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Questions of trust

• Justin Webb
• 11 Mar 08, 02:24 AM GMT

On the I have to admit I am not sure whether the British rules (Chad Moser wonders about them) are entirely clear-cut with regard to off-the-record comments. I shall ask my esteemed colleage Nick Robinson, the Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Political Editor, and he will inform us.

Several people make the point that the Scotsman had no hope of building a relationship with the Obama campaign - this surely has an impact on how you behave as a journalist. Ralph's story is great and reminds me of one I was told by John Major, the former British prime minister: he was with Boris Yeltsin, then Russian president, at the Kremlin. Russia was going down the tubes and Major asked Yeltsin what, in a word, his opinion was of Russia's future. "Good," he says. Major is nonplussed (it seems to be a ridiculous answer and an attempt to palm him off with nonsense in front of his officials), so he says: "And what's the longer version of that?" Yeltsin, without pausing, replies: "Not good!"

The story is on the record by the way - I have heard Major repeat it at public functions.

As for Eliot Spitzer, it is not about sex, it is about trust. And if is to believed, he may well have a criminal case to answer (not something that a British or French politician would have to deal with). That is why he has to go: plus the obvious . I imagine the 3am calls tonight coming FROM her to him.

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