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Media's relation with labour during Iraq - Coggle Diagram
Media's relation with labour during Iraq
February 2003 'Dodgy Dossier'
Made by the Coalition Information Centre (CIC), Campbell head of, aim of the dossier was to get the public to understand the threat Iraq posed and thus get them on board w war
Rangwala finds criticisms and exposed via Channel 4 3 days later
Prompted the Foreign Affairs Select Committee - Blair refuses to go Campbell does whilst there takes full responsibility for, shows Campbell had too much influence. Apologies for not recognising all sources but not of the context of the dossier. 9th report a result of which criticised the role of special advisors, in particular Campbell
Issues included : plagiarised from 3 online sources, one of which was a post graduate student in which they copied 'Saddam appointed, Sabir as head' even including incorrect use of comma and information such as country bumpkins to make seem more of a threat
Impact:
Media - surprisingly little impact in the press, those supportive of war (9.4m to 2.7m) nothing only press that published were Observer and Guardian. Channel 4 and not BBC, Cardiff university report found Channel 4 far more unfavourable to gov during Iraq
September 2002 'Sexed up Dossier'
Made by Alistair Campbell based on British Intelligence, aim was to get UN approval for war
Critical of UNMOVIC and describes Iraq as harbouring WMD, contains the 45 minute claim. Important as if complying with UNMOVIC then no case for war
Issues with it: government selectively edited the intelligence report draft to make Iraq out as a greater threat
May 2003 - Gilligan reveals issues through the BBC, script detailed how UK intelligence was unhappy with the dossier, approved therefore fit the BBC guidelines?
Campbell goes to FASC and Channel 4 where he re-ignites the war with the BBC, heavily criticises the BBC especially as based on a single anonymous source, pressures Kelly to come out
Slip ups during two way - Gilligan deviates from the approved script, says 45 minute claim was 'made up' instead of 'sexed up' and that his source was 'in charge' rather than 'involved', slip-ups allow Campbell to use non-denial denial and limit the impact
Impact: BBC at war with gov?
Dominates the press for a week, although all but the very pro labour Sun were neutral and mainly just reported the situation. Story dies down after a week though until...
BBC relation with Labour pre Iraq
BBC's 'Today' program competing with Campbell to set British news
BBC 'The World at One' covered how the government would reveal inaccurate stories to keep sleaze of the news (Spin) prominent examples include the news of an MI6 investigation on a Hong Kong governor to keep the Foreign Secretary's affair away from headlines
Death of Kelly
Campbell had pressured Kelly into being revealed, leads to presence at FASC 16th July where placed under pressure, found dead 17th July
Controversy over the death, supposed suicide but: Special branch were unusually involved and when left with body was moved from being slumped against tree, no fingerprints on knife, pills or phone (wiped?), email on day saying 'dark actors playing dark games' to colleague
Death like this normally a coroners inquest (under oath) but instead a public inquiry under Lord Hutton (not under oath), declared by Lord Chancellor who was flat mate of Blair
Impact:
Resignations of Davies (BBC Chairman), Dyke (Director General) and Gilligan. Also Campbell's but in biography said intending to do so regardless?
Press v. supportive of Kelly and anti-government, Mail (usually supportive during war) 'Proud of yourselves?'
Hutton inquiry
Phillis report further criticises role of special advisors and critical of spin
Hutton Report July 2003-Feb 2004
Death like Kelly usually a coroners inquest (under oath) but instead a public inquiry under Lord Hutton (not under oath), declared by Lord Chancellor who was flat mate of Blair
Press - Leaked to the Sun the day prior (very pro-govt) in which they used to criticise BBC, confirmed to others impartial though? Times posted 2/3 trust BBC more than gov poll, Independent famous whitewash front cover
Failed to answer questions such as other options than suicide as so quickly declared suicide verdict, focus mainly on the BBC and them allowing Gilligan to accuse dossier using Kelly's info
Impact on relations with BBC: relations already strained prior (Gilligan) though resignations of both BBC and Campbell (Campbell wrote in diaries intending to do so regardless but wrote in intention of publishing?), wide acceptance of Hutton report as a whitewash swayed the war with the govt to the BBC. Very limited long term impact tho as only real tension post 2004 was rising TV licence