or improper conduct at News International and other newspaper groups – it will also examine the original police probe into phone hacking;
• Operation Weeting: Police investigation into alleged phone-hacking at News of the World;
• Operation Elveden: Police investigation into inappropriate payments to officers;
• Operation Tuleta: Police investigation into allegations of computer hacking;
• Civil action by alleged hacking victims: Thousands of potential victims identified and several, including singer Charlotte Church, already awarded damages.
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15 Responses to “MPs attack Murdochs in damning report into phone-hacking”
Chris Tindall
MPs attack Murdochs in damning report into phone-hacking: http://t.co/x5eI9Tim by @ShamikDas #hacking #Murdoch #Leveson
leftlinks
Left Foot Forward – MPs attack Murdochs in damning report into phone-hacking http://t.co/4WTyDCSu
Selohesra
The way some mps seemed to have made up their mind before hearing the evidence and have financial interest conflicts through their private book sales – its almost as if Labour has declared war on the Murdoch empire that it was so keen to cover for whilst it supported them.
Anonymous
Selohersa,
And of course, misleading the house is something you would cheer lead! Also intersting to note that while Ms. Chicklet maintained the Tories held differing, and non partisan views they all fell in line in support of Uncle Rupey!
Anonymous
The committee’s decision is unfortunately the worst kind of Groupthink. Despite being given an important job to do and with the country watching, the politicians of the major parties simply divided along party lines. Perhaps voters shouldn’t prop up such terrible tag-team governance. Perhaps voters should give Independent candidates and representatives of Minor Parties a chance (if they represent their political ideals, of course) rather than simply bequeathing them to the same old parties repeating the same old mistakes. Read more at
http://thewhiteticket.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/insight-party-politics-and-dangers-of.html