Crouch is an academic, author of Postdemocracy, http://www.amazon.co.uk/Post-democracy-Themes-Century-Colin-Crouch/dp/0745633153/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1310338206&sr=8-2 .

Thank you for asking Jamie.

I agree about the MET issue. Very very serious. But even more serious is the collusion of the political groups with a corrupt media. The problem for the existing political establishment is that all our suspicions of how closely they have cooperated and colluded in undermining accountability,and manipulating information are becoming visible. It is all very well for politicians to say they must sup with the devil at times. but it looks more and more that they been have sucking at the teet of the devil.
I am sure there are some very worried political figures out there, looking out their brown trouser suits.

None at all 😉

I'm just jonesing for my fix.

Forensicstatistician,

Absolutely agree. A long succession of politicians have ignored this corruption entirely. Here's Brooks admitting at a selct committe hearing in 2003 that the NOTW paid police for information:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v1AJjnl2y8U&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Yes, but it is the corruption in the MET is the most shocking, because the police are meant to the ones enforcing the rule of law!

Here is just one of my posts on the Newsnight blog today:

"Remember this story with the News of the World is also about bribery & corruption amongst the police!!

The police SOLD confidential information to the press!!

No-one had even mentioned “cash for confidential information” involving the police until a few days ago. See Operation Elveden press release from the Met on 6th July 2011.

For me this is the bigger story as it reveals police corruption and complicity! And also explains why a proper investigation into the phone hacking keeps getting ignored.

Perhaps we all need to support Jenny Jones in her request that we get a formal declaration from all officers involved in Operations Weeting & Eleveden that they have never and are not receiving any innapropriate payments or are under any undue pressure or influence from outside sources:

http://surrey.greenparty.org.uk/news/jenny-jones-to-re-quiz-met-commissioner-over-police-payments-from-newspapers-in-phone-hacking-probe.html

– Ends

See more at the Newsnight blog

As for Michael Fallon on Newsnight last night, what an odious and supercilious little man.

In the UK it seems that we're experiencing at least our 3rd crisis of legitimacy since the financial meltdown. The News of the World phone hacking scandal shares a lot in common with the MP's expenses scandal and the student fees protests in my opinion. The mainstream press and political elite are straining every sinew to hide the moral bankruptcy at the heart of the system yet again.
This time it's the spectre of Murdoch that stalks the corridors at Westminster rather than that of the financial elites but the parallels are clear. The rule of law has been suspended for the rich yet again. This time the public have claimed a head in recompense but as with fighting the Lernaen Hydra we can expect two to grow back in its place. 'Normal' service will do doubt be resumed shortly but at the moment we're living through one of those brief moments where the obscene power weilded by our financial and political elites is on the tip of everyone's brain and you feel that only if it was articulated in the right way, by the right person…

Would love to hear your thoughts.

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