Justin Webb's America

Questions of trust

• Justin Webb
• 11 Mar 08, 02:24 AM GMT

On the Sam Power/Scotsman issue, I have to admit I am not sure whether the British rules (Chad Moser wonders about them) are entirely clear-cut with regard to off-the-record comments. I shall ask my esteemed colleage Nick Robinson, the BBC Political Editor, and he will inform us.

Several people make the point that the Scotsman had no hope of building a relationship with the Obama campaign - this surely has an impact on how you behave as a journalist. Ralph's story is great and reminds me of one I was told by John Major, the former British prime minister: he was with Boris Yeltsin, then Russian president, at the Kremlin. Russia was going down the tubes and Major asked Yeltsin what, in a word, his opinion was of Russia's future. "Good," he says. Major is nonplussed (it seems to be a ridiculous answer and an attempt to palm him off with nonsense in front of his officials), so he says: "And what's the longer version of that?" Yeltsin, without pausing, replies: "Not good!"

The story is on the record by the way - I have heard Major repeat it at public functions.

As for Eliot Spitzer, it is not about sex, it is about trust. And if this report is to believed, he may well have a criminal case to answer (not something that a British or French politician would have to deal with). That is why he has to go: plus the obvious embarrassment to Hillary Clinton. I imagine the 3am calls tonight coming FROM her to him.

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