Liberal Conspiracy has been forwarded a link by a reader that may create tension between the newly touted editor of the Independent, and the man who may employ him: Russian billionaire Alexander Lebedev.

Yesterday the Guardian’s Roy Greenslade reported that the Indy’s editor-in-chief Simon Kelner was behind the decision to push forward Rod Liddle’s name.

In a book review published in the Sunday Times in July 2009, Rod Liddle wrote:

There’s bling, you see, and then there’s blingski — which is a different, more elevated beast altogether. If you enjoy revelling in the outrageous vulgarity, tastelessness and ruthlessness of people who are rich beyond all imagining, then this is the book for you.

It is a magnificently emetic account of the lifestyles of the Russki oligarchs who, since the dissolution of the Soviet Union, have made their homes in London to take advantage of our generous tax laws, imperviousness to extradition proceedings and profusion of sushi restaurants. It is not quite, as the subtitle suggests, the “inside” story of the oligarchs — but it is about as close as the authors dare to get.

[emphasis mine] Rod Liddle goes on to say later:

The book ends on a predictably darker note, with a trail of dead and extensive legal action. The oligarchs (now, how can I put this without incurring a writ?) may not always have acquired their fortunes in what we, here, would describe as a totally transparent manner. It is alleged that Putin’s government has pursued its enemies abroad with a certain ruthlessness, and when the oligarchs did not bend to his will and stop interfering in politics they — with the exception of the canny Abramovich — have felt his wrath.

In his Wikipedia entry, Alexander Lebedev is referred to as one of Russia’s oligarchs.

We wonder if Rod Liddle has since then changed his mind on the issue.

Reader comments

1. irene rukerebuka

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2. Two Seven Two

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3. greychampion

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4. sunny hundal

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5. House Of Twits

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6. Lucy Openshaw

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7. Simon Mason

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8. Liberal Conspiracy

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9. Subhajit Banerjee

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10. Political Scrapbook

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11. Samuel Tarry

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    Social comments and analytics for this post…

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13. Independent’s progressive credentials must be respected «

    [...] The Facebook group, called ” If Rod Liddle becomes editor of The Independent, I will not buy it again”, took off after a report in the Media Guardian named Spectator and Sunday Times columnist Liddle as a frontrunner to be appointed by the Independent’s new Russian owner, billionaire Alexander Lebedev. [...]

14. andrew

    Liberal Conspiracy » Rod Liddle's views on rich Russian oligarchs …: Liberal Conspiracy has been forwarded a lin… http://bit.ly/5bODwy

15. greychampion

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16. Liberal Conspiracy » What does Liddle think of the Evening Standard?

    [...] Also worth noting: Rod Liddle’s views on rich Russian oligarchs [...]

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