"Gate"

One of the minor, but interesting, features of the current 'phone hacking scandal is that it has not had the suffix "gate" applied.  Watergate, White Water Gate (in the US), Nipplegate, Biscuitgate, Bigotgate, Climategate etc.  Usually the "gate" description is added by tabloid newspapers, so possibly its absence in this case indicates that the tabloids have not taken ownership of this scandal, nor have they been the principle agents for its exposure.

Yesterday on the Politics Show presenter Jon Sopel said the programme would be taking a holiday over the summer.  This long summer break is not good for public scrutiny of issues of concern.  I hope Newsnight is not also going off on holiday as that will just leave the Guardian and the Today programme to keep the pressure on News International (the other newspapers have been very reluctant to cover the 'phone hacking scandal, leading to suspicions that they are just as incriminated as the News Of The World).