David Cameron’s speech on public service reform is being crowded out today by all
the other news about hacking. First, there was there were the emails News International has allegedly passed to the police, which apparently contain information about payments to Royal protection
officers. This was followed by an angry statement from Scotland Yard claiming that there is a ‘deliberate campaign to undermine the investigation into the alleged payments by corrupt
journalists to corrupt police officers and divert attention from elsewhere.’ The police statement goes on to say, ‘At various meetings over the last few weeks information was
shared with us by News International and their legal representatives and it was agreed by all parties that this information would be kept confidential so that we could pursue various lines of
inquiry, identify those responsible without alerting them and secure best evidence.’
But, possibly, the most dramatic development of the day is the rumour that Gordon Brown will make accusations against another News International title, following Jeremy Hunt’s statement to the House of Commons on the BSkyB takeover.
On the BSkyB takeover front, it appears that the bid will now be referred back to the Competition Commission at News Corps’ request.
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