Yesterday the Commons was on a massive Back Slapping Exercise, particularly Milliband and Labour. There was a lot of "Our Great Democracy" and "democracy in action against a tyrant" type comments. When Brown spoke of new accusations, and explained why he could not launch an enquiry while in power etc one of our newly great MP's kept shouting "Sit Down", and the Tories tried to attack Labour for attacking their non tax-paying party chairman, so some sense of tribal animosity returned.

The problem for the Parties is that this could unravel, and reveal their complicity. Murdoch was akin to the school bully, with Politicians (and possibly\probably the Police) as his lap-dogs. For this to happen the information has to come to light, whether through the News Corp "witnesses" at the Committee, the Public Enquiry, or through the other media.

Would Brooks and Murdoch Jr spill the beans in an astonishing cleansing confessional? Quite possibly, as it maybe their only salvation. Attack is often the best form of defence: imagine the headlines as they detail the Politicians and Public Servants that were in their control\influence and the favours exchanged. There are tales of phone calls suggesting sacking\appointing Govt Ministers, and I assume there to be plenty more "Exposees" for Wade and Murdoch Jr to enlighten us, rather than titilate us with.

Just a note. The author of the story I posted above about Murdoch getting a $4 billion tax refund in the US has acknowledged he screwed up. In fact that is what RM PAID for taxes. The tone of the apology suggests it was virtually dictated by Rupert`s lawyers, which is fair enough. Since I posted it in good faith I feel obliged to post this now that the story has been completely debunked. I will not be relying on this previously unknown and math-challenged incompetent again.

The journalist will be snapped up by the Daily Mail. They only employ incompetent journalists.

That's why they say never let the truth get in the way of a good story.

I must say I found that story incredible. Just shows you can never believe what you read in the papers

Credit to Pouzar for having the humility (a rare quality on fiso) to admit he was duped.

It's all coming out now, right across the tabloid spectrum :-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-16283935

So it seem like Piers Morgan basically lied yesterday when questioned.

Has the Guardian apologised yet?

... for making up the story about the NOTW deleting voice mail from Millie Dowler's phone? I don't know, but now that it's been proved false, the allegation has been taken off its website. Funny that making up stories was one of the things that led to the NOTW's closure, but when the Guardian does it, no one seems much bothered. Why is that, do you think?

Has it been proven false?

Somebody said it may have happened another way. That is all isn't it?

That's exactly what I was referring to.

The 'lie' turned the entire country against the NOTW.

How many innocent people lost jobs?

The police have stated publicly it wasn't 'done' by the NOTW.

Seems to me the Guardian have got off light?

Why didn't the police pursue the investigation into who had leaked the Guardian info on pending arrest several weeks ago?

Oh boo hoo NOTW bastion to Uk news.......good riddance if you ask me

I think there's a big difference between making up stories and honest errors - it was only after a thorough investigation that it turned out that the timing of the deletions didn't match up with the timing of Mulcaire's hacking - but the mere fact of hacking Millie Dowler's phone is not in doubt, and that was enough to revile most right-minded people. And the thing that led to the NOTW's closure was phone-hacking, not making up stories, and let's not forget that it was Newscorp's decision to shut the paper down, not the Guardian's.

Now more about the depths that the tabloids will stoop to to get a story is coming out in the Leveson Inquiry, and there's some chance of a return to something approaching principled journalism in the country - most people think this is generally a good thing, surely only the most hardened Guardian-haters could think otherwise.

The entire country owes a debt of gratitude to The Guardian for their role in exposing the NOTW for the vile, law-breaking institution it was. As Fancy rightly points out there is a world of difference between an honest mistake by a crusading newspaper and the heartless and illegal exploitation of people for profit that was the core mission of NOTW. People who worked at such an institution have as much right to complain about their lost jobs as southern plantation owners did after The Civil War about losing on their investment in slavery.

What reviled most of us was the genuine belief that the NOTW was responsible for deleting messages that gave the the Dowler's false hope that Millie was a live.

It's OK to lose people their jobs as long as its an honest mistake, no need to apologise?

Just out of curiosity, what story's are accusing the NOTW of making up?

Sod it, using that criteria lets get rid of the Sun, Mirror, Mail, Star, Express etc. Let's be left with the Guardian & Indy, I'm sure they'll give a balanced view, NOT!!!

What's a couple of thousand more unemployed eh?

For the 'record', I've not bought a daily (or Sunday) newspaper this century, apart from the odd Racing Post

Or read any books either it would appear.

Is that the royal 'we' you're using there, or do you claim to be the voice of the people?

Once again, it was NewsCorp's decision to close down NotW, perhaps if they hadn't been into phone hacking up to their necks, they would have denied the claims and tried to clear their name. They are the ones responsible for those people losing their jobs.

I don't even understand the last part of your post .

Correct'ish

For anyone who would rather be entertained, as opposed to just reading books by authors that share the same/similar political views as yourself, Making The Running by Ian Balding.

Last 1st, I may have got the wrong end of the stick when you said: I think there's a big difference between making up stories and honest errors

I assumed you were accusing the NOTW?

'We' would suggest that everyone agreed? I didn't use the word 'We'.

I'd say the NOTW closed because most of its advertising customers withdrew because of the hostility of the country towards the NOTW because of the Dowler 'story'?

I'm happy to agree to disagree, I dare say people will have formed their own opinions?

I think you over estimate the Great British public - I'd suspect the vast majority have very little concern and are just upset their gossip trash must be found elsewhere.

Sure you're not confusing 'things' Tricky?

ALL major company's withdrew their adverts because of the mood of the public, OK, that's an opinion.

The major companies withdrew because the media told them the public were outraged.

The public are guided the media.

In reality they really care about little but what is happening in their small lives (no harm in that as a generalisation)

Only my opinion but the public are generally sheep (apologies Murf)

Ironically the last scam the NOTW unveiled was a good 'un - the Pakistani cricketeers - but they overstretched the mark far, far too much with the Millie Dowler hacking

Like I said, I'm sure all papers at some stage, all across the political spectrum, have been up to no good.

I don't really have too much sympathy for these stars that whinge about the press intruding into affairs they have had. Just don't have the affair in the first place Then no-one will have anything to write about.

I tend to agree Tricky but the fact the Dowlers were given false hope that Millie was still alive because of the deleted messages, the disgust felt by most had nothing to do with media pressure imho?

I dont see how the media can be blamed for reporting the so called facts that were put out by the Guardian which as it happens were wrong.

No, Billy was accusing the Guardian of making up the story about NOTW hacks deleting voicemail messages - I give the counter-argument that it was an honest (and understandable) error, given that it is not in dispute that a) Milly Dowler's phone was hacked and b) messages were deleted (it is still not known by whom, AFAIK).

You used the word 'us', the accusative form of 'we'; personally, I think the mere fact that journalists stooped so low as to hack a missing girl's phone was enough to disgust most people.

NewsCorp could easily have ridden the storm of lost sales and advertising if they felt they had a case to fight, as it was they took a very cowardly (IMO) way out and shut the paper down without even attempting to deny any claims. Your assertion that the Guardian's campaign led directly to the closure of NOTW is, IMO, unfair - the NOTW's activities led to its closure.

You make some fair points Dan.

The 'lost' sales may indeed of been recaptured but I'm not so sure the advertising would have been tbh.

Just because News Corp closed the NOTW didn't/wouldn't make any questions go away, so I'm not sure it was cowardly as suggested, not just by you either.

I'm not defending what 'some' former NOTW staff did, you cant defend the indefensible but I do feel sorry for the people that lost their jobs, many more than likely completely innocent of any wrong doing.

Yes, I do blame the Guardian for putting out, call it 'made up', contrived, whatever you like, a 'wrong' accusation that 'generally' disgusted everyone.

Rupert Murdoch: Monkey Killer
(AKA how News Corp hacked ITV Digital codes and distributed them on the internet killing their rivals' business)
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17494723

Has FISO become jaded about the continuing unraveling of this national disgrace? When you add Cameron and his government's catastrophic misjudgments on this file to the utter disaster of their austerity measures, who in their right mind could possibly support the PCs in the next election? Not that Labour wasn't a disaster under Blair and Brown. And what can one say about the Liberal Democrats? What is a British voter to do? Enjoy the football and forget politics?