Andrew Mitchell

I posted earlier, that I thought Andrew Mitchell should go.  Either voluntarily or be sacked.  What he is alleged to have said was plain wrong even if all of the words were not spoken!

Writing on Twitter, Iain Martin (@IainMartin1) poses the interesting question of why Andrew Mitchell, was stopped from taking his bike through the Downing Street car-gates, in the first place? 

The newspapers are quoting from the police 'log' of the events as if it had been inscribed by Moses himself which, given past experience (was it only last week we heard about Hillsborough?) suggests an over-reliance on a source that was previously found to be 'dodgy' from time to time.

I would also question, why in this 'Levenson' era, the papers seem to still have such a cosy relationship with the Metropolitan Police?  Especially, The Sun.  The Sun surely has an axe to grind against the Conservatives and I guess we are seeing some of that coming into play.

All that said, Mitchell should go.  This sorry tale is distracting and allowing the Lib Dems to make all the running, on the political front with their crazy 'squeeze the rich' policies and letting Labour to push ahead on sniping about Mitchell (though they themselves, seem to have forgotten  foul-mouthed SPADs and a deranged and phone-throwing PM)

 

Police and The Sun

Shouldn't all of us be disturbed at the way the Metropolitan Police are handling the investigations about possible wrong-doing at The Sun.

Assigning 170 officers?  More than covered the PanAm-Lockerbie investigation, apparently.

Dawn raids (which get leaked to the press!)? 

These aren't armed killers or dangerous terrorists - they journalists, for heavens sake.

I don't read The Sun and frankly much of what I have heard about its reporting style I find distasteful but as their former political editor has said, where is the proportionality? 

There are killers and muggers and rapists sitting at home tonight and there are 170 less policemen concerned or involved with tracking them down.  What's to stop them going out and doing it again - well 170 less officers for a start!

Abu Qatada is about to be released onto our streets and instead of gathering evidence to put him away or get him out of our way, 170 of the police are otherwise engaged.


Incidentally, given that some of the accusations that are floating around, talk of bribes or improper payments  to police officers, how can any UK police force really lead the investigation?

Oh, and those other newspapers and TV News smiling so smugly at the fate of The Sun, look to yourselves and your house.  Sure that you have never paid a policeman for a lead or a tip?  Or bough a civil servant an expensive dinner, to get the low-down on a story?  No?  Sorry, simply don't believe you.

I do believe that criminal investigations should be pursued.  I do believe that journalists should be treated just like anyone else before the law and that includes being presumed innocent until tried and found otherwise.

I have to question why it seems to be the senior people at The Sun that are being arrested.  I really can't believe that they were the ones, personally passing over the 'brown envelopes', rather than the actual 'reporter'.

This whole episode leaves me with a sense of unease as to where we might end up as regards 'control' of the media (and yes I mean media and not just the printed press) and I also include social media as being at risk.

Worrying times!  And then there is the happenings in Greece!