So, the plot thickens! Hot on the heels of the "Top Cop" Police Commissioner Stephenson's resignation at the weekend comes that of Assistant Commissioner Yates, famously quoted as acknowledging his "crap decision" not to investigate the News of the World phone hacking allegations the first time round.
Who's next, I wonder? I don't take either resignation as indicative of guilt as such - that particular question will be for the forthcoming inquiry to uncover: there undoubtedly are (or were) those for whom time is ticking away inexorably before their number is up. For the moment, however, it's refreshing to see highly-paid senior public officials at last doing the decent thing and taking responsibility for their actions and their decisions - especially the "crap" ones.
Acceptance of one's shortcomings, and of the 'buck stops here' principle seems to be a rare commodity nowadays, and so I trust I may be forgiven for expressing the opinion that others would do well to emulate their example - perhaps starting with Ms "I don't 'do' blame" Shoesmith, of Baby Peter notoriety.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Friday, 8 July 2011
Karma!
I was beginning to feel quite deprived and insignificant: am I really the only person who hasn't had his phone hacked in the now-infamous News of the World phone hacking scandal? Joking apart, for a paper which built its reputation on exposing the dirty secrets of the rich and famous, and uncovering the scandals which the guilty had paid good money to keep hidden, there's a certain poetic justice that it's now evidently been hoist with its own petard, so to speak.
And not undeservedly so. For to branch out - apparently - into "tapping" the innermost thoughts and words of perfectly innocent people whose only claim to fame is that they had the misfortune to be caught up in the death of their loved ones is, in the eyes of most people, stooping below the level for which even the worst of the gutter press have long been renowned. What, and who, will be uncovered as the mystery unravels remains to be seen. But the "power of the press", as it devours one of its own, is I think going to be an interesting spectacle.
And not undeservedly so. For to branch out - apparently - into "tapping" the innermost thoughts and words of perfectly innocent people whose only claim to fame is that they had the misfortune to be caught up in the death of their loved ones is, in the eyes of most people, stooping below the level for which even the worst of the gutter press have long been renowned. What, and who, will be uncovered as the mystery unravels remains to be seen. But the "power of the press", as it devours one of its own, is I think going to be an interesting spectacle.
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