How can David Cameron possibly continue to defend his communications chief, Andy Coulson? Tory bloggers rightly went potty about Damian McBride's smear campaign, but surely Andy Coulson's sins are much greater. McBride making up lies is bad enough, but Coulson was editor of the News of the World, where a systematic coampaign of phone tapping took place. His defence is reminiscent of Mike Freer's whenever a scandal such as Iceland hits the news "I know nothing" he shouts from the ramparts. The BBC reports his evidence and to be quite honest it is sickening. With reports of Councils spying on private citizens, could it be that Cameron sees this talent as useful for building up a big brother state when he takes charge.
Rather like Boris sticking with Brian Coleman, following his profligate waste of public money on taxi's, which he keeps waiting for hours while he scoffs down free dinners, Cameron seems set on keeping someone who clearly has no place in any democratic political party. What can we conclude about the sort of regime he wants to run?
The one possible redeeming feature I thought a Conservative government may bring for me was the prospect that it would role back the Big Brother state we are silently sleepwalking into. Instead we have Coulson in charge of communications. What next, Count Dracula in charge of bloodbanks.
Ask yourself this. When a future Prime Minister asks his head of communications, Andy Coulson this question, what answer may he get?
"Andy, I'm worried that some MP's may be plotting behind my back. There have been reports of secret mobile phone conversations, what do you think we should do?"
Scary, isn't it.
3 comments:
Possibly the difference is that McBride has admitted what was alleged and against him and, in some ways, justified it and gloried in it in his interview with over the weekend. Whereas Andy Coulson and News International denies the claims made by a hostile and Labour supporting paper.
As a fan of innocent until proven guilty I think that comparisons between Coulson and McBride are spin from Brown. MPs certainly didn't agree with your line today.
Dan,
Coulson was editor when the NOW indulged in a campaign of bugging. I really think that puts him off limits as political aide. I think McBride also shouldn't be involved.
Surely you don't think Coulson is an asset to Camerons team with his track record do you? There's a pretty long list of people on both sides I'd like to see sacked, but in terms of priority, Coulson is quite near the top (and the one at the top is Labour!)
I've poured over most of the lefty news coverage on Ch4 and BBC tonight and none go near to making your point.
Coulson resigned because this happened on his watch, it was a principled stand and a huge price for him to pay personally for something that he knew nothing about (and the Guardian has no evidence that he did).
Coulson has already resigned once over this issue, those concerned have gone to prison. Time for some of the Cabinet to resign for their errors before Coulson is asked to resign twice (?!) for something he says he knew nothing about! How about starting with the PM for his wreckless changes to the Banking system he made without telling the voters in advance in 1997?
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