Latest news with #DavidDinsmore
BBC News
13 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Liverpool Metro Mayor criticises Ex-Sun editor's government role
The reported appointment of a former editor of The Sun newspaper to a senior role in government communications has been described as "deeply insensitive" to the people of Liverpool, by the mayor of Liverpool City Rotheram accused David Dinsmore, who edited the national newspaper from 2013-2015, of leading a paper which "printed falsehoods that caused unimaginable pain" following the 1989 Hillsborough Sun apologised 23 years later for its front page which made unfounded claims about Liverpool fans in the immediate aftermath of the tragic incident at the FA Cup semi-final, in which 97 supporters Government Communication Service has been contacted for comment. Posting on X, Mr Rotheram wrote: "Ordinarily, I wouldn't comment on staffing decisions - especially those involving civil servants who, too often, are subjected to unfair criticism - but given the context, I feel compelled to speak out about the appointment of David Dinsmore." He added: "For many people in our city, particularly those who fought for justice for the Hillsborough families, this appointment will be seen as a deeply insensitive choice, given the hurt caused to our communities unjustly targeted by that 'newspaper', Rupert Murdoch and his acolytes.""Liverpool hasn't forgotten. We haven't forgiven. And we never will."He said the "falsehoods" printed in The Sun under Mr Dinsmore's leadership "shouldn't be brushed off as a footnote in his CV"."There are legitimate questions that deserve answers."Mr Rotheram asked if the appointment process had been "genuinely open, fair and transparent".He added: "Were the views and experiences of those affected by that brand of journalism taken into account?"The metro mayor said he supported the government's ambition "to rebuild trust in politics", but appointments like that of Mr Dinsmore "risk undermining that effort"."Trust can't be restored by drawing from the same networks that helped erode it." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
Telegraph
15 hours ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Liverpool Mayor attacks Starmer for ‘deeply insensitive' Sun appointment
The Mayor of the Liverpool city region has attacked Sir Keir Starmer for appointing the former editor of The Sun to one of the most senior communications jobs in the Government. Steve Rotheram, the Labour Mayor, called the appointment 'a deeply insensitive choice' given David Dinsmore's previous links to the newspaper. The journalist is set to take up the new position of permanent secretary for communications, having been interviewed personally by the Prime Minister. Many residents of Liverpool still boycott The Sun over its coverage of the Hillsborough stadium disaster in 1989. In a statement on X, Mr Rotheram said: 'For many people in our city, particularly those who fought for justice for the Hillsborough families, this appointment will be seen as a deeply insensitive choice given the hurt caused to our communities unjustly targeted by that 'newspaper', Rupert Murdoch and his acolytes. 'The paper Dinsmore once led printed falsehoods that caused unimaginable pain. That shouldn't be brushed off as a footnote in his CV – it should be a red line.' In the written statement, shared on social media, Mr Rotheram included in bold: 'Liverpool hasn't forgotten. We haven't forgiven. And we never will.' The Mayor said he supported the Government's 'ambition to rebuild trust in politics', but added that 'appointments like this could risk undermining that effort'. His statement raises further questions about how Labour might be received in Liverpool in the autumn, when it holds its annual party conference in the city. Mr Dinsmore was editor of The Sun from 2013 to 2015. He started journalism as a reporter on The Scottish Sun aged 22 in 1990, one year after the Hillsborough disaster, and rose to become its editor in 2006. He is still at News UK, which is owned by Rupert Murdoch, where he has been chief operating officer for the past decade. 'Betrayal of Liverpool' Kim Johnson, the Labour MP for Liverpool Riverside, described the appointment as 'an insult to Hillsborough families and campaigners' and 'a betrayal of Liverpool'. Mr Dinsmore's appointment is the latest example of senior tabloid journalists entering government to help a prime minister with communications. Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, helped Lord Cameron in opposition and then Downing Street before leaving amid the phone-hacking scandal. Alastair Campbell was political editor of the Daily Mirror before he became Sir Tony Blair's most senior communications adviser. Sir Keir was said to have been impressed by Mr Dinsmore's understanding of modern communication challenges. He will be a Civil Service appointment, based in the Cabinet Office, rather than a political adviser, charged with overseeing the Government's significant communications operation. Mr Rotheram has been the Mayor of Liverpool since 2017, after serving as the MP for Liverpool Walton. During his time in Westminster, he led campaigns seeking justice for Hillsborough families, also serving as a shadow minister for Jeremy Corbyn when he was Labour leader.
The Independent
17 hours ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Who is David Dinsmore? The former Sun editor given top comms job by Starmer
David Dinsmore was editor of the tabloid newspaper between 2013 and 2015. He will now act as a senior civil servant responsible for overseeing and improving government communications. Whitehall sources indicate Mr Dinsmore's role, permanent secretary for communications, had been newly-created by the prime minister. He was personally selected by Sir Keir after the PM was impressed with his understanding of modern media challenges, The Telegraph reports. Mr Dinsmore began his career in journalism at the Scottish Sun in 1990, and rose to become its editor in 2006. He edited The Sun between 2013 and 2015, after which he was promoted to chief operating officer of News UK. The journalist was again promoted in 2022 to News UK's Executive Vice President, whilst retaining the COO role. He has earned plaudits for his media career, ranking 27th in the 2014 Media Guardian 100 and 67th in GQ magazine's 2015 'Most Connected Men in Britain' list. While parts of The Sun online went behind a paywall during Mr Dinsmore's tenure, he is credited with growing the paper's online subscriber base from an initial 117,000 to almost double, at 225,000. But the appointment is likely to prove controversial among some Labour MPs, especially representing from Liverpool, where there remains a concerted boycott of The Sun over its reporting of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. Campaigners have also pointed to several controversies which took place during Mr Dinsmore's time at the tabloid newspaper. In 2016, the former Sun editor was convicted of breaching the Sexual Offences Act after the tabloid printed a photo of a teenage victim of a sexual offence in 2013, which did not conceal the victim's identity, and which happened during his tenure. The teenager was victim of footballer Adam Johnson, a former England player who was found guilty of sexual activity with the 15-year-old girl in 2016. Judge Howard Riddle said he was 'satisfied' Mr Dinsmore did not realise he was committing an offence. He was ordered to pay £1,300 costs and £1,000 in compensation to the victim. Shortly before Mr Dinsmore left the editor post, The Sun dropped its page 3 featuring topless models following prolonged outcry from campaigners. However, he was branded 'sexist of the year' in 2014 by campaign group End Violence Against Women, after initially resisting the move. In 2013, Mr Dinsmore said in an interview it was a 'good way of selling newspapers.' The former newspaper editor was also criticised for platforming Katie Hopkins during his tenure, during which time she held a weekly column promoting her as 'Britain's most controversial columnist.' Both Ms Hopkins and Mr Dinsmore were reported to the Metropolitan Police in 2015 for incitement to racial hatred over a column that appeared in The Sun. The piece saw Ms Hopkins describe asylum seekers looking to reach Britain as 'cockroaches' and suggested the government deploy 'gunships' to stop them landing on shore. Filing his report, barrister Peter Herbert, chair of the Society of Black Lawyers, said the column contained 'some of the most offensive, xenophobic and racist comments I have read in a British newspaper for some years.' While Ms Hopkins was questioned over the comments by police, the Met confirmed neither she nor Mr Dinsmore would be charged. Mr Dinsmore's appointment to Sir Keir's top team has been strongly criticised by campaign group Hacked Off, established in 2011 in response to the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. Launching a petition against his appoint, the group said accused Mr Dinsmore of overseeing 'endless and false denials that The Sun was involved in the phone hacking scandal; eventually exposed in January 2025, when The Sun was forced to apologise.' 'Appointing a former Sun editor to a publicly funded role is an insult to the taxpayer, and in particular to all those who were affected by the Hillsborough disaster and were smeared with despicable and false attacks by The Sun newspaper,' it adds.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Politics
- Yahoo
Former Sun editor appointed communications chief at heart of Starmer Government
A former editor of the Sun will take up a senior communications role at the heart of Government. David Dinsmore, who was editor of the tabloid newspaper between 2013 and 2015, will serve as a senior civil servant responsible for overseeing and improving Government communications. The Telegraph newspaper, which first reported his appointment, described the role as a newly created position which it called 'permanent secretary for communications', created after the Prime Minister voiced concerns about Government communications late last year. The PA news agency understands he will be undertaking a role which replaces Simon Baugh, who was the chief executive of the Government Communications Service. Sir Keir Starmer is said to have interviewed shortlisted candidates for the role, and to have been impressed with Mr Dinsmore's understanding of communication challenges, according to the Telegraph. Mr Dinsmore began his career in journalism at the Scottish Sun in 1990, and rose to become its editor in 2006. He edited the Sun between 2013 and 2015, after which he was promoted to chief operating officer of News UK. Under his stewardship, the newspaper dropped its page 3 featuring topless models, following prolonged outcry from campaigners. Mr Dinsmore was branded 'sexist of the year' in 2014 by campaign group End Violence Against Women, after holding out against the move. He is the latest in a string of prominent tabloid newspaper men to have moved into communications roles at the heart of Government, following in the footsteps of senior Blair government media adviser Alastair Campbell, and Andy Coulson, who worked in Lord David Cameron's government. Mr Dinsmore's appointment could prove controversial among Labour MPs, especially those from Liverpool, where there remains a concerted boycott of the Sun over its reporting of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
The Independent
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Independent
Former Sun editor appointed communications chief at heart of Starmer Government
A former editor of the Sun will take up a senior communications role at the heart of Government. David Dinsmore, who was editor of the tabloid newspaper between 2013 and 2015, will serve as a senior civil servant responsible for overseeing and improving Government communications. The Telegraph newspaper, which first reported his appointment, described the role as a newly created position which it called 'permanent secretary for communications', created after the Prime Minister voiced concerns about Government communications late last year. The PA news agency understands he will be undertaking a role which replaces Simon Baugh, who was the chief executive of the Government Communications Service. Sir Keir Starmer is said to have interviewed shortlisted candidates for the role, and to have been impressed with Mr Dinsmore's understanding of communication challenges, according to the Telegraph. Mr Dinsmore began his career in journalism at the Scottish Sun in 1990, and rose to become its editor in 2006. He edited the Sun between 2013 and 2015, after which he was promoted to chief operating officer of News UK. Under his stewardship, the newspaper dropped its page 3 featuring topless models, following prolonged outcry from campaigners. Mr Dinsmore was branded 'sexist of the year' in 2014 by campaign group End Violence Against Women, after holding out against the move. He is the latest in a string of prominent tabloid newspaper men to have moved into communications roles at the heart of Government, following in the footsteps of senior Blair government media adviser Alastair Campbell, and Andy Coulson, who worked in Lord David Cameron's government. Mr Dinsmore's appointment could prove controversial among Labour MPs, especially those from Liverpool, where there remains a concerted boycott of the Sun over its reporting of the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
