Turning a crisis into an opportunity

Among the more distasteful aspects of the government’s damage limitation efforts over fallout from the phone-hacking saga have been the attempts by Nick Clegg’s aides to put him centre stage. The inference being that distancing him from the Murdoch-enthralled tories is yet again a favoured pick-and-mix coalition tactic.

Yesterday’s Independent carried the story that the Lib Dem leader was demanding the resignation of Rebekah Brooks, as if anyone really cared – although the popular opinion from the smirking classes is that it was impotent piece of reckoning for past snubs delivered at the hands of the former NoW editor who preferred to move in much more influential (and interesting) circles.

First thing today, the BBC news website advised that “relatives of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler would be meeting Nick Clegg” following an announcement issued by his office last night. Cameron’s press aides rapidly intervened this morning to ensure that the story was updated to read “David Cameron and Nick Clegg” and the venue upgraded to Downing Street.

It also transpires that the meetings are actually the result of sustained pressure by the Hacked Off campaign, organised by the Media Standards Trust charity, and who have been consistently arguing for a public inquiry into phone-hacking by journalists.

It just goes to prove the adage that you take the politician out of PR but .....