John Whittingdale...

[LlcoolJ]

Nothing sleazy about having a girlfriend. It does seem odd you are dating a girl for a year or so and you claim you didn't know was she an escort professional. Hey ho. Each to their own........

Its not so much his relationship, but about his role in regulating the press when the newspapers had a story about his private life. Its begs the question: who was in who's pocket? Its interesting to note his attitude towards the findings of the Leveson enquiry around that period.

The hypocrisy of the press in deciding this story 'wasn't in the public interest' is astounding but hardly surprising. They have few qualms in running with this kind of story usually. Had it been a normal relationship, there would be no story. Despite not being illegal and Whittindales claimed innocence, an MP bedding an escort girl is standard fodder for the Sunday rags. The press had some potentially salacious smut on an MP who happens to be chair of the culture, media and sport select committee and they sit on their hands? Hmmmmmm?

Whittingdales position as Culture secretary has been undermined and he should go. However, he has the backing of number 10 so that's all okay.

100% this. The whole thing absolutely stinks.

I couldn't care less who he was shagging but I care very much that someone in his position could be influenced in massively important decisions by the fact that the rags have held this "dirt" on him for years.

It also begs the question, what the hell was Dave doing promoting him to this position in the first place?

This government....

 

[drew]

no conflict of interest.

I take it that comment was tongue in cheek?

 

[spring hall convert]

100% this. The whole thing absolutely stinks.

I couldn't care less who he was shagging but I care very much that someone in his position could be influenced in massively important decisions by the fact that the rags have held this "dirt" on him for years.

It also begs the question, what the hell was Dave doing promoting him to this position in the first place?

This government....

The same reason Dave thought Jeremy Hunt would be suitable to review the Murdoch BSkyB bid. He who pays the piper.....

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/may/24/hunt-cameron-bskyb-bid-decision

 

[Buzzer]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-36031743

Does anyone trust this guy?

Nothing in The Sun today I see today I notice, sure news worthy isn't this Rupert?

Its watch you call a favour for a favour. You give the Beeb a good kicking and we'll keep quiet about your sleazy private life

Are escorts not allowed to find love then? And should MPs demand a full disclosure of every partners' sexual past? That one could prove problematic.

 

[beardy gull]

Once he found out her occupation, he finished the relationship. He wasn't Culture Secretary at the time, so there wasn't a conflict of interest. This is a non story.

Agree that it's a non-story. I'm concerned as to why the press have all agreed it's a non-story too. They haven't had the slightest qualm about publishing non-stories in the past. The Daily Mail have been throwing their toys out of the pram about not being allowed to publish a non-story all last week? Was the Corbyn and Diane Abbott 'story' worth publishing?

 

[drew]

Completely this, this "story" is what's generally wrong with society and the belief that we "should" have a right to know what people in Government positions are up to. We do not. And the ridiculous story the Sun are fighting to publish about some famous person being involved in a threesome is tedious and embarrassing, it is nobody's business but the people involved. They really should spend a bit more time reporting on what's actually important and, how about this for an idea? Report on it better.

Whoosh!!!!

The story is not the affair. Seems people can't grasp that.

 

[Surf's Up]

She seems like a sweet girl......

 

[Medwayseagull]

This more about his stupidity, naivety and poor judgement - I thought they were all in the job description for a Tory minister in any case.

 

[nicko31]

The same reason Dave thought Jeremy Hunt would be suitable to review the Murdoch BSkyB bid. He who pays the piper.....

http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2012/may/24/hunt-cameron-bskyb-bid-decision

We had Leverson, nothing has changed about the Tories relationship with the press. Its all about favours for favours esp where Murdoch is concerned.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/u...eciding-on-bbc-cuts-hm-treasury-a6778541.html

Of course you won't find anything about the Whittingdale news story in the Sun today, i wonder why

 

[Ninja Elephant]

Whoosh!!!!

The story is not the affair. Seems people can't grasp that.

I was talking more about their efforts to get the injunction overturned for the "celebrity" who was involved in a threesome with some greedy lowlifes who want to sell their story. The injunction shouldn't be necessary, the "journalists" should find something better to do with their time.

 

[jimhigham]

What wrong with cutting back on the BBC, in the modern arena the BBC has probably lost its relevance with the explosion of multi-media services to access what the BBC does. It is about time the BBC became self funding by being placed an a full commercial footing. They can't complain about having to air advertisements given the hug number of self promotion that they air these days.

I've lived overseas for some years and seen the high respect that the BBC has elsewhere. I think there is a place for broadcasting kept at arm's length from money's corrupting influence. It's remit also ensures programmes are made for niche areas that would otherwise be left unrepresented. It's radio output is second to none. Of course there is a case for ensuring that the corporation is not uneccessarily wasteful but in terms of its general purpose I would leave well alone.

Personal opinion of course.

 

[drew]

I was talking more about their efforts to get the injunction overturned for the "celebrity" who was involved in a threesome with some greedy lowlifes who want to sell their story. The injunction shouldn't be necessary, the "journalists" should find something better to do with their time.

Fair enough but you also made reference to the private lives of politicians. You are right that it generally isn't our business however it is if there is a risk that what they get up to in their private live might impinge on their decision making when in office. In this case, I suspect whilst most people aren't really bothered by what he got up to, they do question why this story wasn't published and whether there was an ulterior motive for not doing so!

 

[beorhthelm]

this story makes me sad. what a poor state of politics we have when the opposition start a campaign because something wasn't reported and we vilify the press for respecting someones privacy. he wasn't even Culture Secretary at the time, but you wouldn't know that from the way the story is reported today. apparently he is "vulnerable to pressure from the press" when this affair wasn't a secret just not published. so much for the new politics.

 

[nicko31]

I've lived overseas for some years and seen the high respect that the BBC has elsewhere. I think there is a place for broadcasting kept at arm's length from money's corrupting influence. It's remit also ensures programmes are made for niche areas that would otherwise be left unrepresented. It's radio output is second to none. Of course there is a case for ensuring that the corporation is not uneccessarily wasteful but in terms of its general purpose I would leave well alone.

Personal opinion of course.

Couldn't agree more. Spent 5 years + in Oz, truly shocking compared to what we have here. The Beeb isn't perfect can always be improved, but overall its probably one of the few thing Britain has that is world class.

 

[drew]

this story makes me sad. what a poor state of politics we have when the opposition start a campaign because something wasn't reported and we vilify the press for respecting someones privacy. he wasn't even Culture Secretary at the time, but you wouldn't know that from the way the story is reported today. apparently he is "vulnerable to pressure from the press" when this affair wasn't a secret just not published. so much for the new politics.

I'm assuming you would have said the same about John Profumo?

 

[spring hall convert]

http://www.theguardian.com/politics...ittingdale-story-until-10-days-ago-says-no-10

I don't think Dodgy Dave can be caught out lying again and survive as PM, this story has been all over the internet for months, I find it hard to believe that 10 days ago was the first he heard about it.

 

[beorhthelm]

I'm assuming you would have said the same about John Profumo?

the secretary of state for war in the 1960's is more than a bit different to being an MP in the 2010's, on a number of levels. it seems rather than accepting that the press didn't run a story because there was little interest in an MP who unknowingly dated a tart, we are instead to assume that this has been held over him by the press to serve their purposes (despite it apparently not being kept a secret). that's a poor reflection of how we want our politics to work. the story isn't that he had a relationship with said tart, but that the press didn't tell us about it, and we are going to blame him for that. bizarre.

 

[drew]

the secretary of state for war in the 1960's is more than a bit different to being an MP in the 2010's, on a number of levels. it seems rather than accepting that the press didn't run a story because there was little interest in an MP who unknowingly dated a tart, we are instead to assume that this has been held over him by the press to serve their purposes (despite it apparently not being kept a secret). that's a poor reflection of how we want our politics to work. the story isn't that he had a relationship with said tart, but that the press didn't tell us about it, and we are going to blame him for that. bizarre.

I'm glad you have such a high opinion of the press in despite what is starring you in the face!

 

[gregbrighton]

I really couldn't give a rat's arse which prostitute ministers choose to shack up with...

 

[nicko31]

I really couldn't give a rat's arse which prostitute ministers choose to shack up with...

Read the thread, that's not what its all about