Dennis the 'Bloody Peasant'
28th May 2012, 14:59
No shit Tony...anyway...
An "unhealthy" relationship has evolved between the press and politicians, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the Leveson Inquiry.
But he told the media ethics hearing close interaction between politicians and newspapers was inevitable.
Mr Blair also said his family faced intense pressure from the press, which he called "unnecessary and wrong".
Earlier, a protester had to be ejected after getting into the court and calling Mr Blair a "war criminal".
Proceedings were interrupted for around 20 seconds during Monday morning's session before the man was escorted away.
Lord Justice Leveson apologised to Mr Blair and questioned how the man was able to enter the court through what should have been a secure corridor. An investigation was immediately ordered.
Mr Blair said on the record that there was no truth in the allegation, made by the protester, that he was "paid off" by the US banking giant JP Morgan for the Iraq War.
The man, who told reporters his name was David Lawley Wakelin from the Alternative Iraq Enquiry, was arrested on suspicion of a breach of the peace and is in custody at a central London police station.
Major confrontation
The inquiry is investigating the link between the press and politicians.
Mr Blair said it would be strange if senior media people and senior politicians did not have an interaction.
Mr Blair told the inquiry that at its best British journalism was the best in the world.
But he said the word "unhealthy" rather than "cosy" was a better description of the relationship in some cases.
He told the inquiry: "It's almost impossible now, even now, to dispute this issue to do with so-called 'spin'.
"I can't believe we are the first and only government that has ever wanted to put the best possible gloss on what we're doing, that is a completely different thing to saying that you go out to say things that are deliberately untrue."
(More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18228898 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18228898))
Loving the 'spin' justification...'What? It's just a lil gloss, a lil truth-bending..it's all good folks'. Smug, self-important fucker.
An "unhealthy" relationship has evolved between the press and politicians, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the Leveson Inquiry.
But he told the media ethics hearing close interaction between politicians and newspapers was inevitable.
Mr Blair also said his family faced intense pressure from the press, which he called "unnecessary and wrong".
Earlier, a protester had to be ejected after getting into the court and calling Mr Blair a "war criminal".
Proceedings were interrupted for around 20 seconds during Monday morning's session before the man was escorted away.
Lord Justice Leveson apologised to Mr Blair and questioned how the man was able to enter the court through what should have been a secure corridor. An investigation was immediately ordered.
Mr Blair said on the record that there was no truth in the allegation, made by the protester, that he was "paid off" by the US banking giant JP Morgan for the Iraq War.
The man, who told reporters his name was David Lawley Wakelin from the Alternative Iraq Enquiry, was arrested on suspicion of a breach of the peace and is in custody at a central London police station.
Major confrontation
The inquiry is investigating the link between the press and politicians.
Mr Blair said it would be strange if senior media people and senior politicians did not have an interaction.
Mr Blair told the inquiry that at its best British journalism was the best in the world.
But he said the word "unhealthy" rather than "cosy" was a better description of the relationship in some cases.
He told the inquiry: "It's almost impossible now, even now, to dispute this issue to do with so-called 'spin'.
"I can't believe we are the first and only government that has ever wanted to put the best possible gloss on what we're doing, that is a completely different thing to saying that you go out to say things that are deliberately untrue."
(More at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18228898 (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18228898))
Loving the 'spin' justification...'What? It's just a lil gloss, a lil truth-bending..it's all good folks'. Smug, self-important fucker.