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politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Hacking trial: Coulson guilty – Brooks cleared. What if

SystemSystem Posts: 12,213
edited June 2014 in General

politicalbetting.com » Blog Archive » The Hacking trial: Coulson guilty – Brooks cleared. What if any will be the political impact?

Andy Coulson found guilty of phone hacking – Rebekah Brooks cleared of all counts – live coverage http://t.co/ttEdsghdol via @guardian

Read the full story here


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Comments

  • QuincelQuincel Posts: 4,042
    No political impact beyond a few days of Labour crowing about how this reflects poorly in Cameron in hiring Coulson. A line of attack which no-one outside the bubble gives a flying toss about.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    I'm just glad it wasn't declared a mistrial with whole new set of trials.
  • Swiss_BobSwiss_Bob Posts: 619
    Does anyone care outside of Westminster?
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    I bet those people who pleaded guilty at the start of the trials, are wondering if they did the right thing.
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,779
    Cameron will have to make an apology, he'll look stupid, but no more than he did before.

    Hacked off will be p***ed off, as most of the people at NotW weren't guilty.

    Not sure where this leaves their press for regulation..only can only assume it's been weakened.
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    David Cameron will apologise as billed above. Not a vote will be changed but it will be a good week for Labour because every week that goes by without the Conservatives changing votes is a week in which the clock is running down.
  • BenMBenM Posts: 1,795
    Non Story....
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    The important thing is the delightful Ms Brooks is free to go about her business of being a fine looking woman
  • FregglesFreggles Posts: 3,486
    I agree, this will have minimum impact. A few awkward questions perhaps, but each party's had people go to jail
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    edited June 2014
    I wonder if Andy C will appeal, that will make Labour and Dave's lives a bit awkward.

    And possibly drag on further into the year (and maybe next year)
  • SouthamObserverSouthamObserver Posts: 39,668
    I imagine that a lot will depend on Coulson himself and whether he feels he has scores to settle. I feel very sorry for him that he got caught up and taken over by such a culture.
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    Cam should come out fighting.
    I was given assurances, those assurances were lies, I feel angry and betrayed and am sorry that I allowed Andy Coulson into my team. *sad Dave face*
  • FalseFlagFalseFlag Posts: 1,801
    So essentially Labour can get a max of 38% and are only likely to drop as the election approaches. Meanwhile Conservatives can squeeze a sizeable UKIP, some soft Labour as well as the Lib Dems, as those left will lean Conservative rather than Labour. This is also likely a best case scenario for labour as well. Con holds.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    SouthamObserver said:

    I imagine that a lot will depend on Coulson himself and whether he feels he has scores to settle. I feel very sorry for him that he got caught up and taken over by such a culture.

    As I understand it, he has become very impoverished by this, having to sell his house, take his kids out of private education, and put them in the public system.

    That is the sort of thing that makes one angry.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    I wonder if Andy C will appeal, that will make Labour and Dave's lives a bit awkward.

    And possibly drag on further into the year (and maybe next year)

    How does it make Labour's life awkward ?
  • Tissue_PriceTissue_Price Posts: 9,039
    *waves at tim*
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    Will YouGov poll for The Sun/Sunday Times on this topic?
  • SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    edited June 2014
    I wonder if Gordon Brown will phone Andy Coulson again to send his condolences..?
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    edited June 2014
    The Guardianistas will get into a massive fit of synthetic indignation, Labour will lay into Cameron, Cameron will say how sorry he is that he gave Coulson the benefit of the doubt, the public won't be terribly interested, no votes will be changed. The main significance is a 'dog that barked in the night' effect - this trial might have had serious ramifications, but it has failed to show the massive corporate conspiracy which the Guardianistas were hoping for.

    Overall, the verdicts seem to suggest the whole thing was exaggerated in a politically motivated witch-hunt. As I posted on the previous thread, the case against Rebekah Brookes in particular always looked feeble and circumstantial.
  • CharlesCharles Posts: 35,758
    @TSE FPT

    Why on earth the prejudice against flying economy?

    I usually fly economy on trips in Europe, and only upgrade myself (self pay) when I've had a particularly hard week. I always fly coach in the States & only fly business when it's a long haul flight.

  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    Pulpstar said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    I wonder if Andy C will appeal, that will make Labour and Dave's lives a bit awkward.

    And possibly drag on further into the year (and maybe next year)

    How does it make Labour's life awkward ?
    It becomes sub-judice, and the Sol-Gen asked MPs not to comment on the hacking trials.

    So they'd have to shut up again.
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    There simply has to be a judge led inquiry into Cameron. ed will demand it
  • BenMBenM Posts: 1,795
    Questions for the whole Bullingdon shebang including Osborne who pushed for Cameron to hire Coulson.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    Good afternoon, everyone.

    Bad for Cameron, but we'll have to see how much. With Wimbledon and the World Cup on the average chap's probably thinking more of Sharapova and Bouchard tussling with one another than this.

    Mr. Slackbladder, I agree.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    Charles said:

    @TSE FPT

    Why on earth the prejudice against flying economy?

    I usually fly economy on trips in Europe, and only upgrade myself (self pay) when I've had a particularly hard week. I always fly coach in the States & only fly business when it's a long haul flight.

    I don't like flying, and I like to fly in comfort.
  • SimonStClareSimonStClare Posts: 7,976
    dyedwoolie said:

    The important thing is the delightful Ms Brooks is free to go about her business of being a fine looking woman

    Didn't know you had a 'thing' for the red headed temptress - dark horse? ; )
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    Treasury questions is currently taking place

    Patrick Wintour @patrickwintour · 3m

    Ed Balls accuses George Osborne terrible error of judgement and bringing his office into disrepute by recommending Coulson work for Tories.

    Patrick Wintour @patrickwintour · 1m

    Chancellor tells Balls he is no person to give lectures since he is the person who worked alongside Damian McBride .
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Coulson guilty BBC Most read...

    The Leeds weather emphasises why laying England rather than backing Sri Lanka was "the bet" yesterday.
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    SimonStClare said:

    dyedwoolie said:

    The important thing is the delightful Ms Brooks is free to go about her business of being a fine looking woman

    Didn't know you had a 'thing' for the red headed temptress - dark horse? ; )
    Oh God yes, she's lovely
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    On topic, Cameron will have to up the ante on the EU to create a distraction. Referendum on bombing Luxembourg or something.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    Swiss_Bob said:

    Does anyone care outside of Westminster?

    Andy and Mrs Coulson probably do.

    Rupert probably does
  • hucks67hucks67 Posts: 758
    The Tories will try to get shot of this pretty quickly, with Cameron making a full apology. But given the role that Coulson played in government as Director of Communications, there will be questions about his work for the Tories and at No.10. I think Cameron will be damaged slightly, as it does call into question his judgement. The Tories polling at around 30% won't be affected, as it is probably as low as it will go.
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    Not good for Cameron, but dodgy ground for Labour to attack on given their press shenanigans.

    A poor no score draw.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    Swiss_Bob said:

    Does anyone care outside of Westminster?

    Yes, it involves celebrities.
  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    edited June 2014
    bigjohnowls said:

    Swiss_Bob said:

    Does anyone care outside of Westminster?

    Andy and Mrs Coulson probably do.

    Rupert probably does
    Rupert's too busy plotting diabolical revenge on Tony
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,376
    Thank goodness the glorious R Brooks has got away with it, that's the main thing.

    Meanwhile if Coulsons conviction doesn't bring Tim back nothing will.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    It's pretty dark overhead now. Wouldn't be surprised if it pisses it down in the next hour or two.
  • hucks67hucks67 Posts: 758
    George Osborne and Tories looking in a very bad mood in the HOC. They know that for the next few days, it is going to be very uncomfortable for them, with loads of coverage in the non Murdoch press.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    Anorak said:

    bigjohnowls said:

    Swiss_Bob said:

    Does anyone care outside of Westminster?

    Andy and Mrs Coulson probably do.

    Rupert probably does
    Rupert's too busy plotting diabolical revenge on Tony, for that thing which allegedly happened.
    Supporting a left wing party would piss Tony off most
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    edited June 2014
    Costa Rica 4.6/4.7
    Draw 4.1/4.2
    England 1.84/1.85

    Costa Rica look a touch long, but so does the draw in all honesty. England too short.

    Small lay of England for me.
  • TheWatcherTheWatcher Posts: 5,262
    GIN1138 said:

    Thank goodness the glorious R Brooks has got away with it, that's the main thing.

    Meanwhile if Coulsons conviction doesn't bring Tim back nothing will.

    You think he left?
  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    edited June 2014
    Morris_Dancer said:

    It's pretty dark overhead now. Wouldn't be surprised if it pisses it down in the next hour or two.

    I knew buying "Raindancing for Dummies" was good idea.
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    hucks67 said:

    George Osborne and Tories looking in a very bad mood in the HOC. They know that for the next few days, it is going to be very uncomfortable for them, with loads of coverage in the non Murdoch press.

    Not surprised, Coulson has made a monkey of them.

  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    TheWatcher said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Thank goodness the glorious R Brooks has got away with it, that's the main thing.

    Meanwhile if Coulsons conviction doesn't bring Tim back nothing will.

    You think he left?
    Lol
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    This whole hacking thing has shown the utter hypocrisy of the tabloid reading class who were more than content to read salacious gossip about celebs without questioning how it was come by.
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,376
    TheWatcher said:

    GIN1138 said:

    Thank goodness the glorious R Brooks has got away with it, that's the main thing.

    Meanwhile if Coulsons conviction doesn't bring Tim back nothing will.

    You think he left?
    He's lost his mono since mothballing his old persona tho.
  • AnorakAnorak Posts: 6,621
    ToryJim said:

    This whole hacking thing has shown the utter hypocrisy of the tabloid reading class who were more than content to read salacious gossip about celebs without questioning how it was come by.

    cf. cheap Primark clothes, £3 whole chickens, horse-meat lasagne.
  • Morris_DancerMorris_Dancer Posts: 61,950
    Mr. Anorak, as long as it's cooler I'll be happy. Damned heat.

    Mr. Jim, I prefer the hypocrisy of some celebrities who court the media constantly then complain when they get coverage they dislike. Steve "I hate Top Gear so much I've appeared on it multiple times" Coogan is a berk.
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Some great raging tweets regarding the Brooks getting off - hilarious.

    Should imagine Mr C may appeal the verdict.
  • MarqueeMarkMarqueeMark Posts: 52,934
    Tony's advice to Rebekah must have done the trick.

    Funny how so many people got dropped into a vat of shit, but it only sticks to Coulson. I suspect "perverse" will be a word on his lawyers' lips...
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    edited June 2014
    ToryJim said:

    This whole hacking thing has shown the utter hypocrisy of the tabloid reading class who were more than content to read salacious gossip about celebs without questioning how it was come by.

    Yes, the 'someone said I should be outraged, so I am' brigade
    Filling their fat children with MSG and chips and suing when they get sold a pasty a day past it's best before date.
    Our glorious comrade citizens
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Hopefully the Sun on Sunday will return as the NOTW.

  • SpeedySpeedy Posts: 12,100
    Madam Justice doing her business, nothing to see here.

    I might fry a small fish for dinner, as it's lunchtime and thinking about food too.
  • oxfordsimonoxfordsimon Posts: 5,844
    edited June 2014
    A very strange set of verdicts. Doesn't feel right somehow. But that is the joy of the jury system.

    But I can't see it having any significant impact - people have long since factored this in to their thinking. The verdicts won't do much to change opinions on this matter.
  • Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,069
    OK - can PB experts explain pls - yes most been cleared but Coulson found guilty so how come these sort of tweets?

    Retweeted by Tom Newton Dunn
    Adam Boulton‏@adamboultonSKY·8 mins
    Rumours #HackedOff to rename itself #VeryHackedOff
    Expand Reply


    Dan Hodges‏@DPJHodges·6 mins
    I wouldn't fancy being around Tom Watson at the moment...
    Walsall
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    TGOHF said:

    Some great raging tweets regarding the Brooks getting off - hilarious.

    Should imagine Mr C may appeal the verdict.

    She's a Goddess, they'll have to deal with it. Hehehehehe
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    ToryJim said:

    This whole hacking thing has shown the utter hypocrisy of the tabloid reading class who were more than content to read salacious gossip about celebs without questioning how it was come by.

    Oh, give me a break. It's not unreasonable to expect the companies you buy stuff from are operating legally. If a multinational company breaks a law, the fault lies with that company, not the working class plumber in Salford. This thread is full of right wingers trying to bend over backwards to make excuses for the Murdoch press.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Scrapheap_as_was said:

    OK - can PB experts explain pls - yes most been cleared but Coulson found guilty so how come these sort of tweets?

    See my post of 12.21
  • AlastairMeeksAlastairMeeks Posts: 30,340
    Meanwhile, Albania are set to be granted EU candidate status:

    http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_MEMO-14-439_en.htm
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Mr Dancer, oh yes that annoys me too, that and his lack of self awareness that he can shill for press censorship and then become patron of an anti-censorship organisation. However a public that can obsess over every action of brain dead, fake tanned oompa-loompas who's only claim to fame is displaying their chronic lack of education on "reality" TV shows and then get morally outraged when it turns out that sating their voyeurism is done using dubious methods need to take a look at themselves.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Socrates said:

    This thread is full of right wingers trying to bend over backwards to make excuses for the Murdoch press.

    Interesting that your well-known sense of traditional British fair play doesn't apply to this verdict.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    It's fairly amusing Tories on this thread repeatedly remark that no-one cares, when they went on and on and on about Rennard, Huhne etc.
  • SlackbladderSlackbladder Posts: 9,779
    Scrapheap_as_was said:

    OK - can PB experts explain pls - yes most been cleared but Coulson found guilty so how come these sort of tweets?

    Retweeted by Tom Newton Dunn
    Adam Boulton‏@adamboultonSKY·8 mins
    Rumours #HackedOff to rename itself #VeryHackedOff
    Expand Reply


    Dan Hodges‏@DPJHodges·6 mins
    I wouldn't fancy being around Tom Watson at the moment...
    Walsall

    Because the argument that everyone at News Int/Murdochcorp was rotten to the core seems to have been proved not entirely accurate.
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    Of course, the danger for Labour here is they get painted as witch hunters, their outrage and hufflepuff sending innocent people into a two year cycle of rumour and pain.
    Coulson is a problem for CamOz though......
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    A profound apology from the PM.

    PB Tories right again non story

    PM profound apologies happen all the time.
  • CopperSulphateCopperSulphate Posts: 1,119
    Is it me or is the whole circus over "phone hacking" completely mental? And since all the papers were at it why was it only the Murdoch owned ones that got charged exactly?

    Also don't understand why employers need to be punished for crimes their staff committed before they worked for you.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Socrates said:

    This thread is full of right wingers trying to bend over backwards to make excuses for the Murdoch press.

    Interesting that your well-known sense of traditional British fair play doesn't apply to this verdict.
    How is it not applying? Andy Coulson was an editor of a Murdoch paper, wasn't he?
  • Casino_RoyaleCasino_Royale Posts: 60,672
    Off topic, this is ridiculous:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27949674

    Don't the police have anything better to do? How many of these complaints are from people who've just had somebody aggressively disagree with them?

  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    bigjohnowls said:

    A profound apology from the PM.

    PB Tories right again non story

    PM profound apologies happen all the time.

    Don't think anyone is denying it's a problem for the Tories. How much it shifts opinion is open to interpretation. A few Labour bods might like to reconsider things said about innocent people as well.....
    *cough* Tubby Watson *cough*
  • MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584
    Anyone know what the sentencing options are for "conspiring to hack phones" ?
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,376
    Given these verdicts I would think there's a reasonable chance that Coulson will appeal?
  • Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,069
    bigjohnowls said:

    A profound apology from the PM.

    PB Tories right again non story

    PM profound apologies happen all the time.

    He's good at them though, give him that...
  • TykejohnnoTykejohnno Posts: 7,362
    For the Greater good of the Conservative party and himself,cameron should stand down as PM.

    Anyone agree ?
  • TGOHFTGOHF Posts: 21,633
    Any idea what sort of term AC is looking at ?

  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Socrates said:

    It's fairly amusing Tories on this thread repeatedly remark that no-one cares, when they went on and on and on about Rennard, Huhne etc.

    Well, this Tory also said people didn't care even about Huhne, in terms of shifting votes (a far more serious issue for the LibDems than this one is for the Tories). The Eastleigh result showed this to be the case, as indeed have other election results such as the Woolas fallout.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    MarkHopkins said:

    Anyone know what the sentencing options are for "conspiring to hack phones" ?

    The NOTW chaps in 2007 were sentenced to 4 and 6 months for phone hacking.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    Tykejohnno said:

    For the Greater good of the Conservative party and himself,cameron should stand down as PM.

    Anyone agree ?

    Nope
  • PulpstarPulpstar Posts: 78,406
    edited June 2014
    dyedwoolie said:

    Of course, the danger for Labour here is they get painted as witch hunters, their outrage and hufflepuff sending innocent people into a two year cycle of rumour and pain.
    Coulson is a problem for CamOz though......

    The existence of Hacked Off relieves this danger I'd have thought -

    Here is a prediction:

    I think Ed Miliband will go on the attack about Dave's judgement at PMQs - Dave will come back with the latest decent economic news and ask Ed why he isn't asking about that. Ed Miliband will say that Dave hasn't got an answer and PMQs will be written up as a missed open goal for Ed Miliband by a fair few on here and also Dan Hodges.

    Let's see how that prediction pans out...

  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    Tykejohnno said:

    For the Greater good of the Conservative party and himself,cameron should stand down as PM.

    Anyone agree ?

    Why would he? Did the Labour leader step down when how ever many it was of their MPs went to jail? Did Clegg resign when Huhne did bird?
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Socrates said:

    It's fairly amusing Tories on this thread repeatedly remark that no-one cares, when they went on and on and on about Rennard, Huhne etc.

    Well, this Tory also said people didn't care even about Huhne, in terms of shifting votes (a far more serious issue for the LibDems than this one is for the Tories). The Eastleigh result showed this to be the case, as indeed have other election results such as the Woolas fallout.
    I'm not including you in the criticism, Richard.
  • MikeSmithsonMikeSmithson Posts: 7,382
    edited June 2014
    Socrates said:

    It's fairly amusing Tories on this thread repeatedly remark that no-one cares, when they went on and on and on about Rennard, Huhne etc.

    Good point and my guess is that in the medium term the impact will be the same. Almost none.

  • MarkHopkinsMarkHopkins Posts: 5,584
    BBC Breaking News ‏@BBCBreaking 1 min

    #Hackingtrial jury considering further charges against Andy Coulson & Clive Goodman for conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    SouthamObserver said:

    I imagine that a lot will depend on Coulson himself and whether he feels he has scores to settle. I feel very sorry for him that he got caught up and taken over by such a culture.

    As I understand it, he has become very impoverished by this, having to sell his house, take his kids out of private education, and put them in the public system.

    That is the sort of thing that makes one angry.
    He has been found guilty, likely to be jailed. That would make me angry.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    Casino_Royale said:

    Off topic, this is ridiculous:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27949674

    Don't the police have anything better to do? How many of these complaints are from people who've just had somebody aggressively disagree with them?

    Unless there's an ongoing campaign of harassment, I don't see why anything said on social media should be a crime.
  • ToryJimToryJim Posts: 4,189
    Socrates said:

    ToryJim said:

    This whole hacking thing has shown the utter hypocrisy of the tabloid reading class who were more than content to read salacious gossip about celebs without questioning how it was come by.

    Oh, give me a break. It's not unreasonable to expect the companies you buy stuff from are operating legally. If a multinational company breaks a law, the fault lies with that company, not the working class plumber in Salford. This thread is full of right wingers trying to bend over backwards to make excuses for the Murdoch press.
    In general yes, however it was obvious to any but the chronically brain dead that the ever greater demand for celeb gossip would lead to ever greater intrusion, sharp practice, dubious journalism if not outright illegality to furnish supply. Yes it was wrong to engage in those practices but blame has to be apportioned and some of it has to lie with those who created the demand with their desire for windows into the lives of the famous.
  • NeilNeil Posts: 7,983
    edited June 2014
    TheScreamingEagles said:

    MarkHopkins said:

    Anyone know what the sentencing options are for "conspiring to hack phones" ?

    The NOTW chaps in 2007 were sentenced to 4 and 6 months for phone hacking.
    Of course phone hacking isnt the most serious charge that Coulson faces.

    Back to the Tommy Sheridan soap opera next!
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    Casino_Royale said:

    Off topic, this is ridiculous:

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27949674

    Don't the police have anything better to do? How many of these complaints are from people who've just had somebody aggressively disagree with them?

    I have some sympathy for the police on this.

    The chap from Greater Manchester Police said a few months said, a lot of these complaints aren't just aggressive disagreements, they include threats, inter alia, to rape and assault, some also include, racist and homophobic issue.

    Which become "trigger events" which means the police have to investigate them properly.

    They can't just airily dismiss threats of rape or racism.
  • TheScreamingEaglesTheScreamingEagles Posts: 119,958
    edited June 2014
    Neil said:

    TheScreamingEagles said:

    MarkHopkins said:

    Anyone know what the sentencing options are for "conspiring to hack phones" ?

    The NOTW chaps in 2007 were sentenced to 4 and 6 months for phone hacking.
    Of course phone hacking isnt the most serious charge that Coulson faces.

    Back to the Tommy Sheridan soap opera next!
    Indeed, just think, that could have an impact on the Indyref!

    But that's a separate trial.
  • Scrapheap_as_wasScrapheap_as_was Posts: 10,069
    Imagine if England were still in the World Cup... the timing of this would be a conspiracy theorists dream!

    Talking of football fan reactions...

    Louise Mensch‏@LouiseMensch·1 min
    YEEEEESSSSSS Rebekah Brooks CLEARED take that @guardian I knew it #HackingTrial
  • GIN1138GIN1138 Posts: 22,376
    edited June 2014
    I think Hacked Off will be pretty Hacked Off that they didn't nail Rebekah - She was much more closely associated to Rupert than Coulson.
  • bigjohnowlsbigjohnowls Posts: 22,736
    Pulpstar said:

    dyedwoolie said:

    Of course, the danger for Labour here is they get painted as witch hunters, their outrage and hufflepuff sending innocent people into a two year cycle of rumour and pain.
    Coulson is a problem for CamOz though......

    The existence of Hacked Off relieves this danger I'd have thought -

    Here is a prediction:

    I think Ed Miliband will go on the attack about Dave's judgement at PMQs - Dave will come back with the latest decent economic news and ask Ed why he isn't asking about that. Ed Miliband will say that Dave hasn't got an answer and PMQs will be written up as a missed open goal for Ed Miliband by a fair few on here and also Dan Hodges.

    Let's see how that prediction pans out...

    Agree 100% with this. Ed is crap for virtually appointing AC
  • TykejohnnoTykejohnno Posts: 7,362
    dyedwoolie said:

    Tykejohnno said:

    For the Greater good of the Conservative party and himself,cameron should stand down as PM.

    Anyone agree ?

    Why would he? Did the Labour leader step down when how ever many it was of their MPs went to jail? Did Clegg resign when Huhne did bird?
    It's Cameron's judgement been called into Question,not good for a leader.

  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    GIN1138 said:

    I think Hacked Off will be pretty Hacked Off that they didn't nail Rebekah - She was much more closely associated to Rupert than Coulson.

    I know I am that I haven't.
  • Peter_the_PunterPeter_the_Punter Posts: 14,465
    edited June 2014
    The political impact will be negligible.

    It's not a good day for Justice though. Coulson was probably the only one of the bunch I considered 'innocent' - not in a narrow technical sense but broadly so because he seemed little more than a bright and likeable bloke caught up in the prevailing culture.

    The others ought to be thankful for expensive lawyers and naive jurors.
  • edmundintokyoedmundintokyo Posts: 17,708
    MikeSmithson said:

    Socrates said:

    It's fairly amusing Tories on this thread repeatedly remark that no-one cares, when they went on and on and on about Rennard, Huhne etc.

    Good point and my guess is that in the medium term the impact will be the same. Almost none.

    Agree, provided Cameron:
    1) Survives the week.
    2) Doesn't feel the need to say or do something impactful in order to survive the week.
  • dyedwooliedyedwoolie Posts: 7,786
    Tykejohnno said:

    dyedwoolie said:

    Tykejohnno said:

    For the Greater good of the Conservative party and himself,cameron should stand down as PM.

    Anyone agree ?

    Why would he? Did the Labour leader step down when how ever many it was of their MPs went to jail? Did Clegg resign when Huhne did bird?
    It's Cameron's judgement been called into Question,not good for a leader.

    Like the judgement of Clegg in putting Huhne into cabinet?
    His judgement is not in question, he was lied to. If anything, it shows him to be more reasonable in giving someone the benefit of the doubt than he should,
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    ToryJim said:

    Socrates said:

    ToryJim said:

    This whole hacking thing has shown the utter hypocrisy of the tabloid reading class who were more than content to read salacious gossip about celebs without questioning how it was come by.

    Oh, give me a break. It's not unreasonable to expect the companies you buy stuff from are operating legally. If a multinational company breaks a law, the fault lies with that company, not the working class plumber in Salford. This thread is full of right wingers trying to bend over backwards to make excuses for the Murdoch press.
    In general yes, however it was obvious to any but the chronically brain dead that the ever greater demand for celeb gossip would lead to ever greater intrusion, sharp practice, dubious journalism if not outright illegality to furnish supply. Yes it was wrong to engage in those practices but blame has to be apportioned and some of it has to lie with those who created the demand with their desire for windows into the lives of the famous.
    No. Blame lies with the criminals, not with the general public. Those creating demand for a product are not responsible for the illegal means to get that product. That applies to celebrity gossip as much as it does to anything else. Just because you and I don't really like the product in question doesn't stop that basic logic.
  • Richard_NabaviRichard_Nabavi Posts: 30,821
    Socrates said:

    Richard_Nabavi said:

    Socrates said:

    This thread is full of right wingers trying to bend over backwards to make excuses for the Murdoch press.

    Interesting that your well-known sense of traditional British fair play doesn't apply to this verdict.
    How is it not applying? Andy Coulson was an editor of a Murdoch paper, wasn't he?
    Yes, and not a single person has made excuses for him.

    Meanwhile, the News International line that there was not an extensive corporate conspiracy, or involvement at a senior level, turns out to have been vindicated, as you will no doubt be pleased to agree.
  • SocratesSocrates Posts: 10,322
    Scrapheap_as_was said:

    Imagine if England were still in the World Cup... the timing of this would be a conspiracy theorists dream!

    Talking of football fan reactions...

    Louise Mensch‏@LouiseMensch·1 min
    YEEEEESSSSSS Rebekah Brooks CLEARED take that @guardian I knew it #HackingTrial

    Did she know that Coulson was guilty too? Seems a rather odd cherry picking of the story.
  • TykejohnnoTykejohnno Posts: 7,362
    GIN1138 said:

    I think Hacked Off will be pretty Hacked Off that they didn't nail Rebekah - She was much more closely associated to Rupert than Coulson.

    Cameron's going to get it in the neck from left and right of the media.
This discussion has been closed.