Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
In yesterday’s paper we reported that Maria Miller’s “apology” to Parliament lasted 31 seconds. In fact it was 32 seconds. Our political staff are being kitted out with the timing technology used to measure Formula One lap splits, lest any other MPs should accidentally accumulate wealth – we all know how easy that is to do – and feel it necessary to show the obstruction and lack of contrition displayed by Ms Miller.
Let’s be clear: this was no duck house or moat cleaning fiddle. The Culture Secretary will not be slipping her ankle into a Brixton Rolex. But after over-claiming money on her mortgage she refused to pay it back until she was made to – and her determination to resist the investigation is now detailed in more than 100 pages of correspondence released by the standards committee.
Ms Miller’s dismissive tone and obstruction of the investigation into her financial probity insult the public and challenge her fitness for office. Her refusal to accept she made a mistake has damaged her in the eyes of reasonable people – and further damaged faith in all of our politicians, at a time when we might hope they take extra care. The Prime Minister’s response to all this is to tell critics that “we should leave it there”. Move on.
Yesterday, the former editor of The Daily Telegraph, Tony Gallagher, said that when newspaper reporters began investigating the claims in winter 2012, Downing Street’s director of communications, Craig Oliver, phoned him to warn that Ms Miller was “looking at Leveson” and drawing up plans for press regulation. “Utterly false”, Mr Oliver insists.
Believe who you will.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments