The media, in the main, seem to think today that Tony Blair gave a virtuoso performance at the Leveson Inquiry into Media practices and ethics yesterday. If that is the depth of analysis we can expect - have come to accept - it is no wonder the country is in dire straights with Cameron (self appointed heir to Blair) at the helm.
I write this as a Labour Party Member and voter.
Two things Tony Blair said make clear his mendacity (if I am generous it could be self deception/delusion but these guys are highly intelligent so they say!!). So they know precisely what they are saying, what they are not saying and the impression they wish to give!
First he sought to say that the reality of politics in the UK was that they had to deal with the media. Even if true, which to some extent it is, that is not the same as according them (the media) special treatment! So Mr Murdoch (Snr) was accommodated with three discussions prior to the invasion of Iraq! I don't remember having discussion with the then PM about it and I am a UK voter which is more than Mr Murdoch (Snr) - originally Australian but now a USA citizen so he can have a substantial interest in an American media company.
Second Mr Blair claims NI (News International - Mr Murdoch's company) never got anything from the government which he (TB) led. However since these people are very clever one does not have to be explicit - you will have worked out beforehand what was required and the requirement was to recognise the reality of political power in UK (in TB's view and many in New Labour). Hence although there was a demand from Labour for limitation of foreign ownership of UK media (the then Culture Secretary Chris Smith was working on it) TB saw to it that no legislation was put before Parliament. TB claims that to do so would have de-railed much needed reforms in Health and Education. I do not know of anybody in Parliament then or now who represents the Murdoch constituency (well maybe a couple but not enough to cause trouble).there was no legislation in the period 1997 to 2010 restricting the ability of NI (and indeed the media in general) to do as it wished. So TB's judgement is suspect to say the least.
Shame on Britain, shame on us all for allowing it to happen.
Sources used:
Daily Telegraph 29th May 2012
Independent 29th May 2012
BBC News 28th May 2012
Channel 4 News 28th May 2012
Published 29th May 2012
Revised 30th May 2012
