Sir Paul Stephenson says row over links to News International overshadowed his work Britain’s top police officer, Sir Paul Stephenson, announced his shock resignation as he was brought down by his failure to tell senior figures, including the prime minister, that Scotland Yard had hired a former News of the World executive as an adviser while refusing to reopen inquiries into phone hacking. Stephenson had been angered over the questioning of his integrity and said he had to go in order to stop the controversy distracting the Metropolitan police from the challenges it faced, including the 2012 London Olympics. The crisis over hacking engulfing News Corporation began to turn toxic for Stephenson on Thursday after the arrest of Neil Wallis, who was the News of the World’s deputy editor under former No 10 aide Andy Coulson and during the period when it is alleged phone hacking was widespread at the paper. Hours after Wallis was arrested, it emerged that he had worked for the Met. In a stunning statement , Stephenson stressed his integrity and dismissed weekend claims that it was compromised by accepting a free stay at a luxury health spa where Wallis had been hired as a PR consultant. Stephenson said: “I have taken this decision as a consequence of the ongoing speculation and accusations relating to the Met’s links with News International at a senior level and in particular in relation to Mr Neil Wallis who as you know was arrested in connection with Operation Weeting last week … “I have heard suggestions that we must have suspected the alleged involvement of Mr Wallis in phone hacking. Let me say unequivocally that I did not and had no reason to have done so. I do not occupy a position in the world of journalism; I had no knowledge of the extent of this disgraceful practice and the repugnant nature of the selection of victims that is now emerging; nor of its apparent reach into senior levels.” In potentially toxic remarks for David Cameron, Stephenson said he had not mentioned Wallis’s appointment to protect Cameron: “I did not want to compromise the prime minister in any way by revealing or discussing a potential suspect who clearly had a close relationship with Mr Coulson. “I am aware of the many political exchanges in relation to Mr Coulson’s previous employment – I believe it would have been extraordinarily clumsy of me to have exposed the prime minister, or by association the home secretary, to any accusation, however unfair, as a consequence of them being in possession of operational information in this regard.” The shadow home secretary, Yvette Cooper said: “It is a very serious concern that the Met commissioner felt unable to tell the prime minister and the home secretary about this operational issue with Neil Wallis because of the prime minister’s relationship with Andy Coulson. It appears that their compromised relationship with Andy Coulson has put the commissioner in a very difficult position and made it even harder for the Met to maintain confidence around this difficult issue. Both David Cameron and Theresa May must take their share of the responsibility for this situation.” The Guardian has learned that Scotland Yard chiefs invited Wallis to apply for a senior communications post with the force in 2009, a decision Stephenson was aware of. Wallis was approached to apply for the two day a month contract by the Met, following discussions involving the forces’s most senior figures. A source with close knowledge of the Yard’s thinking at the time said part of Wallis’s attraction was his connection to former News of the World editor Coulson, who was a leading aide to Cameron, then in opposition and expected to become prime minister. Part of the Met’s thinking was that Wallis’s connections would help the force’s relationship with Cameron: “One [Wallis] is a lot cheaper and gives you direct access into No 10,” the source added. Stephenson was facing the prospect of a difficult Commons statement by Theresa May, the home secretary, and anxiety expressed by the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, about confidence in the Met because of the failure to tackle the scandal. Stephenson also faced a rough ride tomorrow from MPs on the home affairs committee angry that in his evidence just weeks ago he had failed to tell them about the hiring of Wallis. On top of that he faced anger within his watchdog, the Metropolitan Police Authority, about his failure to inform them about Wallis’s employment when he spoke to them last Thursday. On Thursday, Boris Johnson, had carpeted Stephenson over his actions. The Met denied that Stephenson’s five-week free stay at a luxury spa was in any way connected to the fact Wallis was a PR consultant to the company. The commissioner was recovering from a fractured leg caused by an operation to remove a pre-cancerous tumour, and only recently had returned to work. One of his attractions to the people who appointed him, Johnson and the then Labour home secretary, Jacqui Smith, was his reputation as a safe pair of hands which was earned while he served as deputy to Sir Ian Blair during Blair’s tumultuous commissionership. But his handling of the Wallis affair had tarnished that, as did admissions he had dined with News of the World executives including Wallis. On one occasion they met as the Met carried out its first phone hacking inquiry in 2006. A Home Office spokesman said May told Stephenson she was “sorry” that he was resigning when he called to inform her of his decision. “The home secretary took a call from Sir Paul Stephenson tonight in which he informed her of his decision to resign as commissioner of the Metropolitan police service,” the spokesman said. Stephenson will stay in post until a replacement is chosen. Johnson said: “Sir Paul believes, however, that the phone hacking saga now threatens to become a serious distraction during the run-up to the Olympic Games. He has persuaded me that someone else should now be allowed to take his work forward so that the focus can return to policing and bringing down crime.” The early favourite to replace Stephenson is Sara Thornton, chief constable of Thames Valley. Stephenson’s deputy, Tim Godwin, set up the latest phone-hacking inquiry while the commissioner was off work through illness and has let it be known he has not accepted News International hospitality. Lord Prescott, the former deputy prime minister who had called for Stephenson to resign, wrote on Twitter: “I always thought the Met and News International were too close and now we see how close they were. Another green bottle has fallen – more to come.” Peter Smyth, chair of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: “I think it is a sad day for Paul and a sad day for the Met. He is a very private man, I have never had any reason to question his integrity.” He has come to a decision based on what he knows about himself.” Sir Paul Stephenson Metropolitan police Police Phone hacking News of the World News International Andy Coulson David Cameron Boris Johnson Theresa May Vikram Dodd guardian.co.uk
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Venezuela left without interim president as leader receives chemotherapy, sparking fears about future government He had been home for less than two weeks. Long enough to milk the adulation from his fanbase. Not long enough to dispel the cloud of uncertainty over Venezuela’s future. Now that cloud has become darker with the news that Hugo Chávez is to return to Cuba for chemotherapy to treat his abdominal cancer, the severity of which is still unknown. As he flew out of Caracas at the weekend, Chávez left both friends and foes speculating about the future of Venezuela – and wondering if chavismo can survive without its namesake and founder. Chávez, who did not specify a return date, left the vice-president, Elías Jaua, and his minister of finance, Jorge Giordani, in charge of carrying out his instructions in his absence. But, tellingly, neither was sworn in as interim president. Constitutionally speaking, Chávez can be away for up to 180 days, at which point a vice-president would be sworn in to act as president until the next elections, due in December 2012. In reality, few believe Venezuela can be governed from afar for long. Many have interpreted Chávez’s refusal to name just one successor, and his vehement calls for unity, as a clear sign that the fissures within chavismo run deeper than chavistas themselves want to admit. For the political analyst John Magdaleno, the official announcement of Chávez’s cancer brought to light the many factions within chavismo. “It is a point of no return, whereby the small factions are not going to stop vying for the overall leadership,” he said. For the past 12 years, Chávez has amalgamated a coalition of political actors from across the spectrum under his homemade brand of populist ideology that mixes socialist programmes with Bolivarian instincts and strong anti-imperialist rhetoric aimed chiefly at the main export market for Venezuela’s biggest revenue earner, oil. Amid the uncertainty swirling in Caracas are three questions. The first involves the severity of Chávez’s illness and the extent of any likely incapacitation. On this, the president has given few hints. In one of the few cryptic references to his illness, he has deemed his cancer “as one of the best, not the kind that many [of my enemies] would wish upon me”. Before he left at the weekend, he told supporters that the cancer was not advanced. “No other malignant cell has been detected in my body,” he said. A former vice-president, José Vicente Rangel, said in a recent interview that finding a successor to Chávez would not be necessary because although “Chávez is ill, his condition is not critical”. But the illness has focused attention on the fact that at some point Venezuela will have a new leader. And so the second question: who might succeed him? Before Chávez’s unexpected return from Cuba on 4 July, the names of successors within chavismo ranged from the logical vice-president Jaua to the constitutionally impossible Adán Chávez, his brother and the governor of their home state, Barinas, and Chávez’s own daughter, Ma Gabriela, who more often accompanies Chávez in his public appearances. The leader himself has given few clues. Javier Corrales, professor of political science at Amherst College in Massachusetts, said Chávez could easily raise the profile of a chosen heir if it became clear that he could not carry on as president. “Chávez could do miracles, including raising
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Venezuela left without interim president as leader receives chemotherapy, sparking fears about future government He had been home for less than two weeks. Long enough to milk the adulation from his fanbase. Not long enough to dispel the cloud of uncertainty over Venezuela’s future. Now that cloud has become darker with the news that Hugo Chávez is to return to Cuba for chemotherapy to treat his abdominal cancer, the severity of which is still unknown. As he flew out of Caracas at the weekend, Chávez left both friends and foes speculating about the future of Venezuela – and wondering if chavismo can survive without its namesake and founder. Chávez, who did not specify a return date, left the vice-president, Elías Jaua, and his minister of finance, Jorge Giordani, in charge of carrying out his instructions in his absence. But, tellingly, neither was sworn in as interim president. Constitutionally speaking, Chávez can be away for up to 180 days, at which point a vice-president would be sworn in to act as president until the next elections, due in December 2012. In reality, few believe Venezuela can be governed from afar for long. Many have interpreted Chávez’s refusal to name just one successor, and his vehement calls for unity, as a clear sign that the fissures within chavismo run deeper than chavistas themselves want to admit. For the political analyst John Magdaleno, the official announcement of Chávez’s cancer brought to light the many factions within chavismo. “It is a point of no return, whereby the small factions are not going to stop vying for the overall leadership,” he said. For the past 12 years, Chávez has amalgamated a coalition of political actors from across the spectrum under his homemade brand of populist ideology that mixes socialist programmes with Bolivarian instincts and strong anti-imperialist rhetoric aimed chiefly at the main export market for Venezuela’s biggest revenue earner, oil. Amid the uncertainty swirling in Caracas are three questions. The first involves the severity of Chávez’s illness and the extent of any likely incapacitation. On this, the president has given few hints. In one of the few cryptic references to his illness, he has deemed his cancer “as one of the best, not the kind that many [of my enemies] would wish upon me”. Before he left at the weekend, he told supporters that the cancer was not advanced. “No other malignant cell has been detected in my body,” he said. A former vice-president, José Vicente Rangel, said in a recent interview that finding a successor to Chávez would not be necessary because although “Chávez is ill, his condition is not critical”. But the illness has focused attention on the fact that at some point Venezuela will have a new leader. And so the second question: who might succeed him? Before Chávez’s unexpected return from Cuba on 4 July, the names of successors within chavismo ranged from the logical vice-president Jaua to the constitutionally impossible Adán Chávez, his brother and the governor of their home state, Barinas, and Chávez’s own daughter, Ma Gabriela, who more often accompanies Chávez in his public appearances. The leader himself has given few clues. Javier Corrales, professor of political science at Amherst College in Massachusetts, said Chávez could easily raise the profile of a chosen heir if it became clear that he could not carry on as president. “Chávez could do miracles, including raising
Continue reading …The News of the World phone hacking scandal is increasingly hitting Britain’s famed Scotland Yard, as the depths of the organizations’ interconnectedness comes to light, reports the New York Times . The police had six garbage bags full of 11,000 pages of notes about 4,000 celebs who had their…
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• Email sachin.nakrani@guardian.co.uk with all your thoughts • Press F5 to refresh this page or use our auto-refresher • Follow Sachin on Twitter if that’s your thing 42min: This first-half is ending on a niggly note, with both teams giving away needless free-kicks. USA in possession though deep inside the Japan half. Ending the first period just how they started it. This from Curtis in Minnesota: “Japan is the smallest side in the competition and Abby Wambach is the biggest, most imposing forward, but Wambach is constantly toppling over like a felled redwood as soon as a defender is anywhere near. Interesting, that.” 39min: Kawasumi blasts a shot over the bar after collecting Miyama’s short corner on the edge of the area. A neat little joke from Damien Neva: “USA thus far is a team full of misses”. Sepp Blatter is here. That’s good to know… 35min: And another chance for USA. Cheney reacts first to a lofted cross into the area and her looping header beats Kaihori before dropping just over the bar. Remarkably, Japan have had 52% of possession in this match. You would not have predicated that having watched the action so far. In fairness, most of that has been harmless passes across their backline. Very little of note in the opposition’s half. 30min: Japan were camped in their own half before braking out through Ohno. She played a cute pass to Ando whose low, left-footed shot from inside the US area was weak and easily saved by Solo. Japan’s best effort, however. Indicates that counter-attacking may be their best chance of snatching a goal here. 28min: Wambach hits the bar! That’s the best chance of the game. Came about after the referee played advantage for a foul by Iwashimizu on Cheney, Wambach seized possession, drove towards the Japan goal and then unleashed a left-footed drive which beat Kaihori but not the underside of the bar. 27min: Japan’s first corner, came about after Rampone, the US captain, headed clear a cross from the left-wing. The set piece comes to nothing, however. 25min: Japan struggle to clear the danger before Wambach’s volleyed cross from the left-side is held low down by Kaihori. 24min: Japan must pass the ball quicker if they are to sustain any pressure in this match. They’re looking to pass it around but then lose possession as the US snap at their legs and win the ball back. And they now have a corner on the right-side… 22min: Shot at goal for Japan, from Ohno. It came from some long overdue possession from Japan in the USA’s third of the pitch. The low drive was weak, though, and caused Solo in the US goal no problems whatsoever. Encouraging for Sasaki’s side, though. 20min: USA definitely on top so far and had all the chances. But it’s still goalless… 19min: The left-wing is definitely the USA’s best source of danger so far in this contest. Rapinoe causing havoc from there which Kinga, the Japan right-back, simply cannot contain. 17min: Rapinoe causing problems again, driving into the area from Lloyd’s pass before thrashing a drive into the side netting. Wambach is not happy, though. She was waiting in the six-yard area for a cut-back. 17min: Very ambitious effort from Lloyd which easily drifts over the bar. But Japan cannot afford to stand off these efforts if they are to get back into this match. 16min: ‘Happy birthday Angela’ reads a sign held by one of the spectators. 16min: Japan keeping the ball at the back now, trying to build up some possession. Iwashimizu in particular is neat wit the ball. US pressing relentlessly here, not allowing Japan any space in their third and then releasing the ball quickly through midfield. 11min: US starting to dominate again. Lloyd went close before Rapinoe met Cheney’s pull-backed pass in the area with a side-footed drive that skimmed just wide of the post. Japan just cannot get hold of the ball here. This from Mark Judd: “I’ve been to Tokyo twice in the past six months and more pleasant and polite people I’ve yet to meet. It is has to be Japan for me”. 9min: Another chance for the US as Wambach hits a long-range right-footed drive at goal. Drifts just over the bar, but the effort had Kaihori worried. Error before; there has been a shot on target in this game – Cheney’s early drive. Apologies. 8min: Oh another chance for USA. Rapinow whips a low cross towards the near post which Cheney reacts to first, but her poked shot goes just wide of the near post. Very even so far, USA started the brightest before Japan began to dominate possession and territory in the centre of the pitch. No shots on target as yet. 6min: Wambach gives away possession to Sawa but Rapinoe wins it back for the US. She plays a one-two with Lloyd but cannot retain possession down the left-wing and its a goal kick for Japan 5min: Sakaguchi with another interception in the centre of the pitch for Japan but her lofted pass poses no danger for the US defence. Japan appear to have settle after early US pressure. 3min: Ohno intercepts the ball in the centre of the pitch and tries to release Sameshima but USA’s defence cut out the danger. 2min: USA clearly intent on setting the pace here. Not allowing Japan to settle in the early stages. 1min: Early chance for USA. Cheney charges into the area from the left-wing and drives a shot towards the near post which Kaihori has to clear for a corner, which Japan just about to clear. Very strong start for the favourites. 1min: Japan kick-off…. Incidentally, Sawa is joint top-scorer in this tournament with four goals. Wambach has three for the USA, all of which were headers. Right then, we’re ready for action. Looks like a packed stadium for this, the sixth Women’s World Cup final. Teams are out in Frankfurt. National anthems about to take place… Kick-off approaching. It’s apparently 16c in Frankfurt…. Teams are in: Japan Kaihori, Kinga, Iwashimizu, Kumagai, Sameshima,Sakaguchi, Miyama, Kawasumi, Sawa, Ando, Ono. Subs: Yamago, Yano, Utsugi, Kamionobe, Tanaka, Nagasato, Maruyama, Takase, Iwabuchi, Fukumoto. USA Solo, Rampone, Le Peilbet, Krieger, Buehler, Boxx, Lloyd, Rapinoe, O’Reilly, Cheney, Wambach. Subs: Barnhart, Mitts, Sauerbrunn, O’Hara, Rodriguez, Morgan, Cox, Lindsey, Heath, Loyden. Referee: Bibiana Steinhaus (Germany) Good evening all and welcome to the final of the 2011 Women’s World Cup. Japan v USA, or to use a Biblical cliche, David v Goliath. Japan have failed to beat their opponents in 25 previous matches, drawing three and losing the rest. In the United States, they also face a nation that has won two of the previous five Women’s World Cup; the first ever in 1991 and then again, on home turf, in 1999. Japan, in contrast, have never even reached the final. But now is the time for change. This Japan side ain’t half bad, in fact they’re pretty special. So much so that they have been refereed to as the ‘Barcelona of female football’. Norio Sasaki’s team also have a cause that goes beyond the mere desire to lift a gleaming trophy – victory in Frankfurt this evening would help lift a nation devastated by March’s earthquake, tsunami and subsequent nuclear disaster. Both these teams have reached the final in eerily similar style, finishing second with six points in their respective groups before requiring extra-time to get through the quarter-finals and then winning their respective semi-finals 3-1, against Sweden in Japan’s case and France in the USA’s case. Japan have also lost to England and beaten the hosts, Germany, along the way, hinting at an inconsistency which makes the USA favourites to secure a third world title at the Commerzbank Arena tonight. A couple of players to keep an eye on; for Japan it has to be their captain and record caps-holder, Homare Sawa, who scored a hat-trick in her team’s 4-0 group win over Mexico and at the age of 32, remains a crucial figure. The USA will look to Abby Wambach for inspiration, a scorer in their quarter-final win over Brazil and semi-final triumph over France. Kick-off to come at 7.45pm. Should be decent…. Good evening all. Sachin will be here from about 7.15pm to guide you through the final of the women’s World Cup. If you get here before him, here’s Louise Taylor’s on why USA are favourites to lift the trophy but how Japan are spurred on by the need to lift the spirits of their nation. Enjoy. Aya Sameshima used to have a part-time job at the Fukushima plant. The last time she clocked on was in early March, just before Japan found itself devastated by an earthquake, a tsunami and the subsequent nuclear disaster which engulfed her workplace. On Sunday evening Sameshima will be part of the Japan defence as the team, at the 26th time of asking, aim to finally beat the United States in a women’s football match. Far from any old game, it is the final of the World Cup in Frankfurt and much is at stake. While neutrals can only be heartened by Japan’s welcome distraction from the enduring depression engendered by a disaster that left 21,000 people dead or missing, US fans hope victory may be sufficient to see North America’s financially fragile Women’s Professional Soccer League removed from effective life support. They trust Sameshima, who recently relocated to the WPSL by signing for Boston Breakers, will not thwart such ambitions on an evening when trans-Atlantic interest is such that Chelsea Clinton forms part of an official US delegation dispatched to cheer the team on. Continued here Women’s World Cup 2011 Women’s football Sachin Nakrani guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Disgraced former News International CEO Rebekah Brooks has been arrested, reports Sky News, the latest casualty in the burgeoning phone hacking scandal that brought down News of the World . Brooks, 43, surrendered at a London police station, where she is being held on charges of corruption and conspiring to intercept…
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