If anyone on either side of the political spectrum (especially in the UK) thinks that Rupert Murdoch will see the inside of a British prison cell, then they're dangerously naive. Rupert Murdoch's media empire spans the political divide. When Tony Blair was in power, The Sun, one of Murdoch's tabloid rags, supported Blair's left-wing Labour party. Murdoch also the privelege of being the second private audience after the American President (Clinton) that followed Blair's election triumph in 1997. When David Cameron came into power, The Times, one of Murdoch's broadsheets, pledged allegience to Cameron's right-wing Conservative party. And guess who enjoyed the second private audience after the American President? Yup, that's right. Step forward, Mr. Murdoch! If you're blind to what I'm tacitly infering, I'll spell it out clearly. Rupert Murdoch is an incredibly powerful media baron, and will use whatever he has at his disposal, or means necessary, to distance himself and his family from this scandal.
Now, I myself am going to skirt speculation in this paragraph, but bear with me, and I'll provide credible links to what could very well be true. Media insiders believe that Murdoch is closing the NoTW so he can legally destroy records i.e - tangible evidence that could be used against him in any following investigation.
Link - Reuters
Except for the latest controversial revelations, this whole scandal is incredibly old news. Anyone that reads the last bastion of honest investigative journalism, Private Eye, will have been following this for the past five years at least. But the scandal goes much deeper than phone hacking. No, one of the private investigators at the centre of this ugly affair, though so-far untouchable, was a now-aquitted defendant in London's longest running murder inquiry. Jonathan Rees is a partner in a well-known private investigation company, and was charged with being complicit in the murder of Daniel Morgan, a fellow private investigator, in 1987. Despite numerous investigations and trials, no-one has been convicted of the murder. Rees is believed to be in command of a network of sources that holds damning evidence against senior members of London's Metropolitan Police.
Lastly, credit where credit's due. Through determined hard work and due dilligence, this whole scandal was exposed after a journalist at the (left-wing) Guardian spotted an email printed in a gossip column in one of Murdoch's tabloids, The Sun. This is a perfect case of the accused shooting themselves squarely in the foot. I'm a conservative, but as I've already said/written, credit where credit's due.
P.s. I've written this before, but I'll write it again. If you're actually interested in reading about events and scandals long before they're published by the mainstream press, subscribe to Private Eye. Nearly every major story I've read about or seen on television was reported indepth by Private Eye long before it hits the mainstream headlines. Private Eye is so notoriously accurate that it's required reading for all serious journalists, politicians or anyone that trades in current affairs. If you don't believe me, ask the FBI and SEC. It's required reading in their economic crimes divisions, along with nearly every law enforcement agency in Europe. Its editor, Ian Hislop, holds the record for being the most sued man in British legal history. The magazine is regularly in court, but has only ever lost once. I hold no stake in the magazine, but I sincerely advise anyone interested in reading about current affairs long before they hit the headlines.
Private Eye.
