If your Auntie had a beard,...
One of the more ridiculous comments to emerge during the News of the World (NOTW) scandal - is that Gordon Brown believes he would still be Prime Minister - if the phone hacking allegations had been raised 18 months ago, i.e. before the 2010 general election.
Seems to me that's the politcial equivalent of saying - 'If your auntie had a beard, she'd be your uncle'.
Because who other than Gordon Brown abolished the 10p tax rate - was Gordon Brown not guilty of cosying up to Rupert Murdoch and News International for years - and was it not Gordon Brown who gave Sir Fred Goodwin his knighthood?
And how do we know about the sad reflections of the former Prime Minister?
Well through the columns of a friendly newspaper of course - in this case the the Guardian which reported Gordon Brown views as follows:
"Brown has never, and will never, forgive the pair (Rupert Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks) for the brutal manner in which they withdrew the Sun's support for Labour before the last general election. The former prime minister always knew he would struggle to retain the red top's support. But pulling the plug on Labour in the autumn of 2009 on the evening of his last speech to the Labour conference before the general election was seen as a deeply hostile act.
But Brown is not enjoying any sweet taste of victory because his over-riding emotion is one of regret. He believes that had the latest set of allegations been aired 18 months ago he might well still be prime minister."
Part of the problem with the newspapers is that that they are extremely tribal and partisan - when it comes to reporting on party politics.
So, if you're a Tory supporter it's perfectly fine if the Sun 'monsters' the Labour party - or vice versa if it's the Mirror stable dishing out the same treatment to the Conservatives.
Unlike the broadcasting media - which have a duty to provide fair and balanced reporting - newspapers can say what they like and frequently do - in the name of a 'free' press.
Seems to me that's the politcial equivalent of saying - 'If your auntie had a beard, she'd be your uncle'.
Because who other than Gordon Brown abolished the 10p tax rate - was Gordon Brown not guilty of cosying up to Rupert Murdoch and News International for years - and was it not Gordon Brown who gave Sir Fred Goodwin his knighthood?
And how do we know about the sad reflections of the former Prime Minister?
Well through the columns of a friendly newspaper of course - in this case the the Guardian which reported Gordon Brown views as follows:
"Brown has never, and will never, forgive the pair (Rupert Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks) for the brutal manner in which they withdrew the Sun's support for Labour before the last general election. The former prime minister always knew he would struggle to retain the red top's support. But pulling the plug on Labour in the autumn of 2009 on the evening of his last speech to the Labour conference before the general election was seen as a deeply hostile act.
But Brown is not enjoying any sweet taste of victory because his over-riding emotion is one of regret. He believes that had the latest set of allegations been aired 18 months ago he might well still be prime minister."
Part of the problem with the newspapers is that that they are extremely tribal and partisan - when it comes to reporting on party politics.
So, if you're a Tory supporter it's perfectly fine if the Sun 'monsters' the Labour party - or vice versa if it's the Mirror stable dishing out the same treatment to the Conservatives.
Unlike the broadcasting media - which have a duty to provide fair and balanced reporting - newspapers can say what they like and frequently do - in the name of a 'free' press.
