There's been a lot of sanctimonious guff from journalists this week about bloggers (like me) printing unsubstantiated rumours...like this...
Deputy PM John Prescott - though he may not realise it - is staring into the abyss, I am informed. His long-suffering drivers have reached the point where they may risk their jobs and tell all in return for a chunk of change from a middle-market tabloid. I understand a female Labour MP will be none too pleased by Prescott's arrangements.
Except that didn't appear on a blog. It appeared in the diary column of last week's Independent on Sunday.
The Independant on Sunday diary column? No wonder nobody saw it ... :-)
ReplyDeleteMSM reading the blogs through "Rosie" tinted specs no doubt!
ReplyDeleteIt's always been understood that "the drivers know everything" - hence the great Jim Hacker in "Yes Minister" asking his driver if he'd done 'alright' and been assured that he had!
ReplyDeleteWhat I am curious about is what type of confidentiality document do they have to sign? Is it the Official Secrets Act, or some kind of catch-all never say anything about anybody type-thing. If it's the Official Secrets Act Prescott must be doomed, because I shouldn't think even Lord Goldsmith would think Prescott's (alleged) Ugandan (or should it be Wilberforcian) activities with various ladies in the back of the official car could be a State secret!
Iain,
ReplyDeleteThis is what you wrote last Sunday:
"Prescott to Get Another Bumpy Ride?
According to Roland White, who writes the Sunday Times Atticus column, a government car service driver has taken the tabloid's shilling and is about to reveal what happened in the back seat of his car between John Prescott and a female Labour MP. Amazing that a driver was 'privy' to these Ugandan discussions. I expect he will need 'councilling' counselling."
So it did appear on a blog!