This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/politics/2013/jul/04/hugh-muir-diary-john-simpson-shrinks

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Diary: Revealed – the terror that plagues the BBC's John Simpson Diary: Revealed – the terror that plagues the BBC's John Simpson
(3 months later)
• The lot of the BBC television foreign correspondent is enviable, but it can be frustrating. They slave away in some far-flung field for years, filing pieces for obscure language services. Then war or riots break out, and before you know where you are the BBC world affairs editor, John Simpson, is on a plane – with or without the burqa he donned to enter Afghanistan – to appropriate any glory they might have had. They get the World Service gigs, he gets the prime-time slot on News at Ten. So when a good few were debriefed by the shrinks at the prestigious Institute of Psychiatry in London, a number let their feelings be known about being "bigfooted" by the man and the bosses. So much so that the interviewers resolved to call their paper on the subject "Fuck John Simpson!". They asked the Beeb for permission. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the Beeb said no.• The lot of the BBC television foreign correspondent is enviable, but it can be frustrating. They slave away in some far-flung field for years, filing pieces for obscure language services. Then war or riots break out, and before you know where you are the BBC world affairs editor, John Simpson, is on a plane – with or without the burqa he donned to enter Afghanistan – to appropriate any glory they might have had. They get the World Service gigs, he gets the prime-time slot on News at Ten. So when a good few were debriefed by the shrinks at the prestigious Institute of Psychiatry in London, a number let their feelings be known about being "bigfooted" by the man and the bosses. So much so that the interviewers resolved to call their paper on the subject "Fuck John Simpson!". They asked the Beeb for permission. Unsurprisingly, perhaps, the Beeb said no.
• Talking of the BBC, another claim from Jack Pizzey, the former presenter taking the corporation to task for its reluctance to describe waterboarding as torture. They style it a "harsh interrogation technique". On Wednesday he presented a number of other euphemisms that might usefully be used to describe torturous acts. And on Thursday, a fresh contribution: the thumbscrew, soon to be known as the "adjustable finger ring". That's his suggestion, dear reader, you may have others that need airing.• Talking of the BBC, another claim from Jack Pizzey, the former presenter taking the corporation to task for its reluctance to describe waterboarding as torture. They style it a "harsh interrogation technique". On Wednesday he presented a number of other euphemisms that might usefully be used to describe torturous acts. And on Thursday, a fresh contribution: the thumbscrew, soon to be known as the "adjustable finger ring". That's his suggestion, dear reader, you may have others that need airing.
• Deep unhappiness at the Sun following the leaking of that tape featuring Rupert Murdoch appearing to rue the assistance News Corporation gave police investigating alleged wrongdoing at his newspapers. Addressing his journos, some of whom have been under a cloud for months, Murdoch also appeared dismissive of the fuss being made over payments to public officials. The question for hacks who are angry: who would have leaked it? It's a mystery, say the aggrieved, because each apparently promised the other that they would divulge nothing, even to their own colleagues. Rupert is paying salaries – and thus mortgages – and legal fees; useful to have him on board. A lifesaver for many. Exiled colleagues on the News of The World have not been so lucky. Many were unhappy enough with Rupert to have done the deed – but the disgruntled among them have reached three conclusions. One, that the culprit or culprits may well have been situated pretty close to Murdoch at the time, the better to have taped him. Two, that the leaker, or leakers, had little to lose. The third is that the guilty, if unmasked, had better steer clear, lest police officers be drawn further still into the affair. All making a bad situation worse. As for Rupert Murdoch, what chance him ever sitting down with them again?• Deep unhappiness at the Sun following the leaking of that tape featuring Rupert Murdoch appearing to rue the assistance News Corporation gave police investigating alleged wrongdoing at his newspapers. Addressing his journos, some of whom have been under a cloud for months, Murdoch also appeared dismissive of the fuss being made over payments to public officials. The question for hacks who are angry: who would have leaked it? It's a mystery, say the aggrieved, because each apparently promised the other that they would divulge nothing, even to their own colleagues. Rupert is paying salaries – and thus mortgages – and legal fees; useful to have him on board. A lifesaver for many. Exiled colleagues on the News of The World have not been so lucky. Many were unhappy enough with Rupert to have done the deed – but the disgruntled among them have reached three conclusions. One, that the culprit or culprits may well have been situated pretty close to Murdoch at the time, the better to have taped him. Two, that the leaker, or leakers, had little to lose. The third is that the guilty, if unmasked, had better steer clear, lest police officers be drawn further still into the affair. All making a bad situation worse. As for Rupert Murdoch, what chance him ever sitting down with them again?
• An interesting take, meanwhile, from top Tory sage Paul Goodman on the state of relations between Big Dave's Conservatives and the Times. The Times have changed he says, with James Harding now at the BBC and John Witherow steering the ship of state. It's not good news for Dave. Witherow's arrival, writes Goodman on ConservativeHome, is significant because, "in the eternal balance between Murdoch's instincts and the Times's traditions, the new editor marks a sharp tilt back to the former". Already more stuff about Britain leaving the EU, and of course we know that Murdoch has a soft spot for Boris. Goodman's predictive headline: "Downing Street won't like the changes at the Times." Poor Dave's running out of time and friends.• An interesting take, meanwhile, from top Tory sage Paul Goodman on the state of relations between Big Dave's Conservatives and the Times. The Times have changed he says, with James Harding now at the BBC and John Witherow steering the ship of state. It's not good news for Dave. Witherow's arrival, writes Goodman on ConservativeHome, is significant because, "in the eternal balance between Murdoch's instincts and the Times's traditions, the new editor marks a sharp tilt back to the former". Already more stuff about Britain leaving the EU, and of course we know that Murdoch has a soft spot for Boris. Goodman's predictive headline: "Downing Street won't like the changes at the Times." Poor Dave's running out of time and friends.
• Finally, everywhere we see the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage – but what drives him? Well, we learn that he likes the idea of making a few bob. This emerges as he becomes the latest politician to confide in the author Dominic Shelmerdine about his original ambition. "My first thought in my early teens was to join the army. But once Mrs Thatcher was elected and the City boom began, I knew I had to be there. The aim was to make lots of money and have a good time." And he did, but that was then. Now – despite his MEP's salary of £60,000 plus allowances – he claims to be "completely skint". He could cut out the beer and fags, but that wouldn't be him would it?• Finally, everywhere we see the Ukip leader, Nigel Farage – but what drives him? Well, we learn that he likes the idea of making a few bob. This emerges as he becomes the latest politician to confide in the author Dominic Shelmerdine about his original ambition. "My first thought in my early teens was to join the army. But once Mrs Thatcher was elected and the City boom began, I knew I had to be there. The aim was to make lots of money and have a good time." And he did, but that was then. Now – despite his MEP's salary of £60,000 plus allowances – he claims to be "completely skint". He could cut out the beer and fags, but that wouldn't be him would it?
Twitter: @hugh_muir Twitter: @hugh_muir
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.