Prime minister fails to distance himself from tabloid chiefs

CLOSURE OF THE 'NEWS OF THE WORLD':DAVID CAMERON must hope dearly that Rupert Murdoch backs away from the BSkyB deal, for if he does not the prime minister will have to ensure the deal does not go ahead in the current febrile climate in the United Kingdom.

In Downing Street yesterday, Cameron talked a good game, as he usually does in such situations; but words that sound coherent on first hearing have a way of looking rather vacuous when the transcript is later examined.

Cameron wants to spread the muck about: the rest of the press, the Metropolitan Police, the Press Complaints Commission; Labour for failing to address the rabid nature of UK media competition.

Undoubtedly, there is no shortage of takers for the muck. Sinners are not hard to find in other media establishments and elsewhere, but Cameron is on point and it is he who has failed, or simply been unable, to put distance between himself and the media magnate.

He gambled that the public would see some merit in his decision to stand by Andy Coulson, who had to resign from two different jobs – the editorship of the News of the Worldand as Cameron's communications chief – over the hacking scandal.

The second chance “didn’t work out”, he told journalists gathered hurriedly in Downing Street, as he concentrated on the quality of the work that Coulson did for him while he was around, rather than the health warnings that came with him at the time of his appointment.

There is praise due for one who stands by his friends, though such loyalties are a defect in a prime minister, not a strength. Coulson, who was by then being arrested by police, will spend a lot more time talking to detectives. Cameron cannot save him.

On Rebekah Brooks, still News International’s chief executive last night, Cameron said: “It’s not right for a prime minister to start picking and choosing who should and shouldn’t run media organisations.

“But it has been reported that she offered her resignation over this and in this situation, I would have taken it,” he went on, speaking about the woman with whom he and his wife, Samantha, have partied on numerous occasions in west Oxfordshire.

For Cameron, the words may have sounded tough. If so, he is dangerously out of touch with public opinion. If ever there was a need for the ruthless separation from a one-time friend then it is in the case of Brooks; yet Cameron cannot bring himself to do it.

The saga will become more complicated in coming days. More allegations will be made about the News of the World, but so too will allegations be made against its competitors. Some of them will deflect the attention of the public.

Cameron and Murdoch have a direct, shared interest in such an diversion occurring and both are blessed by the fact that the public has a short memory. Their futures may depend on it.