[Livia]

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who will be focusing attention on David Cameron over this issue. I say unfortunately because it is deflecting the attention from those who are actually to blame.

Will this be the end of Cameron? No, I don't think so. If the Iraq Inquiry didn't bring down the Labour Party, if widespread public protest against war in Iraq didn't stop Blair taking this country into a fruitless conflict, on a lie and against the wishes of the very people he was supposed to be representing, then those who are hoping this will finish Cameron are being a little optimistic.

[joeysteele]

Originally Posted by Livia

Unfortunately, there are a lot of people who will be focusing attention on David Cameron over this issue. I say unfortunately because it is deflecting the attention from those who are actually to blame.

Will this be the end of Cameron? No, I don't think so. If the Iraq Inquiry didn't bring down the Labour Party, if widespread public protest against war in Iraq didn't stop Blair taking this country into a fruitless conflict, on a lie and against the wishes of the very people he was supposed to be representing, then those who are hoping this will finish Cameron are being a little optimistic.

Naturally as ever, I will bow to your greater knowledge Livia, you know I always hold what you say in the highest regard as to politics.

I do think there is a difference with this scandal,as opposed to the Irag inquiry though.
Unfortunately for him,David Cameron failed to get an overall majority at the election,unlike Blair and Brown to a degree,he is in an already vulnerable situation as to Westminster.

He also has as his lifeboat at present, the volatile, highly unpredictable and also very untrustworthy Lib Dems,who, were they to be forced to really distance themselves by their party's executive at their conference from this scandal and therefore the coalition would leave him literally up the creek without a paddle.

I hope it doesn't bring him down although I do think some policies need changing and dramatically,especially as to the NHS. however he will need to be seen as taking the press on now, not playing to them,he hasn't come across as doing that or that he's even willing to thus far.

Some things stick with PMs, Blair the teflon Tony, seemed like he could get away with anything, Brown just had to open his mouth and few agreed with much he said and he was ridiculed for it.

I do know that many in the Tory party are still smouldering at Cameron for failing to get an overall majority and having to cosy up to the Lib Dems, so this may be the thing even they use to get to him too.
I think a very uncertain future hangs over the coalition and Cameron now and if this goes on as it's predicted to for possibly years then he may not be able to shake it off.

Both Conservative and Labour govts of the past should have had as good a relationship with the media as was possible, but not do as the Conservatives regularly have and also what Tony Blair did too fully embrace the likes of the Murdoch empire at least.
Most of the former Labour govt has some questions to answer on this one too.

I don't know, I am a novice at politics,you are far better at explaining and understanding the ways of Govt than I am Livia but listening to people around me recently,particularly today,even Conservative supporters, they are not convinced Cameron has his finger on the pulse of this one and if it really comes out that dead servicemens families have had phones hacked too then they think Cameron's days are numbered because few see him winning the next election either.

Some things become really toxic in politics, at the moment that is likely to become Andy Coulson (depending on what comes out eventually).
Cameron's association with him may be too much to dismiss in the future and could be his downfall.
So much still to run on this issue, I think the Cameron led govt could be in trouble.

[Livia]

Hey Joey...

It's interesting to hear what you think, even though I don't agree with all of it. For instance, you say Conservatives are smouldering at Cameron for failing to get an overall majority like Blair or Brown. Actually, Brown never won an election. He was a completely unelected PM.

It's true that some Tory policies to have to change, and Cameron has shown himself to be willing to do a u-turn in the face of public opposition. Of course he is criticised for u-turns just as he would be criticised if he were unwilling to do a u-turn. It's the nature of the beast; you're damned if you do and you're damned if you don't.

Whatever David Cameron's involvement with Andy Coulson, he is not responsible for the hacking of people's phones. It seems to me that to make David Cameron a scapegoat in this sordid affair is deflecting the blame from the people responsible and I wonder whether the energy that's being put into slagging the Tories could be more fruitful it it were directed elsewhere.

Always interesting to hear your take on things, joey.