The Leveson Inquiry, what's the point?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.metro.co.u...art-one-to-reach-5-6m

/// 'The total cost for part one of the Leveson Inquiry from start-up in July 2011 is currently projected to be about £5.6 million.' ///

After almost 1 year this inquiry goes on and on, and the cost to the taxpayer goes up and up.

We have seen the demise of a leading Sunday newspaper and various newspaper personnel, and high-profile political figures take their seats for a grilling.

And what for, apparently to get to the bottom of some phone- jacking, also the controversial BSkyB bid, is this the real reason or is there much more in it than just this?

Will we see any 'big noise' go on trial? I think not, will we see the closing down of some Right-Wing newspapers, or the fall of Cameron's government? I think not (although some would wish this).

And what is the reason for all those nonentities sitting in front of their monitors doing very little it seems?

http://i.dailymail.co...005DC-888_634x344.jpg

[anotheoldgit]

Correction:

"apparently to get to the bottom of some phone- jacking",

...................Phone-Hacking

[jake-the-peg]

What's the point?

It's uncovering who runs the country - elected politicans or media barrons.

[TheNovice]

I agree AOG, a rambling and convaluted exercise in achieving nothing, and wasting a fortune (unless you're on the inquiry - 'a good earner' as Delboy would say). As for uncovering who runs the country....cannot quite see that - it's politicians, plain and simple. Watching the questioning yesterday I even thin Jay is running out of enthusiasm.

Phone hacking has been covered off, and victims remunerated (rightly so). Charges brought so a lot of 'stuff' will now be sub judice. All the leaders, and ex leaders (except Brown) have agreed that contact and employment of 'advisors' has to be more carefully managed so that's that. The Murdochs seem to be totally discredited (again rightly so) so that's that done. Not much left to look at is there?

[LazyGun]

Plenty to look at, that should be of concern to anyone interested in democracy and transparency within politics.

The sight of successive politicians of all of the major parties sucking up to the media in an effort to gain favourable column inches is distasteful, and the idea of one media baron with well known and strong political views having such a dominant position should be of concern to all.

The enquiry has revealed to the general public some the lengths to which the media will go in pursuit of scandal, including breaking the law. It has also shown how successive governments have toadied to the media and especially the Murdochs, in order to gain backing from their outlets.

Camerons appearance on the stand was just embarassing. We either have a PM who cannot remember substantive conversations with NI, or one who can ,but chooses to allege a lack of recall. Either way, not a good advertisement for the role of PM. And the coziness of the NI senior staffers with Camerons set, with its talk of "country suppers" lacks any sense of propriety.

All in all, I think it has been a worthwhile inquiry, one that will hopefully change the relationship between the media and politics for the better.....

[TheNovice]

nearly as embarrasing as Blair flying to Australia to woo Murdoch!! You seem not to mention any of Labour's hierarchy doing exactly the same if not more over the years. Let's remember the king of the media Alistair Campbell's little rants against the BBC and others, telling them what they should and should not be reporting.

[TheNovice]

and remember it was Cameron who set up the inquiry.

[LazyGun]

@ Novice -Miss this sentence in my post did you ?

"The sight of successive politicians of all of the major parties sucking up to the media in an effort to gain favourable column inches is distasteful"

Blairs attempts to woo Murdoch were equally distasteful. Blair, Campbell and his inner circle set out to win over the Murdoch press, firmly believing they needed the backing of titles like the Sun in order to win an election. Realpolitik, and distasteful stuff at that.

It just so happens that Cameron and the tories are in power when all this stuff breaks out, and Cameron is a personal friend and acquaintance of the senior NI bods.

You are right in that he set up the inquiry, but given the public outrage over the millie dowler revelations, he was hardly in a position to do anything else. Unlikely to see the ramifications of how widespread the inquiry might be as well.

Although no fan of Cameron or the Tories, I am not trying to be especially partisan about this - I just think that greater transparency and greater control of the media would benefit democracy in this country.

[anotheoldgit]

LazyGun

/// All in all, I think it has been a worthwhile inquiry, one that will hopefully change the relationship between the media and politics for the better..... ///

You have put it in the past-tense it is not over yet, not by a long way.

/// The enquiry has revealed to the general public some the lengths to which the media will go in pursuit of scandal, including breaking the law. ///

So if you think this inquiry has been worthwhile and according to your reference to some breaking the law, then we can expect some to be locked away then?

I personally don't think so somehow.

[TheNovice]

didn't miss any of the post but you seem to concentrate on, and condemn Tory relations with the media (or NI as this inquiry seems to concentrate on) when the previous administration bent over backwards and some to accomodate NI and you seem to gloss over this immportant phase. This is when NI started exerting too much influence, which was fine apparently until NI turned their back on Brown (who seems more delusional now than when in office).

[pdq1]

Nothing interests a politician than when the subject is about himself/herself. So even though they are under scrutiny they are quite prepared to have the focus away from newspapers onto themselves.

There have been so many scandals in recent years it makes you wonder how the official business is carried out much to our loss.