If these reports are accurate and this were a decent democracy then DC and the Sun would be investigated for corruption.

Whether or not it was that cut and dried, the important point is that Grieve was moved because he’s too liberal. And yet people *still* join/support the Tory party thinking it will save them from Labour’s illiberalism. Stunning.

Grieve was too liberal? *shudders*

If this is the case then we have a foreign media magnet directing more power over a political party then the EU which Murdoch vehemently campaignes against.

It is also true that the right wing are amock now amongst establishments within the world just as much as the left were supposedly in the past subverting democracy in all areas of life.

Don Paskini

owned by a wealthy foreigner

British owners for British papers? Does foreign ownership of British businesses bother you?

It obviously bothered Tony Woodley of Unite who said yesterday at conference:

‘”We do not need an Australian/American coming to our country with a paper that has never supported one progressive policy…”

http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2009/sep/30/the-tony-ripped-up-labour

Would he have dared sneer the same way about an Indian or African businessman?

Concentrated private power is in a state of continually undermining democracy. This is just a minor, yet very public, example.

I assume incidentally, that all references to the Independent will also be given the suffix owned by a wealthy foreigner. The Telegraph could be owned by two wealthy pseudo-foreigners and the Guardian could be owned by a tax avoidance scheme.

I would point out that Mr Grieve moved posts some time ago, and that he is still shadowing Justice. It makes the argument look a bit thin dont you think?

I would point out that Mr Grieve moved posts some time ago, and that he is still shadowing Justice.

Her problem seemed to be his shadow home secretary portfolio.

Remember he was quickly installed after David Davis resigned… and then was unceremoniously and quickly moved to justice and Chris Grayling bought in.

Sunny

I hear what you say, but I just dont buy the idea that Mr Grieves move, demanded by Rebeka was all that Rupert was waiting for.

I much more buy the idea that Murdoch is protecting his empire by ensuring he has the best chance of being on the winning side. He has done it before many times.

While outrageous if true, I don’t really buy the idea that Grieve was moved from the Home Office specifically because of a request from Rebekah Wade. Anyone who saw Grieve’s performances in his brief tenure as Shadow Home Sec would have come to the same conclusion – he’s one of the better brains on the Tory front bench, but not heavyweight enough for the Home Office brief. Chris Grayling is better at getting out the punchy, populist messages necessary for the role, as was David Davis.

This just goes to show how much The Sun does effect elections despite the denials from politicians and other newspapers. It is not because The Sun is a particularly good newspaper, but what makes it so important politically, is that it has a very wide range of voters who read it.

During the Thatcher years the Mirror had little effect on elections despite getting nearly 3 million sales a day. During the last ten years The Torygraph has had no influence on elections either, despite being the biggest selling broadsheet. Problem for both was that they were singing to the choir. Their readership is made up of supporters of one party or the other. The Sun has value for politicians in that it is read by a much wider cross section of voters.

If it was not true Blair and now Cameron would not bend the knee to Murdoch.