While committee chairman John Whittingdale looked on uneasily, Tom Watson ambushed James Murdoch in an exchange redolent of a legal drama. News Corporation’s Europe and Asia chief executive squirmed as a conversation NOTW chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck claimed he had with News International legal affairs manager Tom Crone (fingering Murdoch Jr) was read to the committee. [...]
Tag Archives: tom watson
The NewsCorp AGM motion that seeks to strip Murdoch of powers
A motion (read in full below) tabled for News Corporation’s annual general meeting in Los Angeles today seeks to strip Rupert Murdoch of powers. Denver-based institutional shareholder Christian Brothers Investment Services (CBIS) is calling to separate the roles of chairman and chief executive officer; positions both currently held by the media mogul. “Resolved: The shareholders request [...]
The phone hacking letter that David Cameron ignored
Back in October, Tom Watson sent a letter to the Prime Minister ahead of the Dispatches report ‘Tabloids, Tories and Phone Hacking’, questioning Andy Coulson’s continued employment at Number 10: “If a government minister were to be the subject of similar allegations, they would be forced to stand down immediately while an investigation is carried [...]
Quote of the day: “Cameron’s back passage is well worn by Mr Murdoch”
Scourge of News Corporation Tom Watson gave his most personal account yet of the phone hacking scandal at GMB Congress yesterday. Referring to Rupert Murdoch’s regular audiences with British prime ministers, the West Bromwich East MP told delegates: “When it comes to secret liaisons in Downing Street, after only a year, David Cameron’s back passage is already well [...]
Tom Watson: man of letters
Tom Watson securing The Spectator’s “Inquisitor of the Year” award must owe at least something to his growing reputation for pungent letters. After telling Eric Pickles “You can’t stuff your face all day with new politics cake and still have it left to eat when you’re hungry in the middle of the night”, Watson now asks the [...]
Quote of the day: Eric Pickles "stuffs his face with New Politics cake"
Scrapbook has already highlighted the government’s “do as we say not as we do” attitude to transparency this week in the form of the secrecy surrounding the New Schools Network. Those looking for further evidence of the rhetoric-reality gap need look no further than Mr. Eric Pickles, who this week refused a freedom of information [...]
Tom Watson Uncut
When the Labour Uncut (@labouruncut) blog emerged from dust clouds of the party’s election defeat it was clear that the team behind it had the inside track in the Westminster village. Despite its unassuming launch, the site – with no introductory post, “about page” or list of contributors – seemed to have an immediate purchase within the lobby. [...]
Here's one I made earlier
Sterling effort by Labour activist Debbie Caine, who has brought a little bit of Blue Peter to proceedings with this “pipsqueak” badge (the original Watson/Gove clip is currently at more than 10,000 views). Scrapbook are seriously tempted to order some for conference.
