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Monday, June 25, 2007

Good Lord, no actually, bad Lord.

Guido is on Levy's case again. I can't say I blame him.

Leave the parties to diarists

I was disturbed to learn that at least three editors attended a farewell party in honour of Lord Levy at Lancaster House last Tuesday. His Lordship, who was Tony Blair's chief fundraiser, remains on police bail, and still faces possible charges in the so-called "cash for honours" inquiry. The party was paid for out of the public purse, and is said to have cost £6,000.

Lord Levy may, of course, be as innocent as the day is long. But until that is established, editors should steer clear of him. The three in question were Will Lewis of the The Daily Telegraph, Matthew D'Ancona of The Spectator, and Patience Wheatcroft of The Sunday Telegraph. Are any of them close friends of Lord Levy's? I doubt it. They were asked as prominent editors. Their attendance inevitably bestowed a degree of benediction on his Lordship, which is presumably why they were invited. The police and the prosecuting authorities may have got the message that Lord Levy has powerful editors on his side.

I don't complain that several lobby journalists were at the party, since it was an event of some news significance. Nor am I going to get worked up by the presence of former editors. Tony Blair's attendance may even do him some credit, since he is standing by his old friend, though it would have done him more credit if he had footed the bill rather than making the taxpayer do so.

But existing editors should not have gone. They should be more careful with the good name of their publications. They are not private individuals who can behave as they want. Incidentally, I was surprised that Londoner's Diary in The Evening Standard carried no account. I hope the newspaper's coyness had nothing to do with the presence of one of its own senior editorial executives at the party.

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