Now The Professional Journalists Are Striking Back With Accusations Of A 'police State'.

[anotheoldgit]

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/kim-darroch-leak-met-police-prosecute-journalists-foregin-office-us-trump-hunt-mp-neil-basu-a9003251.html

[dannyk13]

One ill advised assistant commissioner of the Met does not indicate a police state.Overreaction by the press.

[anotheoldgit]

dannyk13

Or the thin end of the wedge.

[jno]

I don't think the leaks should have been printed, in the national interest, but I don't think those who did it should be thrown in jail.

The person who did the leaking, however... Was it a breach of the Official Secrets Act?

[JF85]

The media have a longstanding tradition of respecting D-Notices and their like, in the public interest. It is irresponsible individual journalists who think they should be free to publish and broadcast whatever they wish in pursuit of their own agenda, and the broader press are not rushing to defend the recent case.

[Fatalbertfixer]

I am uncomfortable with them publishing the story,the documents were stolen property and of a sensitive nature.Does the public really need to know the contents.I often think that the media will print anything to make money.Who needs enemies when you have a press.
;-/

[ichkeria]

If a journalist can be assessed or suspected to be involved in the leak then the police are correct.
Otherwise I disagree. Once the leak has happened it’s too late.
In the case of Kim Darroch, the first journalist to get hold of the original leaks was Isabel Oakeshott, who has links to the Banks Farage axis.
Which is ... interesting

[Gromit]

The information has been stolen, and leaking is a criminal offence. And the information is against the national interest, and has caused a bit of a rift with our major ally. So you can understand the FO being livid, and pressurising the Police to contain the damage.

But prosecuting journalists is a hammer to crack a nut. And the damage has already been done. So I hope no prosecutions take place.

[dannyk13]

The Mail has just published some more i defiance of the warning.

[drmorgans]

There was a theory that the leak was due to Sir Kim being a Europhile and the desire by "someone" to have a more pro-US (pro-Trump?) UK ambassador to the US, possibly a political appointment rather than a civil servant.

[Gromit]

The timing of the leak is interesting.
Jeremy Hunt is contesting a leadership battle with Boris Johnson, to be UK Prime Minister.
Hunt is in charge of the Foreign Office where this embarrassing leak has come from.
Advantage Johnson. (Which might have the real reason for the leak).

[Old_Geezer]

A free press is a valuable thing, but relies on responsible self monitoring and behaviour by the media industry. Being given private correspondence, the publication of which is not only not in the public interest but damaging to relationships with other nations, allies even, is a situation where one ought not say, "Oh good, a scoop, that'll sell more papers for a bit regardless of consequences, freedom of the press allows me to publish anything and be damned", but realise that it needs being returned to where it belongs. If an individual chooses to be irresponsible then it is fair enough that they and the incident are investigated to see if the law has been broken.

In this case I see no positive side to the published information that could justify making it public. It has caused many to find themselves in "impossible" situations trying, at the same time, to both support the guy correctly doing their job, and to repair/limit bad feelings between nations.

In any case the publisher concerned has been seen to be unfit to make the decisions they need to in their job; and if the media industry supports them, the industry will have indicated that they are unable to self regulate; and maybe Westminster needs to reconsider if the laws that frame press freedom need to be reviewed.

[Old_Geezer]

Since he was due to retire soon, I find the Sir Kim being a Europhile so was nobbled theory somewhat unlikely. How impatient can one be ?

[ichkeria]

Oakeshott is knocking off Richard Tice I believe.
Watch this space ...

[ichkeria]

The year ends on Dec 31
Brexit allegedly Oct 31
It really isn’t difficult :-)

[youngmafbog]

All Boris and Farage's fault then from the above posts? Gawd 'elp us.

IMHO if the documents hold secrets then the Press should not release them, in this case they were not - just embarrassing but I suspect no surprise to the USA who no doubt knew Darroch was a Hillary stooge and anti current US administration.

Darroch has fallen on his sword - and good for him doing that. We need to find the mole and prosecute that person but at the same time Ambassadors need to be more careful on how they send such documents.

This plod needs to be removed too. Totally out of order and a dangerous man.

[Togo]

A very good article for those of you with the inclination, and 5 minutes of your time, to read it.

https://www.nationalreview.com/2019/07/uk-ambassador-kim-darroch-trump-comments-resignation/

[Peter Pedant]

// All Boris and Farage's fault then from the above posts? Gawd 'elp us. // gawd 'elp us indeed my ole chyne. foo ! lawks -a-mercy !

I think the official secrets act is engaged
and I dont think you can find an official secret sort of lying on the grounds, and pick it up and print it....

BUT however an opinion that Trump has a big nose,
is hardly an actionable event

The nearest we have come is Clive Ponting, where the jury declined to convict.