Today we have the General Meeting for Shareholders of News International taking place in California. A variety of people have turned up to take part in this event. Tom Watson the UK MP has arrived and having been checked through security (No doubt to make sure that he hadn't got any cans of shaving foam concealed on his person, after Ruperts earlier experience) he's been on the shareholders bus where he's aiming to speak to the meeting.
The Guardian quotes him
News Corporation annual shareholder meeting – live | Media | guardian.co.uk
I caught up with Tom Watson last night at the hotel. He told me that so far shareholders believe this is a scandal centered around one rogue private investigator but there are three other private investigators being looked at by the Metropolitan Police and much more to come.
"I don't think shareholders know what they are exposing themselves to," he said. That's what he intends to say at the meeting given the chance. He also alleges there is good evidence that Murdoch knew that the issue was wider than one rogue reporter at the time of the last annual meeting in October 2010, and is intending to bring that up.
He's been speaking to shareholders. "When I talk to people they are genuinely shocked. When you look at the scale of wrongdoing, it's obvious it is systemic," he said
The day has several key votes,
Rupert Murdoch faces showdown with shareholders - Americas, World - The Independent
Several institutional investors were meanwhile preparing to oppose the appointment of the 15 company directors seeking re-election, saying the scandal demonstrates that the company’s board is insufficiently independent from Mr Murdoch and his family.
A motion calling for the tycoon to be stripped of his Chairmanship of News Corp, which he currently holds in conjunction with the Chief Executive’s role, was also due to be debated .
There are other votes coming that would reduce the income that the Murdochs are extracting from the organisation. but these are not as significant, and even if successful would just be a token blow rather than the more serious reduction of power that the main two votes cover.
More to come as the meeting rolls on