Madeleine McCann: Duarte Levy, Clarence Mitchell And The Daily Mirror
DUARTE Levy writes on the case of Madeleine McCann. He alleges that that Clarence Mitchell, the McCanns’ PR adviser, is “using the Government’s services to keep watch on journalists and forum participants.” Says Mr Levy:
Clarence Mitchell, the McCann’s PR adviser and spokesman, continues to make use of the British government’s services despite having officially resigned from his position as director of the Media Monitoring Unit*. The accusation comes from a Home Office source who has stated that the outgoing director had called upon his former service to keep a watch not only on several journalists but also on the behaviour of participants in a list of forums and blogs considered to be “highly detrimental to the image of the McCanns and that of the British government”.
Can what Mr Levy alleges be true? And if it is, why would it be a big deal for the McCanns’ spokesman to keep an eye on the web, and get what help he can? Mr Levy continues:
Clarence Mitchell, a former journalist for the Daily Express and the BBC, was seconded by the Foreign Office to act as a liaison officer between the media and Madeleine’s parents. Through the intermediary of the respective British embassies, it was he who organised the McCann’s visits to the Vatican, Madrid, Berlin, Amsterdam and Rabat.
Since the very early days, media monitoring has been an important part of Clarence Mitchell’s work. While the McCann’s were in Praia da Luz, it was he who decided to separate journalists according to nationality: the British first, and the Portuguese last.
Today, the McCann’s PR campaign relies more than ever on monitoring public opinion: over the past few days several UK forums and blogs have been shut down due to “anti-McCann” comments. Amongst them is the Mirror newspaper’s forum, which erased all comments about the case without warning when the participants started to debate Home Office interference.
No response from Mr Mitchell is quoted in Mr Levy’s email to us. But why did the Daily Mirror close its forum? Anyone from those forums care to tell us what they know?
Anorak’s monitoring team try to read all reader comments - of which there are thousands.
Posted: 27th, January 2008 | In: Madeleine McCann Comments (741) | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink
Comments
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January 27th, 2008 at 11:53 pm
The wristbands are “expenses” …?! Sold at what GBP 2.00 a piece. In my business that’s called a “profit” …
January 27th, 2008 at 11:50 pm
411
Tony Bennett Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 7:29 pm
311 Grand Finale reproduced this extract from a statement made in August ( CUT )
“QUESTION: What is the money being spent on?
********************************************
REPLY A slight misunderstanding there, that wasn’t my question it is copied from the official fund page.
I was in fact pointing out the fact that the wristbands are said to be an ‘EXPENSE’ of the fund according to the official fund page but in actual fact I believe they are part of the income of the fund
“Apparently they are not selling the wristbands, they are awareness raising items”
BELOW is copied from the site the stars are mine………………..
14.
What is the money being spent on?
The Fund is supporting the McCann family during their search for Madeleine and in ensuring a high profile of Madeleine’s abduction is maintained. As at the end of July 2007, only a small proportion of the money raised has been spent. This has been on **awareness raising items e.g. wristbands,** website, family expenses and professional fees, including concerning international law on child abduction and the costs of setting up the Fund. The directors are considering the future strategy of the Fund to ensure effective use of funds.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
672
JuneJohnson Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
“Mods and Admin
To anyone who has not yet noticed, this site is based on satire. We don’t demand that people stick on topic. [...] Perhaps newcomers don’t welcome flirtations interruptions etc, but learn to bear with us, [...]”
*****
Hm… June, problem is: I cannot find anyone to flirt with since Saul has left us
January 27th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
I was genuinely puzzled on the Red Rooster gender, as he/she seems to swap between the two at random, and wondered where that left poor Ciara-Louise in this online flirtation.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:47 pm
Nite nite RR, still fwends?
January 27th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
677
Ciara-Louise Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
————————-
miss you too babe xxx
January 27th, 2008 at 11:46 pm
664 Ko Star
Thank you for your post.
Like you I stayed a long time reading without posting, then I started posting and it’s still better!
Some people bring really interesting information, especially those living in Spain or Portugal. Some are very good at sleuthing and keep searching. Some are great fun. And all of them very good at debating.
Beware! Anorak is addictive!
January 27th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
RR,
Goodnight, ’til tomorrow. Will miss you.
xxx
January 27th, 2008 at 11:44 pm
670
Tony Bennett Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
“661 Châtelaine says (January 27th, 2008 at 11:24 pm):
“No offence meant, but having a serious knowledge of the E.U., IMO the very best solution would be for the U.K. to leave the Union…and leave Europe to be the ‘continent’…
REPLY: Yes, fully agreed.
It reminds me of something Sir Winston Churchill once said:
“We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked but not comprised. We are associated but not absorbed. And should European statesmen address us and say, ‘Shall we speak for thee?’, we should reply, ‘Nay Sir, for we dwell among our own people’.”
Great man!
*****
Couldn’t agree more …!
& let the U.K. be the perfect “trait d’union” between the European continent and the USA
January 27th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Nite nite Ciara-Lou xxx
nite nite all
January 27th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
666
Jane,
Duncan posted a link for you.
582
DuncanR Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 10:01 pm
Jane - off Subject
European Referendum
I have set up an area of Anorak Forums to highlight this issue
http://www.anorak.co.uk/forums/topic.php?id=989&replies=1
January 27th, 2008 at 11:41 pm
New thread….
January 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Mods and Admin
To anyone who has not yet noticed, this site is based on satire.
We don’t demand that people stick on topic.
Of course Madeleine McCann is of great interest and concern to us.
The regular posters know when anything important comes up either from sources close to the McCanns or the other place that the topic gets chewed over eagerly.
Perhaps newcomers don’t welcome flirtations interruptions etc, but learn to bear with us, join in and then introduce what you would like discussed.
Accusing someone of alternative sexual behaviour is not on especially when you don’t know their gender and neither is any other form of abuse, we are relaxed and easy going here.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
663 jass Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Lyn 658:
That’s another rather odd thing - no photos of the many other Tapas children on holiday with Madeleine, except for the one picture in the playground with the unidentified brown-haired girl (possibly Jane Tanner’s child) and the bald-headed also mystery man.
++++++++
I assumed it was because the other parents didn’t want their children identified…?
****************
Me too. And remember when this started, it was about Madeleine, the girl that disappeared without a trace. Woolfall selected [at the beginning] the pictures that were published.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:39 pm
661 Châtelaine says (January 27th, 2008 at 11:24 pm):
“No offence meant, but having a serious knowledge of the E.U., IMO the very best solution would be for the U.K. to leave the Union…and leave Europe to be the ‘continent’…
REPLY: Yes, fully agreed.
It reminds me of something Sir Winston Churchill once said:
“We are with Europe, but not of it. We are linked but not comprised. We are associated but not absorbed. And should European statesmen address us and say, ‘Shall we speak for thee?’, we should reply, ‘Nay Sir, for we dwell among our own people’.”
Great man!
January 27th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
633 Ian Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
So, as no one is taking my abduction theory seriously enough even to argue I shall insult everyone and leave in a huff - you are all a bunch of inhumane bastards.
See, I can do pro-McCann
*********************
Yes you can!
I’m typing with a cat on my lap, puppy who’s pushing my elbow and doing my utmost to answer your post [without adding too many speculations] and there you are gone!!!
Should I call you now nasty names or shall I creep into a corner and cry my eyes out?
Have to work tomorrow, so little time. Will be back in the evening.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:36 pm
667
jo Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
662
RedRooster Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
****************
Any riot for me?
———————–
remember you must be patient jo
January 27th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
662
RedRooster Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
****************
Any riot for me?
January 27th, 2008 at 11:34 pm
661
Châtelaine Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
659
Jane Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
“[…] Everyone who loves democracy and our country should support all of the Referendum campaigns, such as CREC’s and I Want A Referendum.com, because if they don’t, we will lose our democracy, it really is that desperately serious.”
******
No offense meant, but having a serious knowledge of the E.U., IMO the very best solution would be for the U.K. to leave the Union … and leave Europe to be the “continent”…
Apart from that, may I suggest your topic is discussed in a more appropriate thread
………………………………………………..
Many here would agree with you, Châtelaine, and that may well happen in the longer term, however, for the time being, those of us in Britain must fight this hugely threatening and undemocratic Treaty which our government and a political party I supported for most of my life are trying to shove down our throats.
Re: your off topic comment. I do agree and I do apologise, however we are fighting for our freedom and democracy here, this is so desperately serious. I asked Duncan where Anorak’s Referendum forum/thread is as I can’t find it, but he’s not around at present.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:31 pm
659 Jane said: “Everyone who loves democracy and our country should support all of the Referendum campaigns, such as CREC’s and I Want A Referendum.com, because if they don’t, we will lose our democracy, it really is that desperately serious”.
REPLY: Jane, please note this actual quote from Tony Blair’s book, published in 1996: “New Britain: My Vision of a Young Country”, page 70; here is a verbatim quote:
“If there are further steps to European integration, the people should have their say at a general election or in a referendum”.
Once again, for the record…
“If there are further steps to European integration, the people should have their say at a general election or in a referendum”.
And just to make sure we haven’t forgotten…
“If there are further steps to European integration, the people should have their say at a general election or in a referendum”.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
A big THANK YOU to all posters. I have enjoyed reading posts on a daily basis and although I am one who rarely contributes, I am an avid reader. Your posts and links are informative and at times amusing and have been a wonderful source for me to keep up to date with the Mccann story here in Australia.
For the record - I totally believe that the Mccanns are guilty of something more than child abandonment and can’t wait to see the headline that informs that that the cat is out of the bag and that justice will be served.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
Lyn 658:
That’s another rather odd thing - no photos of the many other Tapas children on holiday with Madeleine, except for the one picture in the playground with the unidentified brown-haired girl (possibly Jane Tanner’s child) and the bald-headed also mystery man.
I assumed it was because the other parents didn’t want their children identified…?
January 27th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
660
Ciara-Louise Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
RR,
That’s okay I’ll wait for you.
Yes, I’ll have one more glass with you , remember I have school tomorrow.
PS. Better add that I teach in the school before Jass jumps to any more conclusions!
————————————————-
are you staying over tonight?, you know you’re more than welcome to.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:24 pm
659
Jane Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
“[...] Everyone who loves democracy and our country should support all of the Referendum campaigns, such as CREC’s and I Want A Referendum.com, because if they don’t, we will lose our democracy, it really is that desperately serious.”
******
No offense meant, but having a serious knowledge of the E.U., IMO the very best solution would be for the U.K. to leave the Union … and leave Europe to be the “continent”…
Apart from that, may I suggest your topic is discussed in a more appropriate thread
January 27th, 2008 at 11:22 pm
RR,
That’s okay I’ll wait for you.
Yes, I’ll have one more glass with you , remember I have school tomorrow.
PS. Better add that I teach in the school before Jass jumps to any more conclusions!
January 27th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
466 Jane says (January 27th, 2008 at 8:27 pm):
The I want a Referendum campaign has also announced that they have raised enough money to hold a referendum on the EU Constitution in the region. The vote in Harlow will be among a wave of referendums in constituencies across the country. To carry out
635
Tony Bennett Says:
I didn’t know about this campaign, but I think it’s excellent; like ours, it is very late in the day - but then as you say there has been tremendous apathy, and I’m afraid a shortage of effective campaigning by those who are aware that if this Treaty passes into law, there is effectively no way back and we have lost our political independence for good.
So, yes, I will fully support your campaign; equally I hope your campaigners will send off some of our postcards to the Queen.
………………………………………….
Thank you for your support. I will indeed send off your purple postcards - another excellent idea - to our supporters. I will send you a cheque for 1000 cards tomorrow, I won’t pay online as I never use online payment systems. I’m sure everyone working on the Harlow Referendum will support your campaign: CREC (Campaign for a Referendum on the European Constitution) too.
Everyone who loves democracy and our country should support all of the Referendum campaigns, such as CREC’s and I Want A Referendum.com, because if they don’t, we will lose our democracy, it really is that desperately serious.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:21 pm
Are there any photos around of the other children on holiday with the McCanns?
January 27th, 2008 at 11:16 pm
652
Châtelaine Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:11 pm
—————-
fair comment
January 27th, 2008 at 11:15 pm
Red Rooster, check your post 634.
But my point is that some people (like me) don’t want to wade through endless kissy-kissy posts here.
My more important thought for tonight is taken from some posts on the three arguidos site, and it’s not the first time it’s been mentioned: namely, that the tiny Madeleine who is seen boarding the plane, and on some PDL holiday shots, seems younger and smaller than the Madeleine in some pre-hol pictures.
More curiously, we have video film of Madeleine taken at Christmas 2006. Her hair is in a longish bob, but barely to her shoulders.
Later pictures, e.g. in the sports shirt, show hair at least four inches longer.
This may not mean anything much…but it does add to the mystery about the whole case.
January 27th, 2008 at 11:14 pm
653
Ciara-Louise Says:
January 27th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
RR,
You’ve gone quiet.
————————
sorry about that i was waiting for that ignorant fool to answer you
another glass gorgeous ??