And another thing…

GUIDO is unimpresed by The Guardian’s “monomania” over The News of the World hacking story:

Peter Wilby writes The Biggest Media Story in Years – So Why the Silence? Hmm, possibly because it isn’t news that newspapers hack mobiles and has not been since we listened to Diana’s squidgygate recordings over a decade ago.

Fair enough, I suppose. But if the likes of Guido aren’t concerned that a private company may have hacked into people’s phones specifically in order to reveal their personal details in a newspaper, can we assume that libertarian types throughout the country will adopt the same approach to the so-called “surveillance society”?

Guido’s and Tory-supporting blogs’ relaxed attitude to the alleged activities of The News of the World wouldn’t, by any chance, have anything to do with the role Andy Coulson may or may not have played in the scandal?

And if Alastair Campbell, rather than Coulson, had been editor at the time, can we assume that those claiming this is a “non-story” would still be saying that?

I will be intrigued to observe the intellectual contortions performed by commenters in their efforts to justify opposition to RIPA on the one hand, with being “relaxed” about a private multinational (allegedly) going much, much further in the name of newspaper sales.

IT TURNS out that all my staff have spent the last eight years illegally tapping the phones of my constituents, then using my office budget to pay off those who found out.

But obviously, as their boss and the person with ultimate responsibility for my staff and the budget, I knew nothing about it.

So everything’s alright then, yes?

SO, WHAT to make of the News of the World phone tap allegations and, more importantly (if you’re a political junkie, anyway), Andly Coulson’s alleged role in it?

First off, those of you whose reaction to any criticism of the Conservative Party in this area is "Well, what about McBride?" should direct their comments to someone who wasn’t appalled by his behaviour and who didn’t condemn it at the time. In other words, not me.

It’s also not enough to point to the fact that McBride, as a civil servant, was paid from the public purse and Coulson isn’t and therefore that makes some kind of difference. Because it doesn’t. Surely the point is that leaders are expected to exercise a level of judgment about who they appoint as their closest advisers. Gordon paid a heavy price in the wake of Smeargate because of his close association with McBride. Are defenders of Cameron and Coulson claiming that whatever the results of the police investigation into this latest scandal, Cameron’s judgment in appointing Coulson was faultless?

Cameron told Sky News today: "Of course I knew about that resignation before offering him the job. But I believe in giving people a second chance. As director of communications for the Conservatives he does an excellent job in a proper, upright way at all times."

This is a significant statemen by Cameron. He’s saying that whatever Coulson may or may not have done in his professional life before starting work for the Tories, none of it would justify his sacking from his current post. That’s quite a controversial and risky statement and one which Cameron may come to regret sooner than he thinks.

Wouldn’t it have shown better judgment for an aspiring Prime Minister, instead of writing a moral blank cheque, to have said that while he had the utmost faith in Andy Coulson, they had mutually agreed that he should take gardening leave while the investigation continues, is confident he’ll be fully vindicated, etc…?

For what it’s worth, I have no idea what Coulson’s role has been. He may be completely innocent. According to Cameron, it doesn’t matter either way — he’ll still have his job whatever the police investigation concludes.

Except, he won’t.

I’m not one for demanding anyone’s resignation; in my experience such calls are made more for the publicity benefits than because it’s justified. But if this story grows as I think it will between now and the publication of Sunday’s papers, then Cameron is going to have a hell of a difficult PMQs next week — the last before the summer recess, remember.

So I predict that Coulson will be gone before then.