CMS Update: Should James Murdoch be recalled?

I'm still standing by my prediction that James Murdoch will be recalled tomorrow, but I've just spoken with a much respected member of the Committee, and a Member who I have a lot of time form. That member told me that there seems little point in recalling James Murdoch at this point. The answers he has given to the Committee's questions are not that detailed, and so it might be worth recalling Stuart Cutner and Tom Crone before taking Evidence from James Murdoch.

Still hold the view that there will be a lot of pressure within the CMS Committee to recall Murdoch - but this is an interesting update.

Why the CMS Committee will recall James Murdoch tomorrow

Ok, the notion of a recall is a prediction, but it's one based on solid research and discussion.

The Culture, Media and Sport Committee are meeting tomorrow to discuss written Evidence submitted following their Session last month. In particular, there are question marks around whether James Murdoch knew of a transcript of messages left for former PFA Chief Gordon Taylor. Notably, Mr Murdoch Jr admits having signed off Taylor's £600,000 pay-off, which I understand was linked to a heavy confidentiality agreement, but James Murdoch insisted, and I understand, continues to insist he paid the 600k following legal advice, and not as a result of viewing the transcript, which he maintains, he has not seen.

I also understand that there will be interest in whether any strings exist, or existed in relation to News International's decision to continue paying the legal fees of former News of the World Royal Editor Clive Goodman, and private dick Glenn Mulcaire. In particular, I think the Committee will be interested to look in to whether any relationships continue (without any prejudging of the matter).

I have spoken with many sources throughout today, and my understanding is that CMS members, ahead of tomorrow's session, have different views on whether to recall James Murdoch to clarify the above points following suggestions by former News of the World Editor Mr Colin Myler that James Murdoch was "mistaken" on the Taylor assertions. But it is my understanding that a number of Members think clarification is needed.

Of course we'll have to wait till tomorrow to see whether I'm right, but I'll bet you a cuppa coffee that I am.

Disaster in Westminster as House of Commons Mints are axed

Westminster has been thrown in to disarray as Commons sources confirm that they are down to just TWO small boxes of House of Commons Mints.


It seems that after countless years supplying the infamous confectionary, Bendicks Mayfair in Winchester are relocating to Germany, and despite Ted Heath’s hope in the 1970’s that we would have free trade with Europe, the exorbitant £3.85 for a small box of mints, and newly inflated £7.50 for a large box is no longer financially viable for the suppliers.

Now Commons Authorities are set to ask confectionary suppliers to tender for the contract to continue the long established tradition of House of Commons Mints being sold in the shops of the Palace of Westminster – but a source in the refreshments department tells me, “these things take an age and so we’ve stashed a special supply of mints for Members in the run-up to Christmas, but other than this, House of Commons Mints are no more until a new supplier is found, and that could take a year or more.

It’s a national scandal!

Clegg backs community action against looters

This is a transcript of my interview with Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, for talkSPORT Radio. Please quote freely when crediting my employer.

SD - What are you doing to give the police extra powers to tackle disorder?

NC - Well what we're saying is that the police should be given the means necessary to make sure that our streets are safe. That's why the Prime Minister has indicated that if the police were ever to judge that they should use water cannons, that that should be made available to them. We as politicians, and as a government should not try and second guess the minute by minute, hour by hour decisions, which police officers and police Chiefs have to make. We need to let them get on with their job and we need to support them in doing that job.

SD - Now you're attending the COBRA meetings, and the subject of water cannons keep coming up. In practical terms, I'm advised that they're not a great deal of use unless you've got a lot of people in a big area, rather than in side streets. Is this a concern that's coming up?

NC - Well absolutely. The police have been very open in explaining that these water cannons are best used against very large crowds that are basically stood still in a particular area, and that might not be appropriate for the very fast moving events we've seen in recent days, but that's not really the point. The point is that we thought it was right to say that the water cannons should be made available to police, if they were to judge, in their judgement that it would be something that would be useful to them.

SD - Police Officers are telling me that what they're worried about on the street is that they're seen to be over-zealous by people with cameras, and that they'll find themselves on the wrong side of a Custody Sergeants' desk. What's wrong with their logic?

NC - Look, I think we've got to stand unambiguously on the side of police. Actually I was just talking to a police officer this morning, who was telling me that many police officers were reporting from across London for instance that members of the community are coming out and spontaneously giving their evidence, their evidence on mobile phones and perhaps giving the police some indication about who further down the street might have got in to trouble themselves. So all the early indications are that communities themselves are working very proactively with the police to make sure that the trouble makers are properly identified and brought to book.

SD - And what about the so called vigilantes. You can feel the frustration out there where people feel they do need to get involved to an extend - though of course I suppose it can't be encouraged?

NC - I think on one level, of course it's incredibly good when people want to try and work together to try and reclaim their own communities, because the streets of too many communities have been dominated by thugs, and thieves and looters. It's quite right that people want to reclaim their community, but reclaiming your community's one thing, taking the law in to your own hands is an entirely different matter.

SD -But it's very difficult obviously when there aren't police officers, like on the first couple of nights, where people maybe feel that they need to help them out?

NC - Well I was in Tottenham on Monday, and I was speaking to some shopkeepers there who quite understandably were telling me that on the night of the troubles, they stood outside their shops to protect their properties... (interrupting)

SD - Is that a good thing?

NC - Of course, it's the most basic human instinct isn't it to protect your family, to protect your property, and to protect your home, and there's nothing in the law that stops you from doing that.

EXCLUSIVE: HOME SECRETARY TOO BUSY TO MEET WITH POLICE FED CHAIR PAUL MCKEEVER

Theresa May says she’s too busy to meet with the Police Federation of England and Wales, the body that represents nearly every Police Officer from the rank of PC to Chief Inspector, despite many thousands of Police Officers warding off looters, rioters and thieves,


In an apparent snub to frontline Officers who are putting themselves in harms-way to keep the rule of law, the Home Secretary has excused her unavailability by offering a meeting with a Parliamentary Undersecretary from the Ministry of Justice. This offer comes despite appearances in the media, and an offer from Mr McKeever to travel to her, wherever she may be.

One Federation insider told me,

“This is the kind of contempt this Home Secretary shows to frontline Police Officers day in, day out. Frankly we’re losing what little confidence we have in her ability to do the job, and I think the fed high command should seriously review the cooperation and relationship we have, well not enjoyed, but endured perhaps so far”.

I’m told that the Home Secretary’s refusal to meet personally with Mr McKeever has caused major ructions in the Federation and that an emergency meeting is being called to discuss the matter.

In the meantime, the Home Office strenuously deny snubbing the Federation. In a written statement, a Home Office Spokesperson said,

“The Home Secretary had meetings with frontline officers while visiting affected areas yesterday and will be doing so again today. She has also had meetings with senior officers, a series of calls with chief officers, and chaired a conference call of all forces earlier today. This afternoon she is visiting Greater Manchester. Paul McKeever is due to meet James Brokenshire, the Minister for Crime and Security, and the Home Secretary looks forward to her next meeting with Mr McKeever.”

Sources close to Mr McKeever say he’s “frustrated to say the least”, but Mr McKeever tells me it’s not appropriate for him to comment.

BREAKING & EXCLUSIVE: PM's pledge of 16k Officers on duty thrown in to doubt by Met red tape

This morning, The Prime Minister promised there would be 16,000 fully warranted Police Officers on the streets of the capital tonight, compared to last night’s 6,000, which he said he felt confident would enable a robust police response to widespread disorder.


Earlier in the day, the Met pledged to put 13,000 Officers on Duty in the Capital, not only from the Metropolitan Police, but from other forces, including Hertfordshire, Kent, Sussex, Northumbria – the list continues. But I understand from a well placed source that Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin told Officers that he was uncomfortable with a request, which he reportedly says came from the Prime Minister to increase the 13,000 number to 16,000. Unfortunately this figure has proved to be absolutely unachievable – as has Acting Commissioner Tim Godwin’s 13,000 projection.

ACPO President Sir Hugh Orde, who joined the Prime Minister, the Home Secretary and Acting Commissioner Godwin for a pre-COBRA meeting at around 8:40 this morning reveals that the Met have requested 50 PSU units from various forces across the country. A PSU is made up of an Inspector, 3 Sergeants and a maximum 24 PC’s – meaning that if all 50 PSU’s were secured, there would be a maximum of around 1,400 non-Met Public Order officers on duty, alongside Met Officers.

But a reliable source tells me that by 4pm, the peak time for numbers of officers on duty, (Officers are working 12 hour shifts), there were approximately just 9,000 Officers on London’s streets – with senior ranks struggling to call Officers back from leave.

At 17:15 this evening, a Metropolitan Police Press Officer refused to confirm how many officers were currently on duty saying, “we don’t normally comment on that sort of thing”. Put to them that the Met has only secured 1.5 times the Officers for duty, rather than the nearly 300% promised by the PM this morning, the MPS spokesperson replied,

“What we’ve said is that 16,000 will be on duty this evening. There are 12 hour shift patterns, and all leave has been cancelled. We have gone to other forces to achieve that.”

Asked whether the figure of 16,000 is still achievable, the MPS spokesman said,

“Well that’s what we’re saying. I haven’t been told otherwise”.

Meanwhile, Downing Street sources deny that the Acting Commissioner ever mentioned the figure 13,000, insisting that 16,000 was agreed in the meeting attended by Tim Godwin and Sir Hugh Orde. At the time of writing, the Met are still telling the PM that they will have 16,000 Officers on duty overnight, but the reality of the situation seems to be that the Met have struggled to free up enough officers – and as a result, unless the Met can pull what I understand to be an impossible rabbit out of a hat, the Prime Minister will have egg on his face, and if Tim Godwin is in any way responsible for throwing that egg, it seems unlikely that he’ll be Acting as Commissioner for much longer.

But whatever the confused “communications” coming from New Scotland Yard are this evening, the truth WILL out tomorrow.