SapphireSteel
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2012
- Messages
- 6,788
- Reaction score
- 112
They don't benefit at all.
Brown and Blair were just like the rest of us - they assumed these people could not possibly have been involved. Remember, these two were involved from virtually day one, with Gerry having a direct line into Brown's home via a neighbour. A friend of a friend needs help as his daughter has been abducted....of course they said they'd help! Both Blair and Brown have children of their own and would never have dreamed that this case would twist and turn as it has. We have the benefit of hindsight, at the time it would have seemed like the least they could do to help friends of friends.
Blair and Brown did not benefit in the slightest, but stop for a minute and imagine if the McCanns were found guilty and they had helped them (inadvertently) to elude justice.
Can you imagine the headlines? Can you even imagine what the Opposition would make of it? They would have a field day.
At that time, Brown was only Chancellor, clearly with ambition. Blair was PM.
The headlines would be something like this -
Special Treatment For Murderous Parents
Why IS Blair Friendly With Child Killers
Our Government Has Helped The McCanns Escape Justice
The Establishment Looks After Its Own
Gordon and Gerry - How close ARE they?
etc, etc.
You know what the UK tabloids are like.
It would certainly Election-ruining to be associated with a pair who were guilty of neglecting their child then staging an abduction, possibly even career ruining if the media went to town.
It would be far, far preferable just to halt the investigation the minute it started to look like some mud was going to be slung, as some of it might splatter.
Blair and Brown did not commit a criminal act. What they may have done is make an executive decision to close down the British side of the investigation (which they were entitled to do) and suggest the Portugese do the same (which they were happy to do) for political expediency. The greater good, if you like. What you don't know can't hurt you.
End of problem.
Except...it just won't go away, will it?
Wikileaks and Levenson came out of nowhere.
Now more questions are being asked in general about the goings on within government and media, suddenly it becomes a good idea to declare a "review"...perhaps to grease the wheels to actually following through and charging these people now Blair and Brown are faint memories and the political risk is distanced by time.
I can only hope.
Brown and Blair were just like the rest of us - they assumed these people could not possibly have been involved. Remember, these two were involved from virtually day one, with Gerry having a direct line into Brown's home via a neighbour. A friend of a friend needs help as his daughter has been abducted....of course they said they'd help! Both Blair and Brown have children of their own and would never have dreamed that this case would twist and turn as it has. We have the benefit of hindsight, at the time it would have seemed like the least they could do to help friends of friends.
Blair and Brown did not benefit in the slightest, but stop for a minute and imagine if the McCanns were found guilty and they had helped them (inadvertently) to elude justice.
Can you imagine the headlines? Can you even imagine what the Opposition would make of it? They would have a field day.
At that time, Brown was only Chancellor, clearly with ambition. Blair was PM.
The headlines would be something like this -
Special Treatment For Murderous Parents
Why IS Blair Friendly With Child Killers
Our Government Has Helped The McCanns Escape Justice
The Establishment Looks After Its Own
Gordon and Gerry - How close ARE they?
etc, etc.
You know what the UK tabloids are like.
It would certainly Election-ruining to be associated with a pair who were guilty of neglecting their child then staging an abduction, possibly even career ruining if the media went to town.
It would be far, far preferable just to halt the investigation the minute it started to look like some mud was going to be slung, as some of it might splatter.
Blair and Brown did not commit a criminal act. What they may have done is make an executive decision to close down the British side of the investigation (which they were entitled to do) and suggest the Portugese do the same (which they were happy to do) for political expediency. The greater good, if you like. What you don't know can't hurt you.
End of problem.
Except...it just won't go away, will it?
Wikileaks and Levenson came out of nowhere.
Now more questions are being asked in general about the goings on within government and media, suddenly it becomes a good idea to declare a "review"...perhaps to grease the wheels to actually following through and charging these people now Blair and Brown are faint memories and the political risk is distanced by time.
I can only hope.