CAMERON TEXTS MAY IMPACT LEVESON INQUIRY
The Leveson Inquiry unveiled a world of scheming and deception in the digital arts. The long investigation into the News of the World’s forays into phone hacking has also revealed that all was not what it seemed in the world of telecommunications.
Today, it was revealed that prime minister David Cameron exchanged over 150 personal text messages with former head of News International, Rebekah Brooks. The media has unleashed a maelstrom of scrutiny upon the content of the texts. The situation points to more than just the nature of the texts, but to the nature of News Corps’ relationship with the Government.
The Freedom of Information request for the texts was placed by Labour MP Chris Bryant, who was one of the phone hacking targets and has been needling Cameron for more information during the prime minister’s questions.
Bryant says, “They show that there was a very intimate relationship between them and Rebekah Brooks certainly thought she and David Cameron were working together in a common endeavour. They also reveal that there is more material and whilst every twist of Cameron on this seems to suggest we have seen it all, it is absolutely crystal clear that we haven't.”
On the BBC last week, universities minister David Willetts said that relationships between newspapers and politicians have grown unacceptably close.
Leveson has yet to announce how the Inquiry will handle this new information. Despite the potential for embarrassment on the part of the Government, the impact that the Brooks-Cameron relationship may have on the Inquiry and on press-governmental relations is as yet unknown.
For recent news about the Leveson Inquiry, see the following links:
http://www.communicatemagazine.co.uk/news/4095-mail-on-sunday-found-guilty-of-libel
http://www.communicatemagazine.co.uk/news/3946-cabinet-shakeup-includes-change-to-dcms-leadership
http://www.communicatemagazine.co.uk/news/3920-uk-media-debates-publishing-photos-of-prince-harry
http://www.communicatemagazine.co.uk/news/3520-james-murdoch-resigns-as-chairman-of-bskyb