Michael McGowan: Let’s see an end to Murdoch malevolence over Europe

The role of Britain in Europe may well be the main beneficiary of the phone hacking scandal but only if our political leaders are prepared to show the leadership they say they have been unable to exercise because of the media mogul’s influence.

As the bandwagon of condemnation of his media empire escalates with even the most faint hearted pitching in with their belated courage, what matters is where we go from here.

The future of Europe and its influence in the world can benefit from the phone hacking crisis if political leaders of all parties are prepared to show the same determination they have exhibited in their efforts to nail Rupert Murdoch.

We need leadership that is pro European co-operation, pro international solidarity, and uncompromisingly pro planet. The demise of the Murdoch empire provides that opportunity.

As political leaders can hardly contain themselves in getting their knives stuck into News International, we are entitled to expect a change of attitude towards Europe, nuclear defence, and asylum seekers.

And what about refugees, the gay community, women, trade unions, comprehensive schools, social workers, and the pubic sector in general? With the fear of Murdoch on the wane, we can surely expect more from our political leaders.

The demise of “little England” politics must now be in sight with an expectation that politicians will pluck up sufficient courage to take a positive approach to European co-operation.

The behaviour of some of the Murdoch press has been appalling and the phone hacking of the victims of violent crimes and of war despicable and we now need to move away from a culture of fear towards a media committed to inform and help safeguard our democracy.

The importance of a media free from both commercial and political control is an essential ingredient of a healthy democratic society, and although the Murdoch media is by no means the only culprit, the demise of the influence of News International provides a real opportunity.

As a country, Britain is always late in the day when in comes to Europe. The scandal of the Common Agriculture Policy which has haunted Europe for years is partly our fault because we were so late in getting involved with our European neighbours.

Today as Europe faces one of the most serious challenges in recent history, with the economies of Greece, Ireland, Portugal, Spain and Italy all under serious threat, we are following the same path.

Instead of being at the heart of Europe contributing our skills and experience, Britain remains a pathetic spectator, toothless and helpless,

It is a disgrace that some of our politicians in Britain have even expressed their delight at the problems facing the euro and the EU with such comments as “I told you so”.

If the leaders of our political parties in Britain cannot rise to the challenge of tackling the current crisis in Europe, they should clear off and join UKIP and make space for those who can.

We should expect better from David Cameron than his pulling the Tory MEPs out of the main stream and influential centre right Christian Democrat group in the European Parliament simply to placate the Tory far right.

And the spectacle of Gordon Brown arriving late and last to sign the Lisbon Treaty was hardly an expression of European solidarity.

Although it is easy to contemplate that Prime Minister Edward Heath and Labour leader John Smith must both be dizzy turning over in their graves, what we need to focus on is identifying the leaders who today have the vision and capacity to take us forward in Europe.

The little England approach of tabloid newspapers has led to many politicians taking a narrow nationalist stance with the result that myths and misinformation about the EU are peddled across the media.

If the view of political parties on Europe, on nuclear defence, and asylum seekers has been determined by the fear of the public influence of the Murdoch, we should now expect changes of policy from both Conservative and Labour.

A clean-up of language in the tabloids with less talk of “Frogs” and “Krauts” when speaking of fellow European citizens, less war mongering, and less competition about who is toughest on foreigners would be welcome.

The main beneficiary of the phone hacking scandal can be the influence of Britain in Europe – but that depends on the strength of its political leadership.

Michael McGowan is the former Labour MEP for Leeds and President of the Development Committee of the European Parliament.