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Gary Gibbon
As billed, Jeremy Hunt is emphasising the extra and unpopular references and burdens he was willing to put on News Corp over their bid for all of BSkyB. He quotes James Murdoch saying they were “tantamount to killing the deal.” But the real interest so far will be the text exchanges on the day Vince Cable’s sting by the Telegraph was fully disclosed.
Gary Gibbon
Damning report from the media select committee on the Murdoch empire, but four Tory MPs didn’t sign up to the criticism of Rupert Murdoch – a Lib Dem and the five Labour members did. That diminishes the power of the report somewhat, blogs Gary Gibbon.
MPs investigating phone hacking at the News of the World say News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch showed ‘wilful blindness’ to what was going on at his media empire.
The Prime Minister has insisted there was no deal between the Conservatives and Rupert Murdoch to smooth the way for the tycoon’s takeover of BSkyB.
Was Jeremy Hunt really teasing when he ended a meeting saying: “I must just see what James thinks about all this”?
Gary Gibbon
A more snappish Rupert Murdoch in evidence at Leveson today. The man who said yesterday that anyone in public life was fair game for media attention today complains about being harrassed by snappers and reporters when he left his home beside Rebekah Brooks last year.
On his second day of giving evidence at the Leveson Inquiry, Rupert Murdoch will face questions over the allegations of phone hacking and bribery at the heart of the scandal that led to the closure of the News of the World. Follow all the action with Channel 4 News’ live blog and have your say here.
Rupert Murdoch tells the Leveson inquiry the News of the World was involved in a phone-hacking “cover-up”. But former NoW legal manager Tom Crone accuses Mr Murdoch of a “shameful lie”.
Gary Gibbon
All in all though, it was the documents put on-line that fired up yesterday’s session and triggered the furore around Jeremy Hunt’s position. Today looks like being different. The documents Rupert Murdoch refers to in his written statement don’t look like they are seismic. The action, for now, is back in Westminster, even if the anthropological interest is at the high court.
Gary Gibbon
Gary Gibbon on Murdoch, text and email trails and settling accounts.
Rupert Murdoch appears before the Leveson Inquiry, following his son James’ appearance yesterday which unearthed evidence that Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt ‘secretly supported’ News Corp’s bid for BSkyB. Mr Murdoch Snr is due to take the stand today from 10am to 4.30pm and on Thursday. We’ll be live blogging all the action here and you can have your say on the day’s events as they unfold in the box below.
Gordon Brown calls for Rupert Murdoch to correct his testimony to the Leveson inquiry after the media mogul claimed the former prime minister made threats when the Sun backed the Tories in 2009.
Gary Gibbon
Jeremy Hunt’s defence must be that it wasn’t him that was in direct contact with the Murdoch team but his Special Adviser Adam Smith and the Mr Smith wasn’t representing his real thoughts.
James Murdoch appears before the Leveson Inquiry today, ahead of his father Rupert who will give evidence for two days on Wednesday and Thursday. Murdoch Jnr is due up before the Inquiry between 10am and 4.30pm. We’ll be live blogging all the action here and you can have your say on the day’s events as they unfold in the box below.
As Rupert and James Murdoch prepare to give evidence to the Leveson inquiry, Channel 4 News Home Affairs Correspondent Andy Davies says prime ministers past and present may face “awkward moments”.