Andy Coulson has resigned as editor of the News of the World. This news comes a few hours after the NOTW royal editor Clive Goodman was jailed for intercepting phone calls from the Royal Family.
I have no idea if Coulson knew what was happening or not, but in a refreshing contrast to Government Ministers, Coulson has accepted responsibility for what Goodman did in his name. It happened on Coulson's watch, and he has taken the rap.
Maybe John Reid would like to take note. In this government everything is someone else's fault, as we all know. They operate by the lyrics to that most excellent Howard Jones song NO ONE EVER IS TO BLAME.
31 comments:
Couldn't agree more. It doesn't matter if he knew anything - he's at the top of the tree and has to take responsibility rather than blame others (which, let's face it, he probably could).
Yes. It was the honourable thing to do, and it is nice to see someone who values honour enough to make a sacrifice. I admire him for doing the right thing.
What a contrast, eh?
paeophiles walk... royal journalists jailed.
Strange times we live in.
And rightly so-But all credit to him and shame on this incompetent administration who have no scuples or ethics
Are the judges who let out two sex offenders but jailed a tabloid hack just taking the piss out of John reid for a couple of days? It rather looks that way.
Something is deeply rotten in this country when sex offenders get off without prison, but for bugging the royals you get locked up.
It was right that the editor resigned because it would be hypocrisy to criticise others when his own house was not in order.
Clive Goodman is not dangerous nor was it a serious crime and neither is he a repeat offender. His jailing appears to not be in line with the sentencing guidelines and the recent letter sent by John Reid, Lord Goldsmith and Lord Falconer to magistrates and judges. Perhaps, Her Majesty will exercise the Royal Prerogative and recommend that he be released immediately?
In the Home Office shake up, it might be more fitting to rename it the Ministry of Chaos. If John Reid manages to survive this judicial mauling I will bend down and kiss his arse on the steps of the Home Office.
John Reid lived by the media and now he must die by the media.
If the other Coulson had accepted the rap early enough, Nixon would nevr have gone down.
Mind you nothing, it seems could have stopped Clinton from getting others to 'go down'!
Much as I detest the Royals as ingrate inbred parasites, I think I detest tabloid journalists more.
Iain, I couldn't agree with you more - people who take the rap and walk are to be commended.
It is good that Rupert Murdoch has some influence over his editors...if only he could instruct the cuyborgs in government to go...maybe Barroso will get the power to dismiss The Cabinet in the new EU Constitution
If John Reid manages to survive this judicial mauling I will bend down and kiss his arse on the steps of the Home Office.
Reid is simply getting creamed for the mess created by Straw and Blunkett
Why they spent £1.4 billion on PFI offices for the Home Office instead of on prisons eludes me
In this government everything is someone else's fault.
But of course, it's the way these people function.
They aren't there to improve things, put things right, take the blame - they're there to ensure that it's someone else's responsibility to improve things, put things right or take the blame.
Of course, if it works they'll take the credit - it was all their idea in the first place, wasn't it? - if it doesn't work then they feel badly let down, how could the police, probation service, judiciary and public have disappointed dear John as they have. They really must try harder, and he'll stay on just to ensure that they do.
It's called socialism.
If the Tories ever get back in power, they would do to to remember that running the home office is a difficult job and that even such towering figures as John Reid will not be able to get it right 100% of the time.
Especially if your oh so opportunistic opposition insits on a change of management every time something goes wrong.
Journalists are obviously very dangerous criminals, otherwise they would not be sent to prison!
The two sex offenders might only have been given a community sentence anyway, - besides, the two members of the judiciary have used these cases to make a political point that is more likely to be listened to now that the dangerous journalists have the story!)
Look, see here Iain Dale, if that is your real name?? The Home Office is just fine, is 110% better than in 1997 and y'know what? It's all because of the extra investment my government has put in. In fact, It's now having its best year ever ever!
The problems in the Home Office (which are small if there are any) are a direct result of 18 years of Tory misrule (god how many times do I have to say it)!!
You know, back in 1997, before I arrived, you remember? When the economy was a disaster, the rubbish was piling up in the gutters and we had NO electricity whatsoever, no? Well I was the one who turned it all around!
Now, of course, I'm not Jesus (though I do have a personal relationship with him), so I can't fix everything the Tories buggered up, but you lot shouldn't worry. It'll all be fixed in a jiffy... as soon as I get round there.
It's not my fault it's not working. If the Tories and Gordon hadn't opposed the necessary changes it'd all be working by now!
Of course I should perhaps have fixed the Home Office before I fixed the Health service, Education, Defence (5 successful wars you know), and Devolution. However the Home Office is next after I fix the Olympics. No more leaving it to useless Home Secretaries, even if it is working 110%!!!! God you lot are thick.
go to www.lordashcroft.com to see what the rest of the press is up to
Dave has showed his face on the telly ,has he found out what its for , or did the BBC have to go and find him
Whatever your view on the events they participated in, it does seem very harsh to send them to prison. If the judge wanted to make an example of them, he could have sent them to prison for a week or so.
The Establishment still seems to rule even in the 21st century. bOverall, a bad decision. And history will judge it so.
It won't be long before John Reid is forced to take the long walk.
Rt Hon Tony Blair - coo, did you do all that before or after you invented the Internet?
>>Why they spent £1.4 billion on PFI offices for the Home Office instead of on prisons eludes me
The answer is in the question P - F - I
Makes the bankers rich.
I haven't read all the comments, but I do agree with dizzy.
A paedophile is sent back into the community, apparently agreeing he deserved a sentence, and yet a hacker of private conversations is jailed.
It's ok to announce a limit (if you must, and I certainly don't agree to that on this occasion), but surely the issuing of sentences is worthy of some risk management?
A mobile listener-in/hacker to the Royals is of less risk than a potential paedophile. But that's just a symptom. Just one. This country's in a mess.
I think of Nero everyday now.
It's time the modern day equivalent was ousted. And please don't give me another one from the NuNero party; this country deserves a change and something to meet its views and needs.
They've shot themselves in the heart and not the left foot. "Things can only get better"? (Cringe at the tune.) Not under this government. Things got worse; very, very worse. We're all suffering. And the public is all too aware now.
Get these self fulfilling, self satisified bastards out of office. The time is now!
And sorry Iain, I overlooked your main point there.
The resignation, sad though it is, is honourable and takes responsibility. (Unheard of these days in many quarters.)
It's a first start (under this govt) in the long lost scenario of who is accountable and for what.
In "things can only get better land" we saw the emergence of rights with no responsibilty and accountability attached.
I'm pleased to see a return to historic values. May they make the next era/generation's core values.
And so two kiddie fiddlers get released ..but two journalists get banged up for four months in our prisons..I'm no fan of the News of The Screws but quite honestly everyone seems to have lost the plot or am I missing something here?
This seems like a cheap shot hacks and politicians never have been noted for their honorable behavior, presumably Mr Dales to young to remember the long line of Tory Ministers so slimy you wonder how they were able to stand up. I think Thatcher and Majors administrations could probably serve as a master class in dishonor one of the blighter's even had a trusty sword of truth, ironically ended up doing time for perjury.
tonyflaig-
History can teach us so much... like Harold Wilson's sickening 'Lavender List' - with the enobled Gannex merchant doing time for fraud....
*paeophiles walk... royal journalists jailed*
OFFICIAL: News of the World journalists really are worse than paedophiles!
I certainly wouldn't want one living next to me.
Not nearly enough journos are sent to prison, and for not nearly long enough. Sod the lot of them.
I, being North American and all, read it as "Ann Coulter resigns." Alas, twas just a tease and she remains to infest us to this day.
Stuart Kuttner should also resign, he is as much to blame as Andy coulson
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