I didn't think anyone found News International's rebuttal the slightest bit convincing. As Andrew Neil said before, this case shows Coulson was either 'incompetent or complicit' and he'd hardly be hired by Murdoch or Cameron if was incompetent.
So I've consulted with lawyers and feel that the best way to really establish what the News of the World was really up to is to access the evidence file they paid £700,000 to Gordon Taylor to effectively 'seal' from the public.
That's why I've sent the following letter to the Director of Public Prosections, Keir Starmer QC. I thought you might like to see it.
Dear Sir,
We act on behalf of the Rt. Hon. John Prescott PC MP in connection with the allegations appearing in the Guardian newspaper on 9th & 10th July regarding the illegal tapping of a considerable number of individuals phones including that of our client by journalists employed by the News of the World.
The various articles refer inter alia to a case involving Mr Gordon Taylor, the Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers Association. The News of the World suggest that a settlement was reached, part of which resulted in the “sealing” of documentation possibly as part of a Tomlin Order, relating to a list of names of individuals, possibly including our client whose phone may have been accessed. The information “sealed” may in all likelihood disclose the commission of criminal offences committed by those individuals who obtained information without permission or consent.
We enclose for your information a copy of a letter that our client has written to the Commissioner, Sir Paul Stephenson which at the time of writing no reply has been received.
Accordingly, would you confirm whether or not you are minded to make the appropriate application to gain access to material allegedly sealed in the Taylor case. If you are not so minded would you please let us know the detailed reasons why? Our client treats the invasion of his privacy extremely seriously not least as in June 2007 when he was Deputy Prime Minister.
We look forward to hearing from you as a matter or urgency.
I have also sent letters to Colin Myler, the current editor of the News of the World, compelling the paper under Section 7(1) of the Data Protection Act 1998 to see what information they have obtained on me and to the Information Commissioner Christopher Graham requesting him to give an urgent assessment of the case under Section 42(1) of the same act.
I'll let you know how I get on.
I still have no replies to my previous letters to Cameron and the Met Police Commissioner but I'm sure they're in the post.
Alternatively, I could send Labour's new postman.
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Is Ashcroft's office at Tory Central still larger than the Leader's?
Funny to think that Howard as Leader turned down Ashroft's terms for donations, while Chameleon rolled over to have his tummy ticked . . . .
Tell them, because our fathers lied.'
Blair was playing tennis at the time
The fact that there has not been a further inquiry doesn't preclude one in the future, and the Met now answers to Osborne G in certain respects off course . . .
There has not yet been such an inquiry, and the matter is still open to review, so John is correct in every sense imho to call for further info.
Amusing that most of those who say "No Inquiries please, we're tories!" will prattle about CCTV cameras and the like, as though their civil liberties were on the line minute by minute, but as many as 3,000 people's mobile phones can be hacked and that is a nothing . . . .