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CNN Live At Daybreak

Euro Edition: Morning Papers

Aired February 04, 2004 - 05:47   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: (INAUDIBLE) making headlines overseas in this morning's 'Euro Edition.' For that we head live to London and Becky Anderson.
Good morning -- Becky.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very good morning to you, Carol.

And it has been rigged. It's a cover-up, they say in the "Daily Mail." Enter Lord Cover-Up. This, of course, the story of the investigation into intelligence gathering around weapons of mass destruction in the U.K. Tony Blair, of course, announced (INAUDIBLE) and he says it's the forth inquiry into issues surrounding weapons of mass destruction. He says that's enough after this is finished.

The man leading this investigation is a chap called Lord Butler. And here we have got what the Butler won't see or how Blair appointed an establishment yes man to head the WMD inquiry.

And what the papers are saying here is effectively this is seen as many as just another cover-up. It will be an investigation into intelligence gathering and how that was used, but not an investigation into the political judgement on the back of the intelligence services information.

And the intelligence services, in many of the papers' sources quoting these services today, suggesting they feel possibility that they are being used as political pawns. That the story, of course, from those papers who aren't necessarily supportive of the Blair government.

Well this is the story that many people have said has gripped the nation, the story of any potential demise of Tony Blair, his political standing at present. And of course we had the Hutton inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of weapons inspector David Kelly last week.

And let me just tell you this. Let me give you a fact. On Wednesday night last week, before that Hutton inquiry was released, the results of the Hutton inquiry, four-and-a-half million people watched the news in the U.K. waiting for information about that. Ten- and-a-half million people, however, were watching another channel in the U.K., watching to find out who would be thrown out of the most recent reality TV show, "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here." That's the story that's gripping the nation at present. And Linda Lee-Potter on the front of the "Daily Mail" says today, "I'm a Celebrity" is an odious show made by cynics who assume we are titillated by the pointless suffering of gropers, perverts, showoffs and the desperate. That's Linda Lee-Potter who obviously doesn't like the program very much. She is a columnist in the U.K., very outspoken.

But the rest of us apparently do, because it's all over the front pages today. And really, I mean, you know, when I say all over, I mean all over. This is Jordan (ph) who -- well anyway, this is Jordan, and she is -- she is one of the contestants. There are a bunch...

COSTELLO: Please, we have our own reality shows. We understand and we feel your pain.

ANDERSON: OK. It's absolutely unbelievable. I mean you think about it, two-and-a-half times as many people watching this program. And as I say, it's all over the front pages of the tabloids. And we haven't actually worked out who has been thrown out this morning, because it almost doesn't matter anymore. It's just the antics that these guys get up to as we watch the show...

COSTELLO: Well you should just thank...

ANDERSON: ... unfold in Australia.


Aired February 4, 2004 - 05:47   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CAROL COSTELLO, CNN ANCHOR: (INAUDIBLE) making headlines overseas in this morning's 'Euro Edition.' For that we head live to London and Becky Anderson.
Good morning -- Becky.

BECKY ANDERSON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very good morning to you, Carol.

And it has been rigged. It's a cover-up, they say in the "Daily Mail." Enter Lord Cover-Up. This, of course, the story of the investigation into intelligence gathering around weapons of mass destruction in the U.K. Tony Blair, of course, announced (INAUDIBLE) and he says it's the forth inquiry into issues surrounding weapons of mass destruction. He says that's enough after this is finished.

The man leading this investigation is a chap called Lord Butler. And here we have got what the Butler won't see or how Blair appointed an establishment yes man to head the WMD inquiry.

And what the papers are saying here is effectively this is seen as many as just another cover-up. It will be an investigation into intelligence gathering and how that was used, but not an investigation into the political judgement on the back of the intelligence services information.

And the intelligence services, in many of the papers' sources quoting these services today, suggesting they feel possibility that they are being used as political pawns. That the story, of course, from those papers who aren't necessarily supportive of the Blair government.

Well this is the story that many people have said has gripped the nation, the story of any potential demise of Tony Blair, his political standing at present. And of course we had the Hutton inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death of weapons inspector David Kelly last week.

And let me just tell you this. Let me give you a fact. On Wednesday night last week, before that Hutton inquiry was released, the results of the Hutton inquiry, four-and-a-half million people watched the news in the U.K. waiting for information about that. Ten- and-a-half million people, however, were watching another channel in the U.K., watching to find out who would be thrown out of the most recent reality TV show, "I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here." That's the story that's gripping the nation at present. And Linda Lee-Potter on the front of the "Daily Mail" says today, "I'm a Celebrity" is an odious show made by cynics who assume we are titillated by the pointless suffering of gropers, perverts, showoffs and the desperate. That's Linda Lee-Potter who obviously doesn't like the program very much. She is a columnist in the U.K., very outspoken.

But the rest of us apparently do, because it's all over the front pages today. And really, I mean, you know, when I say all over, I mean all over. This is Jordan (ph) who -- well anyway, this is Jordan, and she is -- she is one of the contestants. There are a bunch...

COSTELLO: Please, we have our own reality shows. We understand and we feel your pain.

ANDERSON: OK. It's absolutely unbelievable. I mean you think about it, two-and-a-half times as many people watching this program. And as I say, it's all over the front pages of the tabloids. And we haven't actually worked out who has been thrown out this morning, because it almost doesn't matter anymore. It's just the antics that these guys get up to as we watch the show...

COSTELLO: Well you should just thank...

ANDERSON: ... unfold in Australia.