A 'sovereign strategy' with a 'common purpose'

Andrew Gilligan has an article in today's Sunday Telegraph in which he alleges that a key part of the campaign to "reform" the press is being financed by senior Labour figures with direct personal and professional interests in muzzling the media. Interestingly, I had only just tweeted about my intention of blogging on this subject when a tweet was received from Dr. Evan Harris referring me to this rebuttal to Gilligan's piece.

In his article Gilligan also alleges 'links' between HackedOff, Sovereign Strategy, and Common Purpose and in connection with his accusation about 'left-wing' support, it is one perhaps understandable when looking at HackedOff's list of supporters, amongst whom are Polly Toynbee, Julia Middleton, Helena Kennedy and Chris Bryant MP. It is also worth mentioning at this stage that the Media Standards Trust, set up by 2 Common Purpose trustees - Middleton and Bell - have now got involved in the hacking scandal. In this context, regard the Board Members of Media Standards Trust and the supporters of HackedOff, names on both including Geraint Talfan Davies, Robert Worcester, Roger Graef, Albert Scardino and Sue Stapely. The Media Standards Trust is, in my opinion, a fake charity set up to re-balance how the press is regulated, presumably to the advantage of the BBC and the Guardian. If David Bell suspended his Chairmanship of Media Standards Trust, presumably for reasons involving conflict of interests, then should not the appointment of Helena Kennedy be called into question? On the matter of a conflict of interest, perhaps Lord Justice Leveson, appointed to head the 'Hackgate' inquiry, should also 'stand down'? The members of the panel, appointed by David Cameron, can be seen here.

It has long been the belief that Common Purpose was formed as a means of placing people sympathetic to the aims of the European Union within, besides other sections of 'government', the Civil Service. The 'evidence' for this belief is perhaps borne out by a copy of correspondence from Middleton to Francis Maude, on this post by nourishingobscurity, in which Middleton, writing to request a meeting with Maude, states:

Do note the phrase:"...and quite a few Common Purpose alumni from the civil service....". It is also worth noting, as mentioned in the post, that David Bell is also involved with the Civil Service Senior Leadership Committee, a committee chaired by Gus O'Donnell.

The more one delves into this quagmire of ordure, the more it becomes necessary to reach for a can of air-freshener to quell the stench; because it would seem that what we have here is the creation of a state within a state - which begs the question: Do we have enough lamp posts, come the day of reckoning?


Update: Whilst writing, notification has been received that Horatio Mortimer - presumably the same Horatio Mortimer who Gilligan reports has been seconded to HackedOff - is now following me on Twitter