Michael Grade, Executive Chairman of ITV

Another media post. While the news yesterday was dominated by the BBC cuts imbroglio and the Prime Minister’s slight of hand in Lisbon, ITV decided it was a good day to publish the report on its own “fakery” scandal involving the embezzlement of millions of pounds from its viewers (hope embezzlement is not too strong a word). Michael Grade, Executive Chairman of ITV, appeared on national television to… not apologise (or rather to apologise in such a way that it was clear it was nothing to do with him).

Michael Grade was interviewed by Jeremy Paxman on last night’s Newsnight and by John Humphrys on this morning’s Today programme. The medium is the message, so possibly Michael Grade felt that by submitting himself to interrogation by the country’s two most formidable interviewers he has done enough to assuage the public demand for justice and can now “move on”. It is the usual deceit practiced by people in public life of stooping to conquer.

In both interviews Michael Grade assumed a style of great weariness as if he was a decent man trying to make sense of a morass of well-meaning incompetence. To make matters worse, there were skilled interlocutors deliberately trying to trip him up, set traps for him, and generally make it look as if ITV had been caught doing something dishonest. But by offering himself up to such demeaning cross-examinations Michael Grade has earned redemption for his organisation and everyone can “move on”.

Except that this will not do.

We cannot tolerate corruption in public life. If Michael Grade cannot discover and dismiss the individuals responsible for this fraud then he must go himself. The “cheeky duo” Ant and Dec must not be allowed to stall public scrutiny by “statements” issued through third parties, and if they are not prepared to be open and transparent they cannot expect to appear on ITV again.

Oh, and on the subject of the new European Treaty / Constitution, as there has been no referendum the Treaty is not legitimate. On a personal level I repudiate the Treaty and I also repudiate Gordon Brown and David Miliband who claim they have the authority to sign the Treaty on my behalf. I realise they will ignore my repudiation, but nevertheless I repudiate them.