James Macintyre's Blog, page 4

Exclusive: Blair and Brown brought together by Pope

Former PMs will meet Pontiff and each other at Westminster Hall + But Blair "not muscling in" says senior Whitehall source + He may attend inter-faith event snubbed by Charles

Tony Blair and Gordon Brown will meet the Pope as they are brought face to face for the first time since the general election when Benedict XVI addresses the great and the good at Westminster Hall next Friday.

The former prime ministers both played a role in encouraging the Papal visit and a source who knows both men ...

Calls for Rupert Murdoch to testify

The British body politic over which he holds such influence is biting back at last

This blog likes to keep a close eye on Rupert Murdoch, and for about ten years I have pursued details about his relationship with politicians through the Freedom of Information Act. Earlier this week, I pointed out that the real issue in the News of the World phone tapping saga is the dealings between the police and News International, not to mention News International and the Tory party.

Now, with the...

Lib Dems: how are you going to fight the next election?

Questions for Nick Clegg's party to mull

The next general election is probably still several years away, which may explain why it has not been much discussed in the media so far. But it is the Liberal Democrat annual conference at the end of next week, so that can serve as a hook for a couple of questions that the Lib Dems should start thinking about.

-- Are the Lib Dems planning to go into the next election as an independent political force?

-- Are they going to field candidates against...

Why at least one former NoW editor is likely to know about phone tapping

The intriguing case of Ross Hall.

The Guardian has a genuine scoop in the phone-tapping saga today, with the news that a former News of the World employee, Ross Hall, will testify about being asked to transcribe hacked phone messages.

Defenders of the Murdoch-owned paper say he was junior, in line with the Andy Coulson claim that the tapping was going on below him as he sat in blissful ignorance in the editor's chair.

But there is an intriguing line buried deep in the Guardian story: that...

In praise of John Bercow, part 94

Speaker shows fearlessness by granting Commons time to debate NotW phone tapping scandal

This blog has praised John Bercow several times before, and today it has reason to do so again. The Speaker has decided to grant the House of Commons time to debate the News of the World phone tapping scandal tomorrow, and whether or not the matter should be taken up by the Standards and Privileges Committee. In doing so, he has again demonstrated his supreme independence, his willingness to risk the w...

Clegg forced to defend Coulson

Lib Dem Deputy PM surprisingly bullish. But there is a catch

Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat Deputy Prime Minister, was forced to defend the continuing presence in government of David Cameron's controversial communications chief Andy Coulson today after he was drafted in to answer for the Government at PMQs after Cameron went to be with his father who is ill.

Questioned by Jack Straw, the shadow justice secretary, the ever-more-enthusiastic Clegg repeatedly said the phone tapping saga at t...

Exclusive: Alastair Campbell denies being author of his own "golden rule" about a story

He "can't remember" edict being applied to Andy Coulson about how long a story must go on for before its victim is finished

With the Andy Coulson story rumbling on, there is much chat in Westminster as well as a number of references in print about "Alastair Campbell's rule". This refers to a supposed dictum from the legendary former spin doctor about how long a story must remain in the headlines before its victim is finished.

In search of the original quote, I must confess to having now...

Insiders predict Andy Coulson is not long for this world

As the Home Affairs Select Commitee announces a fresh inquiry, observers say it is a question of when, not if he goes

Much to the anger of Tory high command, the Andy Coulson story has been given fresh "legs" this afternoon with the news that the Home Affairs Select Committee [HASC:] will investigate the affair. The inquiry follows that by the Culture Committee.

The HASC says the inquiry will focus on:

* The definition of the offences relating to unauthorised tapping or hacking in the...

Breaking: Labour MPs split over shadow cabinet elections

Divisions over appointments and women ++ MPs vote on rules tomorrow ++ elections to take place at party conference

A row has broken out within the Parliamentary Labour Party [PLP:] over how it chooses its shadow cabinet once a new leader is in place at the annual party conference later this month. Labour MPs gathered for a private discussion of the rules for shadow cabinet elections in Committee room 14 of the House of Commons at lunch time today. The former foreign secretary Margaret...

David Miliband appears to be leading this race

But his brother's camp is still talking tough

The ComRes-BBC Daily Politics poll highlighted by my colleague Caroline Crampton appears to have breathed new life into the David Miliband campaign for the Labour leadership, showing him ahead among councillors polled in first, second and third preference votes.

The results echo those in past "primaries" and appear to show David Miliband on course to victory even after the distribution of votes during knock-out stages. The poll appears to...