Published: July 17th 2011 - at 11:49 amHague’s astonishing defence of Cameron & Coulson
In response to Cameron inviting back Coulson despite being told of the allegations regarding his past, William Hague tells the Today Programme:
In inviting Andy Coulson back, the prime minister has invited someone back to thank him for his work – he’s worked for him for several years – that is a normal, human thing to do.
I think it shows a positive side to his character.
Personally I’m not embarrassed by it in any way – but there is something wrong here in this country and it must be put right. It’s been acknowledged by the prime minister and I think that’s the right attitude to take.
It’s not surprising that in a democratic country there is some contact between leaders of the country, and indeed opposition leaders, and indeed I believe on that list of meetings there are also meetings with the executives of the Guardian and Trinity Mirror and whatever other news organisations.
This is unbelievable. Cameron was told that Coulson could have repeatedly broken the law. The allegations weren’t just about spying but also about corruption.
Keep in mind that both Coulson and Rebekah Brooks had admitted paying police for information by that time. And yet the PM thought it was fine to have lunch with him again?
In the United States a President would have had to resign by now.
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Sunny Hundal is editor of LC. Also: on Twitter, at Pickled Politics and Guardian CIF.
· Other posts by Sunny Hundal
Story Filed Under: News
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Reader comments
Are you calling for Cameron to resign?
There is a hugely important debate on our leader’s relationship with the press. But I haven’t seen too much to suggest all parties aren’t at it, especially when they have a whiff of power or preference from the press.
Makes you wonder who William Hague has been consorting with to approve of this !
@1
And with anyone else who had been arrested and was facing serious allegations of criminality? Are you sure?
Nice try in conflating issues when the behaviour of the PM is the real stinker.
Off course Hague would say anything to help his idiotic chum David Cameron that appears to be surrounded by people accused of criminal activities.
We have a Tory led arrogant Government that has many Tax Evaders/Avoiders in cabinet which exists on spin, deceit, lies and surrounded by people accused of crimes.
Hagues has to prevaricate to TRY and help his Buddy Dodgy Dave because they are all in this one together.
@3 Really? In all the last week week’s revelations the PM’s actions are the most disturbing? Really?
It’s disgusting obviously – but any party leader would have had their noses up exactly the same arses as Cameron. Any and all of them. And that is a very serious issue for our country’s politics. But to single out Cameron so much is the distraction. Brown was just as much in the stink with with all the News Int execs.
Not a President – Clinton lied under oath and got away with it – but anyone else, sure.
Frankly, that’s something wrong with both political systems; the top guy doesn’t go down easily enough, the people further down get sacrificed to protect him.
True in business as well – Rupert Murdoch could easily have saved Rebekah Brooks by resigning.
In the United States a President would have had to resign by now.
Drinking again Sunny?
Yeah, so everyone else is assumed Innocent until proved Guilty but Cameron has to assume that anyone working for him is guilty until proved innocent.
No – *you* are unbelievable
“Brown was just as much in the stink with all the News Int execs.”
No he wasn’t. He didn’t promise Murdoch all of BSkyB. He didn’t employ Coulson after he had resigned over phone hacking. When Murdoch approached Brown over the BBC licence fee, the BBC’s online presence and the role of Ofcom, he told him to get lost. Cameron, on the other hand, promised him everything he wanted.
Cameron has abused his power and governed on behalf of Murdoch, not the British people. He should resign immediately or be booted out, as some of us have been suggesting for a while:-
http://cuttingedgeuk.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=uk&action=display&thread=447&page=1
No he wasn’t. He didn’t promise Murdoch all of BSkyB. He didn’t employ Coulson after he had resigned over phone hacking. When Murdoch approached Brown over the BBC licence fee, the BBC’s online presence and the role of Ofcom, he told him to get lost. Cameron, on the other hand, promised him everything he wanted.
Imbecile. Read the Communications Act 2003. It was the Blair Govt that removed the limitations on cross-platform ownership that had previously prevented Murdoch from turning his controlling stake in BSkyB into full ownership.
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