Re: Madeleine McCanns's Father Calls for Press Law

**AnnaEsse** Tue 19 Mar - 6:47

margaret wrote:I've looked at the front pages of tomorrow's papers on Sky and apart from one broadsheet they've all ignored today's news.

From Kevin Maguire in the Mirror

I don't think they're happy, so lets see what comes of this shall we? It won't be good.

Despots will take heart from the Three Stooges beating down the Press

I’ve huge sympathy for the victims of hacking. Yet compensation of up to £2m and the jailing of perpetrators is evidence tough laws are in place

The Stitch-Up Three finally have their revenge on a press which exposed the scandal of MPs’ expenses.

In the end Cameron, Clegg and Miliband were more united than divided.

Instead of a US First Amendment to guarantee free speech and a free press, we’ll be shackled.

The chains will be padlocked by the Privy Council and a Royal Charter, a couple of medieval relics from an undemocratic era.

If there is to be statutory regulation it would be more honest to impose it by the front door.

I know from conversations with many politicians of all parties they dislike a probing, often raucous press.

MPs’ expenses was a turning point and Parliament is to settle an old score.

MPs and Peers who defend their own free speech in the Commons and Lords don’t give a XXXX for the risks faced by people outside.

The great irony is the hacking which shut the News of the World is already illegal.

Paying a policeman is a specific offence in law, punishable by prison.

The laws existed – the problem was they weren’t enforced by the cops.

I’ve huge sympathy for the victims of hacking.

Yet tens of thousands of pounds each in compensation, £2million in the case of the Dowlers, and the jailing of perpetrators is evidence tough laws are in place.

The cobbled together blanket law will blow up in Britain’s face.

Next time a Prime Minister denounces the censorship of a Mugabe they’ll have a ready retort.

Despots will take heart from Britain beating the press.

Cameron vowed to oppose legislation then buckled, conceding authority to Miliband by letting talks be in the Labour leader’s office.

Miliband fell under the spell of Hugh Grant, a convicted felon with an axe to grind after the bad publicity when he paid a prostitute for a lewd sex act in a car.

Clegg forgot he was a liberal the moment he had his clammy hands on a Whitehall red box, backing secret courts as well as curtailing press freedom.

The Stitch-Up Three want to cow newspapers to escape accountability.

The victims will be an electorate left in the dark.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kevin-maguire-press-regulation-despots-1772523#.UUgAvCkRUZU.twitter

**kitti** Tue 19 Mar - 7:14

Off course the newspaper can opt out off these regulations.....let's see which ones do...

tigger Tue 19 Mar - 8:31

Imo Grant has the same contempt for the 'common people' as the McCanns. Telling us this:

if people could see Hacked Off, they talk about us being a smooth sinister operation. It's just a few dandruffy professors sitting in a cheap office with a slightly insane chess champion ex lib-dem MP and a couple of threadbare lawyers and me.'

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01rhgnb/The_Andrew_Marr_Show_17_03_2013/

and:

From: http://www.MediaGuido.com

Labour Peer Lord Sainsbury (billionaire)
Hacked Off Donors: #1 Lady Annabel Goldsmith

Hacked Off Donors: #3 City Tycoon Arpad Busson
Hacked Off Donors: #4 Celebrity Hairdresser John Frieda
Hacked Off Donors: #5 Millionaire Ex-Journalist Alain de Botton

(I've taken Jeremy Clarkson off the list as he tweeted: Jeremy Clarkson‏@JeremyClarkson
To be very clear, I haven't given any money to Hacked Off.)

Above some of the donors - don't quite fit the description of a dusty professor or two?

On the whole it looks like a plutocracy protecting themselves. Poor people generally don't get celebrity headlines, when they take papers to court, they usually win if they have right on their side. The Dowlers have been paid 2 million and wisely keep out the limelight.
In fact Hacked Off had hardly any 'poor' people whose lives had been ruined to show. Only one I can call to mind is the Bristol man and he's already been compensated - due to the existing law simply being implemented.

It seems to me that Leveson only existed to arrange this Royal Charter (sounds good, Magna Carta, Royal Charter, we'll be all right) to be underpinned by statute- errrm not so good!

Leveson - must be all right, took ages and was good TV drama at times.
Royal Charter - love the Queen, no problem there, real solid British thing altogether.

almostgothic Tue 19 Mar - 18:05

So who IS funding Hacked Off? Campaign group refuses to name its rich donors despite campaigning for transparency

Quote:The net worth of these rich and powerful men and women is far in excess of £1billion, and they may have helped support the parents of Milly Dowler and Madeleine McCann from press intrusion.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295834/So-funding-Hacked-Off-Campaign-group-refuses-rich-donors-despite-campaigning-transparency.html#ixzz2O0gMbmgR

**kitti** Tue 19 Mar - 18:13

'first bit off censorship.. by Hacked Off'....I like that comment.

**AnnaEsse** Tue 19 Mar - 19:14

The blogger known as Guido Fawkes was interviewed on Radio 4 today. He said that his servers are based in California and unless the government is going to send the Royal Navy to blast the building that houses them, his blog will stay put! He sounded very articulate and reasonable.

Guest Tue 19 Mar - 20:20

almostgothic wrote:So who IS funding Hacked Off? Campaign group refuses to name its rich donors despite campaigning for transparency

Quote:The net worth of these rich and powerful men and women is far in excess of £1billion, and they may have helped support the parents of Milly Dowler and Madeleine McCann from press intrusion.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295834/So-funding-Hacked-Off-Campaign-group-refuses-rich-donors-despite-campaigning-transparency.html#ixzz2O0gMbmgR

So, the rich and powerful are protecting the McCanns. And they want to remain anonymous. Kinda begs the question why.

weissnicht Tue 19 Mar - 20:23

kitti wrote:Has Gerry McCann commented yet?

I think he has been abducted.

**margaret** Tue 19 Mar - 20:48

Iris wrote:
almostgothic wrote:So who IS funding Hacked Off? Campaign group refuses to name its rich donors despite campaigning for transparency

Quote:The net worth of these rich and powerful men and women is far in excess of £1billion, and they may have helped support the parents of Milly Dowler and Madeleine McCann from press intrusion.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295834/So-funding-Hacked-Off-Campaign-group-refuses-rich-donors-despite-campaigning-transparency.html#ixzz2O0gMbmgR

So, the rich and powerful are protecting the McCanns. And they want to remain anonymous. Kinda begs the question why.

It said 'may' have helped..... Though it makes you wonder what the DM might have heard...

Guest Tue 19 Mar - 20:55

margaret wrote:
Iris wrote:
almostgothic wrote:So who IS funding Hacked Off? Campaign group refuses to name its rich donors despite campaigning for transparency

Quote:The net worth of these rich and powerful men and women is far in excess of £1billion, and they may have helped support the parents of Milly Dowler and Madeleine McCann from press intrusion.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2295834/So-funding-Hacked-Off-Campaign-group-refuses-rich-donors-despite-campaigning-transparency.html#ixzz2O0gMbmgR

So, the rich and powerful are protecting the McCanns. And they want to remain anonymous. Kinda begs the question why.

It said 'may' have helped..... Though it makes you wonder what the DM might have heard...

It certainly does, Margaret. The DM have put that in there for a good reason.

**kitti** Tue 19 Mar - 21:01

I wonder if it sticks in there craw the papers having to print a load off old b*******s and not being allowed to print what they really know about the Mccanns.

There must be an injunction surely.

Not printing what is in the official files which is not a lie so the Mccanns can't sue them...so why don't they?

Lillyofthevalley Tue 19 Mar - 21:04

Imo I think the McCanns are sailing very close to the wind, they've had both the media/papers and Cameron on there side.......why would the McCanns bite the hand that fed them at one time.......

....wonder if they will get back at the McCanns in someway, both are powerful enough Madeleine McCanns's Father Calls for Press Law - Page 5 49091

Madeleine McCanns's Father Calls for Press Law - Page 5 49091

**kitti** Tue 19 Mar - 21:18

'chomping at the bit' comes to mind...

Bet the papers are fuming....

bill516 Tue 19 Mar - 22:29

Look at it this way from the papers point. You print what you are told even though its total bull, then when the crap really hits the fan and the truth comes out and you are the one being investigated you cant complain when it comes time to answer questions. You cant say "we cant get a fair hearing, the press are against us and have poisoned peoples minds against us" because the press have only printed what you told them.

Maybe I am naive and living in cloud ga ga land, for that I blame the medication, but I still believe that there are some honest and decent people in positions of "power" and they are just waiting their time. No matter how much protection is put in place someone some day will find a way through or the key stone that is holding it all together will be taken away then ....

I actually have a question regarding the Mcs and the press and that is what verifiable lies that would hold up in a court of law have been printed about them.

mossman Wed 20 Mar - 7:14

kitti wrote:I wonder if it sticks in there craw the papers having to print a load off old b*******s and not being allowed to print what they really know about the Mccanns.

There must be an injunction surely.

Not printing what is in the official files which is not a lie so the Mccanns can't sue them...so why don't they?

Exactly. But Gerry and his friends have been regulating the press for years, be it on the back of an injunction or an official agreement of some sort. Whatever the reason, it was working well for them, he would have done well to keep his mouth shut, head down and be grateful that regulation was alive and well for him, a press exclusive if you like. As usual though team McCann want more. They truly believe they are invincible at this stage.

Tall poppy syndrome is alive and well in the press. Gerry should have stayed in the game he started back in PDL, courting the press. Instead he changed the rules without agreement. They may have forgiven the payouts they had to make to the group but this they will neither forgive or forget this latest attack.

Interesting times ahead and I am looking forward to the next chapter.

**kitti** Wed 20 Mar - 7:38

I'm wondering what agreement the Mccanns have with the Sun newspaper...or had.

I'm also wondering what Murdoch and his 'old' sidekick who was arrested with other people think off the Mccanns after everything they have done for the Mccanns now that Gerry McCann has 'stabbed them in the back'...

mossman Wed 20 Mar - 8:47

Well, when I'm trying to stay positive and believe there will be justice for Madeleine, I wonder if this whole hacked off thing is Gerrys last throw of the dice, all or nothing, a last gasp to protect their secrets. Perhaps they know they are only one step away from the whole thing falling down around them, and this is the only and last option available to them. He knows Murdoch et al will protect themselves first, throw the McCanns to the lions to save themselves, there is surely no doubt about that.

Then I wake up.

**kitti** Wed 20 Mar - 9:40

I love the bit in yesterday's sun.....'the four weddings and a funeral star hates the press for never letting him forget how he was caught paying hooker Divine Brown, 43, for a sex act in 1995'.....picture off her on the right with the heading...'SCANDALL....Grant's hooker Brown...

Well for those that didn't have a clue.....you do now lol.

Believe me Gerry.....it's your turn next....will the press be so forgiving off you....

**margaret** Wed 20 Mar - 9:47

mossman wrote:Well, when I'm trying to stay positive and believe there will be justice for Madeleine, I wonder if this whole hacked off thing is Gerrys last throw of the dice, all or nothing, a last gasp to protect their secrets. Perhaps they know they are only one step away from the whole thing falling down around them, and this is the only and last option available to them. He knows Murdoch et al will protect themselves first, throw the McCanns to the lions to save themselves, there is surely no doubt about that.

Then I wake up.

We have to remember there is simply no evidence the McCanns were hacked which l find unbelievable, so why did they jump on the bandwagon at all? The headlines they complained about had a basis in FACT in that they were indeed being investigated.

I believe all their hacked info is with SY.

And if it's true they needed money from people in Hacked Off have other fundraising opportunities dried up, yet there's 500K in the Madeleine Fund??

**cass** Wed 20 Mar - 10:08

if i was the press i wouldnt give the mcanns any more space in their newspapers -- the sun did the week thing for kate and the book i would be giving them nothing at all no fause sightings no me me me nothing -- with the up and coming fun run i wouldnt give it any press -- yes get a pic of other members running for all missing children --

Lillyofthevalley Wed 20 Mar - 11:39

mossman wrote:
kitti wrote:I wonder if it sticks in there craw the papers having to print a load off old b*******s and not being allowed to print what they really know about the Mccanns.

There must be an injunction surely.

Not printing what is in the official files which is not a lie so the Mccanns can't sue them...so why don't they?

Exactly. But Gerry and his friends have been regulating the press for years, be it on the back of an injunction or an official agreement of some sort. Whatever the reason, it was working well for them, he would have done well to keep his mouth shut, head down and be grateful that regulation was alive and well for him, a press exclusive if you like. As usual though team McCann want more. They truly believe they are invincible at this stage.

Tall poppy syndrome is alive and well in the press. Gerry should have stayed in the game he started back in PDL, courting the press. Instead he changed the rules without agreement. They may have forgiven the payouts they had to make to the group but this they will neither forgive or forget this latest attack.

Interesting times ahead and I am looking forward to the next chapter.

Madeleine McCanns's Father Calls for Press Law - Page 5 307691

totally agree mossman why oh why did Gerry jump on this bandwagon when he and Katebalready had the media and press eating out of their hands, as you say bring on the next chapter Madeleine McCanns's Father Calls for Press Law - Page 5 25346

Madeleine McCanns's Father Calls for Press Law - Page 5 25346

**AnnaEsse** Wed 20 Mar - 12:46

kitti wrote:I'm wondering what agreement the Mccanns have with the Sun newspaper...or had.

I'm also wondering what Murdoch and his 'old' sidekick who was arrested with other people think off the Mccanns after everything they have done for the Mccanns now that Gerry McCann has 'stabbed them in the back'...

Kitti, I read that it will be 6 months before the new regulations take effect. That gives the newspapers ample time to publish some of the stuff they must have on hold.

chrissie Wed 20 Mar - 13:20

We can hope Anna......

**AnnaEsse** Wed 20 Mar - 13:39

chrissie wrote:We can hope Anna......

I'm hoping at least a couple of newspapers will take advantage of this lull to get out some real info.

tigger Wed 20 Mar - 16:25

Lillyofthevalley wrote:
mossman wrote:
kitti wrote:I wonder if it sticks in there craw the papers having to print a load off old b*******s and not being allowed to print what they really know about the Mccanns.

There must be an injunction surely.

Not printing what is in the official files which is not a lie so the Mccanns can't sue them...so why don't they?

Exactly. But Gerry and his friends have been regulating the press for years, be it on the back of an injunction or an official agreement of some sort. Whatever the reason, it was working well for them, he would have done well to keep his mouth shut, head down and be grateful that regulation was alive and well for him, a press exclusive if you like. As usual though team McCann want more. They truly believe they are invincible at this stage.

Tall poppy syndrome is alive and well in the press. Gerry should have stayed in the game he started back in PDL, courting the press. Instead he changed the rules without agreement. They may have forgiven the payouts they had to make to the group but this they will neither forgive or forget this latest attack.

Interesting times ahead and I am looking forward to the next chapter.

totally agree mossman why oh why did Gerry jump on this bandwagon when he and Katebalready had the media and press eating out of their hands, as you say bring on the next chapter

Mossman: you really cheer me up. Madeleine McCanns's Father Calls for Press Law - Page 5 944533

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