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Diary: Whither the transparency agenda? If we told you, we would have to kill you Diary: Whither the transparency agenda? If we told you, we would have to kill you
(2 months later)
• This was going to be the greenest government ever, but no one takes that seriously now. And it was going to be transparent. That too is looking shaky. Unpopular policies quietly ditched, connections underplayed. No wonder Whitehall is being less than scrupulous in its own affairs. Look to the list of Cabinet Office mandarins whose jobs and salaries and responsibilities are supposed to be laid bare for the public. See how many appear to have opted to remain anonymous. Note that one of those unnamed is the deputy director of transparency. And reflect on our funny old world.• This was going to be the greenest government ever, but no one takes that seriously now. And it was going to be transparent. That too is looking shaky. Unpopular policies quietly ditched, connections underplayed. No wonder Whitehall is being less than scrupulous in its own affairs. Look to the list of Cabinet Office mandarins whose jobs and salaries and responsibilities are supposed to be laid bare for the public. See how many appear to have opted to remain anonymous. Note that one of those unnamed is the deputy director of transparency. And reflect on our funny old world.
• Meanwhile, as Jeremy Hunt battles to pin our health woes entirely on Labour, what became of the wizard wheeze he left behind at the culture department – local TV? It is meant to transform the British media landscape in the year to come. Hunt apparently went as a student to Birmingham, Alabama, and was so impressed with local stations there that he decided to replicate it in Birmingham, England. No surprise then that one of the first franchises awarded was to City TV – headed by Canadian-turned-Brummie Debra Davis. But there have been a few pre-launch teething troubles – usual telly stuff. Toys out of pram, people stomping off. So what next for local TV in Birmingham? Here come more Canadians. According to the Toronto Star, Channel CHCH from Hamilton Ontario is "opening a local TV station in Birmingham England" and "a start-up team of 10 Canadians will make history by helping to create the UK's first live local channel. They will spend six months overseas to make sure the station runs properly." Not everyone's idea of a "local" operation in the Hunt-ian sense of the world, perhaps, and the cause of some disquiet in Birmingham, England. Still, the world does get smaller every day.• Meanwhile, as Jeremy Hunt battles to pin our health woes entirely on Labour, what became of the wizard wheeze he left behind at the culture department – local TV? It is meant to transform the British media landscape in the year to come. Hunt apparently went as a student to Birmingham, Alabama, and was so impressed with local stations there that he decided to replicate it in Birmingham, England. No surprise then that one of the first franchises awarded was to City TV – headed by Canadian-turned-Brummie Debra Davis. But there have been a few pre-launch teething troubles – usual telly stuff. Toys out of pram, people stomping off. So what next for local TV in Birmingham? Here come more Canadians. According to the Toronto Star, Channel CHCH from Hamilton Ontario is "opening a local TV station in Birmingham England" and "a start-up team of 10 Canadians will make history by helping to create the UK's first live local channel. They will spend six months overseas to make sure the station runs properly." Not everyone's idea of a "local" operation in the Hunt-ian sense of the world, perhaps, and the cause of some disquiet in Birmingham, England. Still, the world does get smaller every day.
• And dynasties expand. With Tony Benn still busying himself on the thrill ride of grassroots politics and Hilary Benn prepping and primping and hoping for cabinet in 2015, the conveyor belt produces Emily Benn – Tony's granddaughter, Hilary's niece – this week selected for a hopefully safe Labour seat on Croydon council. Like Grandpa, she will eschew the abomination of politics of personality and focus on the issues. But she'll find that easier to do that with a name like Benn.• And dynasties expand. With Tony Benn still busying himself on the thrill ride of grassroots politics and Hilary Benn prepping and primping and hoping for cabinet in 2015, the conveyor belt produces Emily Benn – Tony's granddaughter, Hilary's niece – this week selected for a hopefully safe Labour seat on Croydon council. Like Grandpa, she will eschew the abomination of politics of personality and focus on the issues. But she'll find that easier to do that with a name like Benn.
• The phone hacking farrago continues to be the story that keeps on giving. The duplicity; the intrusion. Actor Nigel Havers says the whole thing was a searing disappointment to him. "I'd love to have been on that list. I'm still hoping," he tells the Radio Times. "No – I'm serious. I wouldn't have minded in the slightest if they'd hacked into my phone. It's a shame I wasn't important enough." This is known in the trade as tempting fate.• The phone hacking farrago continues to be the story that keeps on giving. The duplicity; the intrusion. Actor Nigel Havers says the whole thing was a searing disappointment to him. "I'd love to have been on that list. I'm still hoping," he tells the Radio Times. "No – I'm serious. I wouldn't have minded in the slightest if they'd hacked into my phone. It's a shame I wasn't important enough." This is known in the trade as tempting fate.
• Hat tip to Comment is free wordsmith Ally Fogg and Tweeter belovedsanspoof for flagging up a pretty big exclusive. After a lot of time, effort and heart-searching, the Tories posted the official party policy towards single mothers. With the accompanying headline "Find out what we're doing to help single mothers", the paragraph read: "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua." Which is, of course, the filler material of Latin gibberish about pleasure and pain used by design folk to mark out areas where eventually there will be meaningful text. Within hours, the erroneous policy pronouncement had disappeared without trace. Guess the Tory policy on single mums isn't fully formed just yet.• Hat tip to Comment is free wordsmith Ally Fogg and Tweeter belovedsanspoof for flagging up a pretty big exclusive. After a lot of time, effort and heart-searching, the Tories posted the official party policy towards single mothers. With the accompanying headline "Find out what we're doing to help single mothers", the paragraph read: "Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipisicing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua." Which is, of course, the filler material of Latin gibberish about pleasure and pain used by design folk to mark out areas where eventually there will be meaningful text. Within hours, the erroneous policy pronouncement had disappeared without trace. Guess the Tory policy on single mums isn't fully formed just yet.
• Finally, triggering anguish among half of the population and joy from the other, the top football clubs are getting into gear; buying, selling, plotting, tweaking, putting everything in place for the new season in August. But if and when you think of them, think Aaron Smith, manager of non-league Croydon FC in south London. The previous manager left and, with a month to go, Smith now discovers that the entire squad, save for the goalkeeper, are going with him to another club. A lesser man would take it personally. Thank God for the goalie.• Finally, triggering anguish among half of the population and joy from the other, the top football clubs are getting into gear; buying, selling, plotting, tweaking, putting everything in place for the new season in August. But if and when you think of them, think Aaron Smith, manager of non-league Croydon FC in south London. The previous manager left and, with a month to go, Smith now discovers that the entire squad, save for the goalkeeper, are going with him to another club. A lesser man would take it personally. Thank God for the goalie.
Twitter: @hugh_muir Twitter: @hugh_muir
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