Murdoch-Hunt media scandal

<British politics>

The collusion between

politics and business?

Murdoch-Hunt media scandal : its influence on UK Government - 1

UK's Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is fighting for the future of his political career after a series of claims that show his support to the attempt of News Corporation to take full control over BSkyB.

A series of information -including e-mails and phone conversations- were released into press by the Leveson Inquiry, stating there was some contact between Mr. Hunt's office and advisers from News Corp.

Hunt is being accused of being a 'cheerleader' of the Murdoch empire and having a close relationship with its executives.

The Culture Secretary is prepared to present his side of the story and has asked Lord Leveson for a scheduled appearance before the committee.

He has to answer questions before the Members of Parliament and is pressured by the Labour Party leader Ed Miliband who is calling his resignation.

This is the first case to hit the modern Conservative politician and it is most likely to have grave effects to his up-until-now almost textbook career.

Murdoch-Hunt media scandal : its influence on UK Government - 2

The Case 1

Mr. Hunt was among the first ministers to submit his plans for spending cuts, leading some critics to complain that he was putting his career ahead of the interests of his department.In October 2010, following negotiations led by him, the government froze the BBC's licence fee for six years, causing the corporation to make large-scale cuts.In late 2010, secretly recorded comments made by Business Secretary Vince Cable that he had "declared war" on Rupert Murdoch, led to his removal as overseer of the mogul's proposed takeover of broadcaster BSkyB.The issue landed on Mr Hunt's desk. The culture secretary had never made a secret of his admiration for the Murdoch empire.

He insisted in public that he was maintaining an impartial stance when it came to ruling on the planned takeover of BSkyB, telling MPs in June last year: "I am deciding this deal on a quasi-judicial basis, but I have not met Rupert Murdoch or James Murdoch in recent weeks, and all the meetings I have had with them have been minuted and done through official channels."

But the emails released by the Leveson Inquiry showed the opposite, that Mr. Hunt's office had back-channel communications with Fred Michel, the chief lobbyist for James Murdoch, who was leading the bid for the BSkyB takeover.

James Murdoch

These emails suggested that Mr. Hunt was supporting the bid and shared the Murdochs' objectives.

When Murdoch decided not to pursue the takeover of BSkyB because of the damaging allegations of phone hacking against journalists working for some of his newspapers, the issue seemed to have been dropped.

Nonetheless, the progress of Mr. Hunt's carrer must take a step back, as he needs to defend himself against accusations of fusion with the Murdoch empire.

The Case 2

Murdoch hacking scandal : its consequences on UK Government

After the information that had been revealed by the Leveson Inquiry, British Prime Minister David Cameron has been put under pressure by the opposition politicians claiming Mr. Jeremy Hunt's resignation.

“Now we know he was providing advice, guidance and privileged access to News Corporation (NWSA.O), he was being a back channel for the Murdochs,” Ed Miliband, leader of the opposition Labour party, told Sky News.

“If he refuses to resign, the prime minister must show some leadership and fire him,” said Miliband, who boosted his credibility last year by galvanising opposition to Murdoch.

Mr. Cameron had reluctantly ordered the inquiry against the Murdoch empire for phone hacking last July, and had to side against this media empire that had helped him gain power the previous year.

News Corporation dropped its 12 billion dollar bid for BSkyB as public opposition to Murdoch made it almost impossible to go through with the deal.

Mr. Hunt denied having supported the bid and asserted that he will not resign his post, asking the Leveson inquiry to schedule his appearance to plead his case. Also, Prime Minister David Cameron stated that he still had 'full confidence' in Jeremy Hunt.

The opposition against the News Corporation- BSkyB deal grew wider after the phone hacking scandal from the past year.

This raisedd concern about Murdoch's extensive media ownership, which includes the Times of London and the Sunday Times national broadsheets,the tabloid The Sun and 39% of BSkyB.

1.Sky News chief apologises to Leveson for previous denial of hacking

2.The culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, tells the House of Commons he has accepted the resignation of his special adviser Adam Smith following allegations of a "back channel" operating between his department and Rupert Murdoch's News Corp during the company's bid to take over full ownership of BskyB. Jeremy Hunt's full statement at the House of Commons. (audio)

3. World reaction to Rupert Murdoch's phone hacking scandal4. Can the UK Prime Minister Survive Murdoch Scandal?5. The effects of the phone haking scandal on journalism

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