Press intrusion victims say Cameron's failure to keep promises is 'betrayal' - once again, Gerry McCann whinges about press coverage

Victims of press abuse have accused David Cameron of failing to keep the “solemn promises” he made during the phone hacking scandal and of betraying a pledge to put the public before powerful proprietors.


Gerry and Kate McCann, the parents of a missing child, and Christopher Jefferies, wrongly accused of murder, are among the signatories to the letter reminding Cameron of the promises he made to reach the cross-party agreement on the issue in 2013.

Speaking to the Guardian, Gerry McCann said, “Feelings are very strong among those of us to whom the Prime Minister publicly and privately made his pledges. If he does not keep his promises to implement the cross-party agreement in full, allow the Leveson Inquiry to be completed and put the needs of the public before press proprietors, we will have been betrayed by him.”

The letter, signed by several press victims including relatives of the Hillsborough disaster, urges the prime minister to stop delaying the imposition of costs on newspapers and to start the second part of the Leveson inquiry, designed to look into the relationship between the police and the press.

Cameron declined to meet the victims’ representatives last year while meeting Rupert Murdoch and his editors on “no fewer than seven occasions” in the last six months of 2015, the letter states.

“Some of us wrote to you on some of these issues in November, asking you either to act then or to meet us face to face to explain your position. You declined to do either. This amounts to another breach of promise, for in 2011 you declared: ‘We must at all times keep the victims front and centre of this debate.’”

Reminding Cameron of his pledge to change the relationship between politicians and the media, it states: “We want to express our frustration and dismay that, five years on, these solemn promises have not been kept, and we urge you to honour them now.”

A system of exemplary damages directed at newspapers that refuse to comply with the new regulatory structure was part of a late-night cross-party agreement made in 2013 ahead of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. The victims have urged Cameron and the culture secretary John Whittingdale to impose the financial sanctions contained section 40 of the act.
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Most newspaper groups are vehemently opposed to the proposed imposition of costs which, they argue, could leave them with financial penalties even if they win a libel case, for example. In an address to the industry last October, Whittingdale suggested that he had listened to their concerns and was considering the matter further. The law allows the government of the day to delay commencement of the order.

Whittingdale’s suggestion of an indefinite delay, spelt out most recently in a meeting on 24 March, left the victims “extremely disappointed” and prompted the letter to Downing Street.

“Once again, he was unable to give us any explanation as to why your promises were being broken.
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“By delaying or shelving this measure your government will deny the public the low-cost access to justice that Leveson intended. Some of us know from experience how daunting it is for an ordinary citizen to take a big newspaper corporation to court for libel or invasion of privacy. In the cross-party agreement you undertook to deliver this low-cost justice through Section 40, but now it appears that you want to break that promise.”

Signatories also include the parents of stabbing victim Abigail Witchells; Jacqui Hames, a former Crimewatch presenter put under surveillance by the now closed News of the World; Edward Bowles, the father of an 11-year-old killed in a coach crash; Tricia Bernal, whose daughter was murdered, and two men injured in the 7/7 attacks whose phones were subsequently hacked by News International.


They urge Cameron to honour his promises: “We believe that it is not just us whom you are at risk of betraying, but parliament, the public at large and the future victims of a press industry which was condemned by Leveson for ‘wreaking havoc in the lives of innocent people’. If your promises are not kept, history tells us that newspapers will wreak that havoc again.”

With most of the criminal trials involving phone hacking now over, the issue of press regulation has fallen down the political agenda. However, Jeremy Corbyn, Labour party leader and his shadow culture secretary, Maria Eagle, have both spoken out about the need for effective regulation to avoid future abuse. Most of the newspaper industry has signed up to the Independent Press Standards Organisation, which is not compliant with Leveson.

Downing Street said it could not make an official comment until it had received the letter. A spokesman for the department of culture, media and sport said: “No decision has been taken about when to commence the cost provisions. The matter is still under consideration.”

http://www.theguardian.com/media/2016/apr/05/david-cameron-press-victims-gerry-kate-mccann

Gerry will be discussing this at 8.30 this morning on 'Today' Radio 4.

Ladyinred wrote:Gerry will be discussing this at 8.30 this morning on 'Today' Radio 4.

I wonder if he will mention the payment he made to Bell Pottinger to keep his fairystories on the front page for a year?

I don't think lazy journalists will probe too much.  

I'm sure we could write the script in advance of the interview!

Sadly, I won't hear it live.  Probably better for my blood pressure.

He's on BBC Breakfast too. I wonder why he of the faked abduction was chosen to discuss this rather than Christopher Jefferies who was accused of murder and really did have cause to complain.

Answers on the back of a postage stamp.

Google.Gaspar.Statements wrote:

Ladyinred wrote:Gerry will be discussing this at 8.30 this morning on 'Today' Radio 4.

I wonder if he will mention the payment he made to Bell Pottinger to keep his fairystories on the front page for a year?

Perhaps someone could phone the editor before the interview.

hogwash wrote:He's on BBC Breakfast too. I wonder why he of the faked abduction was chosen to discuss this rather than Christopher Jefferies who was accused of murder and really did have cause to complain.

Answers on the back of a postage stamp.

One being an Ambassador for Missing People and the other being spokesperson for Press intrusion just beggars belief. If it wasn't so serious it would be laughable.

Where's Hugh Grant? is he still holed up with some grey haired old chaps in a dusty, tiny office sitting on aged chairs placed on threadbare carpet?

Google.Gaspar.Statements wrote:

Ladyinred wrote:Gerry will be discussing this at 8.30 this morning on 'Today' Radio 4.

I wonder if he will mention the payment he made to Bell Pottinger to keep his fairystories on the front page for a year?

Any decent journalist would be straight in with that one.

Sadly I think we are all out of decent journalists.

I read yesterday that Katie Hopkins has been given a slot on LBC Radio.   I wonder if Katie might invite him on to discuss the issue after all I do believe that anyone who is anyone in London always tunes in to LBC.

Now that is one interview I would like to see take place.

So why does the Guardian single out Gerry and Kate McCann over and above all the genuine victims of press intrusion - even named before Christopher Jefferies, a man wrongly accused of murder !?!

Have they forgotten, or conveniently overlooked, the fact that Gerry and Kate McCann were/are the prime suspects in the disappearance of their daughter and the fact that they used the press to their own advantage - before, during and after government media monitoring intervention?  Apparently are still doing to this day?

Perhaps my answer is in this short paragraph..

'Cameron declined to meet the victims’ representatives last year while meeting Rupert Murdoch and his editors on “no fewer than seven occasions” in the last six months of 2015....'

What you've all been waiting for..

Gerry McCann slammed for hypocrisy after speaking out about press intrusion..

http://www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/gerry-mccann-slammed-for-hypocrisy-after-speaking-out-about-press-intrusion-a3219046.html

ETA:

The father of missing Madeleine McCann has been labelled a hypocrite after he appeared on breakfast TV to criticise the government for dragging its heels over press reforms.

Gerry McCann, whose daughter Madeleine vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal in 2007, was quizzed on BBC breakfast earlier today after he signed his name on a letter to the Prime Minister posing questions about the Leveson inquiry.

The letter, which is also signed by other victims of press intrusion, including Christoper Jefferies, who was wrongly accused of murder, criticises the government for failing to enact promises it made over press reform.
The open letter, published in the Guardian, read: "We believe that it is not just us whom you are at risk of betraying, but Parliament, the public at large and future victims of a press industry which was condemned by Leveson for 'wreaking havoc in the lives of innocent people'.

"If your promises are not kept, history tells us that newspapers will wreak havoc again." 

Mr McCann told the programme: "The Prime Minister promised us that the victims would remain at the centre of the Leveson reforms and we feel that our views have been pushed aside."

However, Mr McCann was roundly slammed on Twitter for "hypocrisy" by senior media commentators as he and his wife Kate have been accused of courting media coverage in the past.

The McCanns reportedly paid PR agency Bell Pottinger £500,000 to keep the case in the media spotlight.

Former newspaper editor Neil Wallis tweeted: "Breathtaking hypocrisy by #GerryMcCann to continue to attack Press Freedom yet spends fortune to PR in press abduction of child he caused"

While another twitter user posted: "K&G #McCann paid Bell Pottinger £500,000 to keep them on the front pages + then complained to Leveson about press intrusion."

And Jay Littlemore said: "When one wants a tin of beans one pays (500,000) for a tin of beans. How can one then complain when one gets beans? #Mccann"
The hashtag #McCann was also trending on Twitter, with people cynically criticising him for not mentioning his missing daughter.

One Twitter user wrote: "Not a mention of your missing child #mccann BBC give you a platform and not a mention...shame on you forever"

While another said: "Irony & hypocrisy all in one go. Gerry #McCann doing the rounds on TV & media, whining & moaning. Not one appeal to Maddie"
----------

Will Mr. McCann ever rue the day he tried to take the world by storm?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/gerry-mccann-grilled-bbc-breakfasts-7698152


he thinks HE.....has been betrayed........

he thinks HE......is a victim............

he says WE ....are back to square one .....

pity she did not tell him .....the reason why he is here today ......

and who was the one betrayed .

who that victim is maddie 

and why the proof of abduction ...is back to square one ...

after the millions spent ...because imo ...there was no abduction in the first place...

From the moment the name Madeleine McCann hit the headlines in May 2007 to this day, it's always been about the parents, never little Madeleine - the true victim.

Even when they mentioned her name from time to time it was only to emphasize their own suffering.  Disgraceful apologies for the human race.

Total hypocrisy from him Verdi. I just can't get away with the arrogance of the man.  Sky news comments on fb are an eye opener too.

Verdi wrote:From the moment the name Madeleine McCann hit the headlines in May 2007 to this day, it's always been about the parents, never little Madeleine - the true victim.

Even when they mentioned her name from time to time it was only to emphasize their own suffering.  Disgraceful apologies for the human race.

And "the situation she found herself in".  Never an apology for the situation THEY put her in !

Criteria for narcissistic personality disorder include these features:

Having an exaggerated sense of self-importance  -  tick

Expecting to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it  -  tick

Exaggerating your achievements and talents  -  pass

Being preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect
mate  -  pass

Believing that you are superior and can only be understood by or associate with equally special people - tick

Requiring constant admiration  -  tick

Having a sense of entitlement  -  tick

Expecting special favors and unquestioning compliance with your expectations  -  tick

Taking advantage of others to get what you want  -  tick

 Having an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others  -  tick

 Being envious of others and believing others envy you  -  pass

 Behaving in an arrogant or haughty manner  -  tick

mayoclinic.org

When to see a doctor..      Physician heal thyself.

This from Gerry McCann who was keen for Kate McCann to pose in a swimsuit for the media in Portugal, shortly after Maddie met her sad fate.  Even Mitchell balked at his vulgar and inappropriate suggestion.   

Never has there been a more loathsome, money grubbing pair of media whores than Kate and Gerry McCann.

Love it Verdi.

Journalists must interview him with their teeth clenched.  Is there anybody in this world who actually likes the man?  Surely not.  Oh I forgot - his wife and his mother.

Richard IV wrote:Love it Verdi.

Journalists must interview him with their teeth clenched.  Is there anybody in this world who actually likes the man?  Surely not.  Oh I forgot - his wife and his mother.

The man likes the man!

Oprah Winfrey is not a journalist but a showman, she targets the audience to compliment her shows.  Was she fooled by this hapless duo - somehow I doubt it.  I think Gerry McCann is like Oprah Winfrey - he plays to the audience, what he fails to realize is the very fact that he is not a multi-millionaire celebrity that can capture world domination, he is but a nobody with nothing to offer his audience.  There is a limit to his appeal, long since exhausted. 

He even thought he was on a level with Jeremy Paxman - what a fool!

melisande wrote:Total hypocrisy from him Verdi. I just can't get away with the arrogance of the man.  Sky news comments on fb are an eye opener too.

He hasn't a clue has he?  He just goes on and on and on flying in the face of public opinion.  That is arrogance personified!

Thank goodness I didn't watch or listen this morning I really would have thrown up my breakfast! Arrogant little man !He really does tick all the boxes on that list for narcissistic personality disorder ! Makes my skin crawl!All children reach an age where their parents embarrass them ; poor Sean and Amelie must have got there a long time ago !

Ladyinred wrote:Gerry will be discussing this at 8.30 this morning on 'Today' Radio 4.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b075qflr

The Kate and Gerry Roadshow

Berlin..



Brussels..




Morocco..



The European Union..



Rome..





Amsterdam..



The US of A..



Whoops - where did that come from..