I understand the argument. I just don't agree with it.

Sure it's still a crime. But a reasonable person would accept that it's a worse crime to hack the families of dead people/kids than it is attention whore celebs.

Nor do the royals exist on £15k a year for the delights of being threatened, abused, assaulted, spat at etc every day of their lives as do many civil servants.

I'm not making an anti royal comment and I probably wouldn't want to be one. But I think any negatives they experience for what they are is more than made up by other advantages.

And the point was about why the media (and public) might be more interested in one group than another, not who was "worth" a place in society more than another.

Yes, it's disgusting, but the layers of deceit, cover-up and arse-licking here is much more profound than this: the Met allegedly being bribed by journalists, the refusal of the police to investigate claims of corruption back in 2006, the decision by the Labour party to NOT hold an inquiry back in 2006, and - I gather this evening - Rebekkah Brooks hand in outing Chris Bryant for his sexuality because of his open criticism of the NOTW.

Has Cameron conceded a full public judicial inquiry yet? I don't know, but if he hasn't it's because he's still keeping his best underwear on for Murdoch.

Why the redtops are not regulated I cannot understand when almost every other mainstream news outlet in the UK is. Oh yes, of course, because we believe in freedom of speech and 'investigating what's in the public interest'. Bollocks. What's in the interests of the redtops is to maintain their 3m weekly readership, that's what. 'Oh come on, people don't have to buy these papers'. "Go and buy your 20p Sun, come and get your 10p Mirror, and get juicy gossip on why the Mirror/Sun[substitute paper] can actually make a difference to your lives". Sadly, it's like pushing candy to a baby.

Liverpool got it right after Hillsborough and hopefully communities up and down the country will now follow suit.

I read somewhere that the only person to keep their job was the person in charge, apparently because she has excellent 'ethics'!

james-murdoch-rebekah-brooks-video

So if you or I became famous as a result of working hard, being lucky, or winning a massive Lottery jackpot, we'd be fair game for journalists in your opinion. Illegal is still illegal, no matter who the victim is.

Well they didnt care about the jobs when they scabbed on us originally. Like Christmas come early.

I imagine most of the jobs involved are done by people who have nothing to do with the content and are good union members.

That's not what I said.

Actually his opinion was that illegal is illegal and it shouldn't be condoned.

Are people actually reading other people's posts properly on this thread because you are the second person to not read a post properly and then point the finger unjustifiably............

All this self-righteousness hysteria and finger wagging at the N of W is dull. Arrest the people for phone hacking if it's a crime and if you don't like tabloids, don't buy them.

I was responding to the point that Alan believes anyone famous is fair game, as long as the information is obtained legally.

When does someone lose the right to privacy?

I wouldn't go losing any sleep over it, they'll all be working for "The Sun on Sunday" in around a months time. Anyhow, they chose to go and work for The Dirty Digger, so f*** 'um.

Is that the same argument that says if you think a subject is dull, don't read it and don't comment on it?

Right to privacy - is there even such a right? You have a right to try to keep things private and you have the right to not be a victim of crime - but if somebody else finds out your secrets through legal means then I suspect that as far as the law is concerned it's tough shit.

I'd go further - if your private life involves wrong doing then journalists can be justified in breaking the law to find out what you are up to.

What's belonging to a union got to do with it? Perhaps some are just good workers and some are not. If you don't agree with what your employer stands for or their values, find another job. Sticking with it implies complicity by association.