David Camerons actions are just making Jeremy Hunt look very guilty

Like a man fleeing from the law or child playing truant from school so they don't have to hand in the homework they never completed. David Cameron is desperately trying to keep Jeremy Hunts role in the BSKYB bid scandal from being scrutinized by independent outsiders. It is clear to everyone except David Cameron that there are a number of unanswered questions regarding Hunts conduct, not least of all that he threw Smith to the wolves to save his own career. Labour are right to demand an investigation into Hunts conduct. Unfortunately the Lib Dems are unable to pluck the courage to do the right thing so they will be abstaining from the vote.

For Jeremy Hunt the only crime is getting caught

Jeremy Hunt is under further pressure today as it is revealed that he has failed to declare at least three donations from media firms.

"Mr Vaizey (Jeremy Hunts deputy) stated in his entry in the register of interests that he and Mr Hunt attended had attended eight sponsored events between July 2009 and March 2010.
Mr Vaizey registered the events as donations worth £27,000. These are not cash donations, but estimates from Mr Vaizey of the cost to the companies concerned of hosting the events.
However, Mr Hunt did not declare the meetings against his name in the register. He has subsequently claimed that he attended only three of the eight meetings and has made it clear he intends to amend the register accordingly."
Oh well that alright then if i got caught shoplifting i can just put the items back and get off scot free.

CPS statement on phone hacking charges

Rebekah Brooks, her husband Charlie and four other people are being charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice as part of the phone hacking inquiry.

Confirmation of the decision came from Alison Levitt, QC, principal legal adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions overseeing CPS decision-making, and all potential prosecutions, in relation to the ongoing phone hacking inquiries and related matters.
Miss Levitt said she was making a statement "in the interests of transparency and accountability to explain the decision to charge".
She said the CPS received a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police on 27 March 2012 in relation to seven suspects:

• Rebekah Brooks;                                                                                                   

• Charles Brooks;
• Cheryl Carter - Mrs Brooks' personal assistant;
• Mark Hanna - head of security at News International;
• Paul Edwards - Mrs Brooks' chauffeur, who was employed by News International;
• Daryl Jorsling and a seventh suspect - both of whom provided security for Mrs Brooks supplied by News International.
Miss Levitt said: "All the evidence has now carefully been considered.
"Applying the two-stage test in the code for Crown prosecutors I have concluded that in relation to all suspects except the seventh, there is sufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction.
"I then considered the second stage of the test, and I have concluded that a prosecution is required in the public interest in relation to each of the other six.
"All seven suspects have this morning been informed of my decisions.
"They are all due to answer their bail at police stations later today. When they do so, they will be charged as follows:
"Charge 1 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice:
"Rebekah Brooks between 6 July and 19 July 2011 conspired with Charles Brooks, Cheryl Carter, Mark Hanna, Paul Edwards, Daryl Jorsling and persons unknown to conceal material from officers of the Metropolitan Police Service
"Charge two - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
"Rebekah Brooks and Cheryl Carter between 6 July and 9 July 2011 conspired together permanently to remove seven boxes of material from the archive of News International.
"Charge three - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
"Rebekah Brooks, Charles Brooks, Mark Hanna, Paul Edwards and Daryl Jorsling conspired together and with persons unknown, between 15 July and 19 July 2011, to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from officers of the Metropolitan Police Service.
"All these matters relate to the ongoing police investigation into allegations of phone hacking and corruption of public officials in relation to the News of the World and The Sun newspapers.
"Following charge, these individuals will appear before Westminster Magistrates Court on a date to be determined.
"No further action will be taken against the seventh suspect.
"May I remind all concerned that these six individuals now will be charged with criminal offences and that each has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further.

Has Louise Mensch been caught lying? Time for her to resign?

Speaking on BBC Newsnight on Tuesday, the Conservative MP Louise Mensch said the issue of whether Murdoch was a fit and proper person had not been discussed by the committee before an amendment was tabled on Monday. However it has now been revealed that she did not tellthe truth and in fact it was discussed six weeks ago. It seems Lousie is now up her neck in news corps mud and it does seem that she has lied to try and protect news corps, it is now time for her to resign or explain why she lied.

Are the conservatives now blatantly in the pockets of the Murdochs? Is Louise Mensch unfit to serve in Parliament?

The conservatives are no longer being subtle about their support for the Murdoch’s and BSkyB. Louise Mensch, blatantly shilling for Murdoch by calling the recent report partisan. Either the Murdochs misled parliament and are therefore corrupt and unfit to run a media company or they are highly incompetent and therefore unfit to run a media company. Either way the inescapable truth is that the Murdoch’s and BSKYB are not fit to hold a media license. Therefore the other inescapable truth is that Louise Mensch and her conservative colleagues are either incompetent or in the pocket of the Murdochs either way they are unfit to serve in parliament.

Rupert Murdoch "is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company", MPs have said.

MPs have come to the rather obvious conclusion that Rupert Murdoch "is not a fit person to exercise the stewardship of a major international company" unsurprisingly the Tories have inevitably tried to protect Rupert Murdoch. The real surprise in this is that Labour and the Lib Dems have had the bravery to stand up to Rupert Murdoch.

Prime minister tries to protect his culture secretary from being held accountable

In what is turning out to be a terrible week for David Cameron he is now up his neck in trouble, protecting Jeremy Hunt from an inquiry into his dubious relationship with the Murdochs. Cameroons fate is surely now linked with Jeremy Hunts. If Jeremy is forced to quite then there will be massive questions asked as to why David Cameroon blocked a very necessary inquiry.

A very British response

Various news sources have reported today that the new body being setup to scrutinise MPs expenses will cost 6 times as much to setup as what is being claimed back from MPs who broke expenses rules. The new government department will cost about £6.6 Million to setup, most of this money being spent on accommodation and new IT systems. The new body called The Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority has replaced the Commons Fees Office. If this new body is being setup to replace another, why does it simply not use the offices and equipment that is being used by the current department?

Whilst there is a need to spend on recruitment and small, amount on some new IT equipment. There is no need to purchase offices for the new department when it can simply occupy the offices of the old depart. This is ultimately a very British political response. Spend a lot of money to achieve very little except to make it look like the Government is trying to fix the problem. After all, it is politically better to appear to be fixing a problem than to actually do so but get no publicity. Image after all is everything results nothing.

The politicians who have the most to loss from the expenses report are Labour Mps Elliot Morley, Jim Devine and David Chaytor and Tory Peer Lord Hanningfield all of who will be charged under the Theft Act. All four have denied any charges.