Master and Apprentice Challenged

Press Emperor, Rupert Murdoch, after almost 40 years of active lobbying, involuntary coercion, bullying and belittling our democracy, was finally held to account by Parliament today, and made to answer for the phone hacking scandal.

The culture, media and sport select committee quized Murdoch and son James from 2:30, followed by Rebekah Brooks from 3:30.

Three things in particular stood out

• Rupert Murdoch is clearly not as scary a figure as has been portrayed and at times was almost pitiable. There was the definate streak of arrogance though on reflection on the size of his business and the fact he was simply uninterested in the UK (or at least tried to portray it) but yet a contradiction that he seemed eager almost to court senior politicians in Number 10. I suspect his interested was more than admitted. He did however reflect his age - time has a reached a point where such an octongerian should consider stepping back. A number of answers clearly showed he was not briefed appropriately by his UK News Corporation team but in addition he was slow footed and not on top of his game. There was an early mea-cupla but his answers conveyed a sense that because he was so senior or was almost above the fray; or at least perceived to be.
• James Murdoch answered well but once again was light on detail; citing the defence of other investigations [which is fair enough you could argue] about answering any tricky question. The fact is though the culpability for paying huge sums of money to private investigators lies with someone and he singularly failed to answer a simple financial question; who signed the cheques? Someone would pay attention surely if £500,000 came out of your bank account for 'services' rendered?
• Parliament finally showed some teeth and used the Select Committee's for some actual cross-examination. This is good thing for democracy and we should see more of it.

The shareholders and Board of News Corporation will deliver a more ruthless verdict shortly it is hoped. The days of the press emperor are surely coming to a close and like the analogy with the Emperor Palpatine (who bares a strickling resemblance) will it be one of his sons and most trusted advisors on the board who will fling the Emperor over the edge.

On a political note; the support from David Cameron, notably quiet today, will be under the spotlight tomorrow. Cameron has a number of questions to answer about his judgement and leadership on employing Coulson and especially and notably about why the chief of staff turned down advice on the phone hacking saga. In addition, Cameron revealed last week extensive informal relationships with News Corporation moguls; surely meeting such people informally a contradiction when the government was considering a BSkyB bid for Sky?

There is a smell of sulfur eminating from Camerons office. Will the force be with him tomorrow?