THE RATS FLEE MURDOCH'S SINKING SHIP

Something smells at the heart of the British establishment. It's the stench of corruption.

The assembly-line phone hacking that occurred at the defunct News of the World has sparked a tsunami that has swept through the British establishment, taking with it careers and reputations and revealing an ugly landscape of political cronyism, nepotism, incompetence, ethical bankruptcy and cash payments for 'services rendered'. Hanging over all this is the suspicion that an unholy alliance of politicians, police and journalists have tried to cover up their dirty deeds. A lot of people appear to have a lot to hide.

And now a former News of the World journalist, who blew the whistle on the extent of phone hacking, has been found dead in his home. Sean Hoare, 47, who accused his former editor, Andy Coulson, of complicity in the illegal activity, was discovered at his home days after he made a series of fresh allegations against executives under whom he worked.

Andy Coulson was employed by David Cameron as his Downing Street media strategist after Coluson resigned from his job at the News of the World.

The water is beginning to lap at the door of 10 Downing Street. Like all recent British Prime Minister's before him, David Cameron has courted the support and patronage of the Murdoch Empire.

This has included, among other things, inviting Rupert's favourite lieutenant, Rebekah Brooks, around for Christmas dinner and inviting her to his fortieth birthday party.

Cameron was criticised for having dinner with Rebekah Brooks while his government was considering Murdoch’s bid for BSkyB.

Cameron, up to a few days ago, was still describing the former News International CEO as 'a friend'. I doubt he'll describe her as that again - not in public anyway.

It's not surprising how the members of the British ruling class and its allies are all running for cover. While the socialist left has been consistently and rightly anti-Murdoch, the British establishment have, apparently, just discovered that Rupert is not a very pleasant character.

Poor old Rupert. Just a few weeks ago, all the politicians wanted his favour and attention. Now he's about as popular as someone who just farted in a crowded elevator. Actually, he's probably less popular.

Just before the Milly Downer scandal erupted, Rupert's daughter Elizabeth and her PR tycoon husband threw a party a their 22-bedroom Cotswolds mansion. Incidentally, it is only a few miles from Cameron's country home.

Among the guests were Education Secretary Michael Gove and Culture Minister Ed Vaizey, as well as former Labour Cabinet Ministers Peter Mandelson, David Miliband (Ed's brother) , James Purnell and Douglas Alexander.

And, of course, also at the party were James Murdoch, the deputy chief operating officer of News Corp and the ubiquitous Rebekah Brooks.

The media were also represented.

The BBC's director-general Mark Thompson, corporation executive Alan Yentob and Top Gear presenter Jeremy Clarkson were drinking champagne and generally living it up. CNN host and Mail on Sunday columnist Piers Morgan also made an appearance.

You would of thought that they would of all gone into bat for Rupert but not a word of defence has been heard. When the chips are down the natural inclination of the British establishment is to look after number one and flee. But only after guzzling all the champagne and scoffing the caviar.

Only Jeremy Clarkson seems to have come to the defence of the crumbling Murdoch Empire.

Shortly after Rebekah Brooks resigned he wrote in his Sun column:

'Rebekah is one of my closest friends and I'm sorry but I cannot accept that she sanctioned the hacking of Milly Dowler's phone, knowing that it would cause the girl's poor parents to believe their beloved daughter was still alive… I'd sooner believe that my mother spends her evenings working as a rent boy.'

Now Ms Brooks has been arrested, Clarkson may be reconsidering his position. He is now the subject of a lot of internet flak about being a Murdoch 'yes man'.

For those of us on the socialist left who have, year in and year out, watched Murdoch bash the working class and its interests - these are days of vindication.

We have always been right about Rupert Murdoch.