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Talk about Newsnight

A blog and forum.

Wednesday, 28 November, 2007

  • Newsnight
  • 28 Nov 07, 04:36 PM

DONORS
brown_commons203.jpgLast night the man at the heart of the secret donations row broke cover to talk to Newsnight. David Abrahams told us that the man in charge of Labour's fundraising - Jon Mendelsohn - had just written to him personally to thank him for being one of the party's 'strongest supporters' - a revelation that has set a new frenzy of questions and allegations. It is now known that Mendelsohn knew earlier this month that Abrahams was making donations through intermediaries. Michael Crick has spent the day investigating the implications of the latest twists in this on-going saga.
Read Paul Mason's blog on the events and the questions that remain.

SUDAN
Within the past few minutes the Foreign Office has confirmed that a British teacher, detained in Sudan after she allowed her pupils to call a teddy bear 'Mohammad', has been charged. Gillian Gibbons, who's 54 and from Liverpool, is accused of insulting religion and inciting hatred. We hope to bring together a member of the Sudanese Government and a supporter of Gillian Gibbons.

ARMAGH
Liz MacKean has a report on increasing paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland. The story centres on the murder last month of Paul Quinn in South Armagh. Both his family and the Independent Monitoring Commission point the finger at members of the IRA but politicians on all sides reject the claims. We'll also be speaking to Northern Ireland Secretary Shaun Woodward.

Three unanswered questions for Jon Mendelsohn

  • Paul Mason
  • 28 Nov 07, 12:55 PM

mendelsohn_brown.jpgDavid Abrahams’ dramatic call to Jeremy Paxman, in the middle of Newsnight ( watch it here), leaves Labour’s Larry Whitty with some very specific questions to address in his forthcoming inquiry. I was told categorically last night, by a Labour spokesperson, that Jon Mendelsohn had never solicited money from Mr Abrahams since he had become Gordon Brown’s chief fundraiser. Yet within minutes of Newsnight running that Labour response, and Geoff Hoon repeating it, Mr Abrahams was on the phone quoting a letter – he says handwritten, Mendelsohn says typed – from Mr Mendelsohn, which he says was an implicit request for cash.

Continue reading "Three unanswered questions for Jon Mendelsohn"

Wednesday's prospects

  • Newsnight
  • 28 Nov 07, 11:28 AM

Robert Morgan is Wednesday's programme producer. Here is his early email to the Newsnight team.

Good morning,

Labour donor
Gordon BrownLots around today. The donor story gets bigger and bigger with more new questions needing answering.

IRA violence
Liz Mackean has a strong film on increasing paramilitary violence in Northern Ireland. The story centres on the murder last month of Paul Quinn in Armagh. Both his family and the Independent Monitoring Commission point the finger at the IRA but politicians on all sides reject the claims.

What else?
Other stories could include Pakistan, the state of the World economy and Kosovo. Any light stories out there for a discussion?

What do you think we should cover?

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