Current Affairs EU In or Out

[Blues Harp]

British journalists have become part of Johnson’s fake news machine

It’s chilling. From the Mail, The Times to the BBC and ITN, everyone is peddling Downing Street’s lies and smears. They’re turning their readers into dupes.

www.opendemocracy.net

Interesting article written by Peter Oborne, who as I am sure most of you know writes a column for the daily mail; about as far removed from the left on a lot of tory policies. However this makes interesting reading as it casts serious doubt on these mysterious "No 10 sources" Agree or not, if its true there are some sinister forces working for johnson and he is not being held accountable for statements issued by Downing Street. If it was Corbyn he would have been crucified and fed to the wolves already.

 

[peteblue]

Off to the gym in a moment. Any chance you could link me the industry support for Brexit articles/reports that you talked about earlier?

I didn’t, and I told you so. I’m off to the gym (pub) too.......

 

[peteblue]

British journalists have become part of Johnson’s fake news machine

It’s chilling. From the Mail, The Times to the BBC and ITN, everyone is peddling Downing Street’s lies and smears. They’re turning their readers into dupes.

www.opendemocracy.net

Interesting article written by Peter Oborne, who as I am sure most of you know writes a column for the daily mail; about as far removed from the left on a lot of tory policies. However this makes interesting reading as it casts serious doubt on these mysterious "No 10 sources" Agree or not, if its true there are some sinister forces working for johnson and he is not being held accountable for statements issued by Downing Street. If it was Corbyn he would have been crucified and fed to the wolves already.

Every PM has done it, Labour and Conservative, some more visible than others, Alistair Campbell anyone.......

 

[Jebus_lives]

I didn’t, and I told you so. I’m off to the gym (pub) too.......

I thought you were suggesting as much here

UK rail Industry, Defence Industry, Telecomms Industry, take your pick.....

I'll put it down to misunderstanding and assume they haven't said anything remotely like they are in favour of Brexit.

 

[Blues Harp]

Every PM has done it, Labour and Conservative, some more visible than others, Alistair Campbell anyone.......

Agree about Campbell..as vile a piece of humanity as the Red tories employed.....the mainstream press at the time was still weighted in the tories' favour. Sorry did I agree with you there?

 

[Tubey]

No 10 Sources saying Johnson will call the EU direct to try and ensure no delay is offered.

Which would mean he's broken the law by deliberately frustrating the letter he sent.

 

[Jebus_lives]

No 10 Sources saying Johnson will call the EU direct to try and ensure no delay is offered.

Which would mean he's broken the law by deliberately frustrating the letter he sent.

The EU have sought to stay as far away from the UK political process as possible, they have not wanted to be seen to be interfering. They will offer an extension.

The PM ringing them directly has all the weight of a student ringing the exam board to ask them to cancel tomorrow's exam.

 

[Tubey]

The EU have sought to stay as far away from the UK political process as possible, they have not wanted to be seen to be interfering. They will offer an extension.

The PM ringing them directly has all the weight of a student ringing the exam board to ask them to cancel tomorrow's exam.

I agree, but if he does it, he's breaking the law.

 

[roydo]

I agree, but if he does it, he's breaking the law.

How so? Thought you said the Benn Act had expired, or sommet. And if not, did it specify anything other than sending a letter?

(Thing is, he should have asked me to deliver it if he wasnt keen on it getting there. Would be behind a neighbours shed most likely)

 

[Tubey]

How so? Thought you said the Benn Act had expired, or sommet. And if not, did it specify anything other than sending a letter?

(Thing is, he should have asked me to deliver it if he wasnt keen on it getting there. Would be behind a neighbours shed most likely)

It's frustrating the purpose of the act. The purpose was to request an extension, by then asking for no extension he is breaking the law.

It's like how he prorogued parliament - its unlawful what he is doing. Again.

The checks and balances on power aren't working.

 

[roydo]

It's frustrating the purpose of the act. The purpose was to request an extension, by then asking for no extension he is breaking the law.

Cant see how frustrating the purpose of the act is breaking the law. Unless that was in the wording.

 

[Jebus_lives]

I agree, but if he does it, he's breaking the law.

It's just for show. I suspect the advice will be too be seen to try to frustrate it so that it makes good political impact.

 

[Tubey]

Cant see how frustrating the purpose of the act is breaking the law. Unless that was in the wording.

Because it's against the law for the PM to attempt to frustrate the purpose of a law. See Padfield.

The letter had to be sent in good faith. The act is clear that the intention of sending the letter is to gain an extension to the end of January - attempting to take the weight away from that letter is an attempt to frustrate the law.

 

[Blues Harp]

Because it's against the law for the PM to attempt to frustrate the purpose of a law. See Padfield.

The letter had to be sent in good faith. The act is clear that the intention of sending the letter is to gain an extension to the end of January - attempting to take the weight away from that letter is an attempt to frustrate the law.

Tangled webs eh?

 

[tsubaki]

Every PM has done it, Labour and Conservative, some more visible than others, Alistair Campbell anyone.......

Nope.

Blair’s government came closest, but even then lobby hacks were reporting stories that Campbell had told them. It was dirty, but it is journalism and they reported what they had been told.

The difference now is that a lot of the sources and the people putting it out are members of the same faction and actively push the material as part of politics rather than journalism.

Look at the Mail for example, who employ Harry Cole as Deputy Political Editor. Cole is a mate of Paul Staines (who runs the Guido blog, where Cole used to work), is Carrie’s ex-boyfriend and has via various blogs and stories been putting out pro-Tory material for years - which should not surprise anyone as he was Vice Chair of his university Tory Party, and was prominent in Conservative Future (the youth wing later run by Mark Clarke).

So basically there is now no difference between journalist and propagandist, they are the same person. Papers always used to back a side but they rarely if ever actually became one of the sides.

This is phenomenally dangerous, for journalism especially - why should the protections that journalists have (and need to have to be effective) be maintained if they are just party mouthpieces?