- Ed Miliband calls for Jeremy Hunt to resign after damning 163 page dossier of emails is made public
- Mr Hunt resists calls to go and asks Lord Justice Leveson to bring forward his appearance before Inquiry so he can present his evidence
- Hunt's adviser told him he 'believed the UK government would be supportive throughout the process'
- In another it is claimed Murdoch's got an 'absolutely illegal' tip-off about Parliamentary statement
- Rupert Murdoch to appear before Leveson Inquiry tomorrow
- Bookmakers stop taking bets on Hunt being next minister to leave Cabinet
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt faced calls to resign last night after the Murdoch empire disclosed emails showing how he ‘shared their objectives’ to take full control of BSkyB.
The damning dossier showed Mr Hunt’s aides engaged in an extraordinary pact with News Corporation to push the deal through despite grave concerns from media watchdogs.
The sensational cache, which reveals ‘absolutely illegal’ information was being freely exchanged between government and big business, was published by the Leveson Inquiry into Press standards yesterday – on the eve of Rupert Murdoch’s testimony to the hearings.
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Calls to resign: Jeremy Hunt was last night told to quit by Ed Miliband after a day of damning revelations at the Leveson Inquiry where he was accused of an extraordinary level of collusion with News Corp
Mr Hunt had a legal obligation to be impartial over the bid as since December 2010 he was acting in a ‘quasi- judicial’ capacity, effectively as a judge rather than a politician, by overseeing representations.
But he was accused of being a ‘ Murdoch cheerleader’ as scores of emails reveal that his office handed over information that even News Corp said was ‘absolutely illegal’.
One of his advisers even told the Murdochs it was a ‘game over’ for the opponents of the £8billion takeover.
Revelations: James Murdoch gives evidence to the Leveson Inquiry which yesterday heard allegations of the Murdocch Empire's extraordinary level of collusion with Jeremy Hunt the Culture Secretary
Inquiry: Mr Murdoch Jnr appeared before Lord Justice Leveson - and his father Rupert will give evidence today
- Told News Corp the takeover would not ‘be a problem’
- Leaked sensitive information to the Murdochs on the Government’s position including details of Cabinet discussions
- Revealed Mr Hunt’s private talks with Ofcom and the Office of Fair Trading who were scrutinising the bid
- Tipped off the company about statements Mr Hunt was making
- Coached News Corp staff on tactics to make the case for the takeover
- Drew up a covert timetable for the deal after telling Parliament that there was none
- Informed the Murdochs about conversations Mr Hunt had with other media groups opposed to the bid.
Ed Miliband said: ‘Jeremy Hunt should have been standing up for the interests of the British people. It now turns out he was standing up for the interests of the Murdochs. If he refuses to resign, the Prime Minister must show some leadership and fire him.’
AT A GLANCE: THE LEVESON INQUIRY REVELATIONS
- James Murdoch discussed the BSkyB takeover with David Cameron over Christmas Dinner at Rebekah Brooks's Oxfordshire home in 2010
- Mr Murdoch says he was 'consistently reassured' that there was no widespread evidence of phone-hacking
- He insists he was never shown the notorious 'For Neville' email
- It later emerges Jeremy Hunt's aides engaged in an extraordinary pact to push through the deal
- Mr Hunt's special adviser told Murdoch there wouldn't be a monopoly issue with the £8bn takeover and he 'believed the UK government would be supportive throughout'
- News Corp lobbyist Frederic Michel claimed he had inside information on a statement Mr Hunt was about to make which was 'absolutely illegal'
- Another message claimed Mr Hunt said it would be 'game over' for the bid's opponents when plans were announced for Sky News to be independent
- In email AFTER the News of the World Milly Dowler hacking scandal broke, Jeremy Hunt said revelations would not affect takeover, it is claimed
- Lobbyist Mr Michel says that phrases in the emails such as ‘spoke to Hunt’, ‘had a call with JH’ or ‘Jeremy said’ were merely ‘shorthand’ for what he was told by Mr Hunt’s special adviser, Adam Smith
Mr Cameron and Mr Hunt last night held crisis talks and the Culture Secretary demanded the right to put his side of the case to Lord Leveson in the next few days.
News Corp announced plans to buy the 61 per cent of shares it did not yet own in BskyB in the summer of 2010. It dropped the bid last July when it emerged the News of the World had hacked the phone of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler.
Initially, Business Secretary Vince Cable was in charge of deciding whether to refer the deal to the Competition Commission. When it appeared that Mr Cable would refer the bid, Fred Michel sought to enlist support from Mr Hunt, the Chancellor’s special adviser Rupert Harrison, Mr Cameron’s aides and Nick Clegg.
But Mr Cable was later stripped of his responsibilities after being recorded boasting that he had ‘declared war on Murdoch’.
Mr Hunt was put in charge and he told Mr Michel that he would have to cut off personal contact with him. Yet Mr Hunt and Mr Michel continued to exchange messages. Crucially, the emails indicate that Mr Hunt authorised his special adviser Adam Smith to help the company build their case.
Rival media groups, including the BBC, the Telegraph, the Guardian and Associated Newspapers, which publishes the Daily Mail, opposed the takeover fearing it would create a multi-media giant. In an email from Frederic Michel to James Murdoch, the lobbyist wrote: ‘He (Hunt) called all key Editors last Thursday to explain his decision. Paul Dacre (Daily Mail editor) was clear that their campaign was purely motivated for commercial reasons.’
Last night Downing Street insisted that the Culture Secretary still had David Cameron’s full confidence.
Drama: Rupert Murdoch's wife Wendi Deng Murdoch, who intervened when a pie was thrown at the media mogul, appears at the Beijing International Film Festival
'Illegal' tip-off: Frederic Michel writes that he had been tipped off on an announcement that Jeremy Hunt is due to make. Mr Murdoch said the emoticon >! indicated it was a joke
‘Rather than jump on political bandwagon, we need to hear what Lord Justice Leveson thinks after he’s heard all the evidence. Let me be clear my number one priority was to give the public confidence in the integrity of process.
‘I would like to resolve this issue as soon as possible which is why I have today written to Lord Justice Leveson asking if my appearance can be brought forward. I am very confident that when I present my evidence the public will see that I conducted this process with scrupulous fairness.’
'French Fred': The senior lobbyist Frederic Michel who is at the centre of the email allegations. He is pictured here in 2001 when he was Director of Public Affairs for News Corp
Claims: Message says Jeremy Hunt does not want News Corp's proposed £8billion takeover of BSkyB to go before the Competition Commission
'Jeremy tried to call': Message says Jeremy Hunt was 'very frustrated' that he had been advised not to meet News Corp executives
MR HUNT AND THE NEWS CORP LOBBYIST 'BUMPED INTO EACH OTHER AS THEIR WIVES GAVE BIRTH'
Jeremy Hunt forged a close relationship with News Corp’s public affairs director and they bumped into each other their wives gave birth, the Inquiry heard.
Frederic Michel revealed they shared a ‘night of anxiety’ together at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital weeks after the election.
He said they bumped into each other in the very same ward.
Mr Hunt and Mr Michel were well known to one another – and used to drink coffee together and share the occasional personal text message.
In his witness statement, Mr Michel said: 'As it happens, both our wives gave birth in late May 2010 at Chelsea and Westminster hospital.
'We bumped into each other in the very same ward and shared a night of anxiety.
'When management of the BSkyB proposal was passed to DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) from BIS (Business, Innovation and Skills), I got in touch by text with Jeremy Hunt on 24 December 2010 to suggest that I could be the point of contact with him and Adam during the process,' he said.
'He replied by text on the same day, making clear that he did not want to have any personal contact related to the BSkyB proposal.'
His statement said the text message read: 'Thanks Fred. All contact with me now needs to be through official channels until decision made.'
Mr Michel said after that he only met Mr Hunt at two formal DCMS meetings on the BSkyB proposal on January 6 and 20, 2011, as well as briefly before a dinner on May 20, 2011 after a speech by Mr Murdoch.
He also revealed several personal text messages between him and Mr Hunt.
After the meeting on January 20, 2011, Mr Michel sent the Culture Secretary a text saying it had been good to see him.
He replied: 'Good to see u too. Hope u understand why we have to have the long process. Let's meetup when things are resolved J.'
On March 13 last year, after Mr Hunt had appeared on the Andrew Marr show, Mr Michel said he texted him saying he had been 'very good', to which he replied: 'Merci hopefully when consultation over we can have a coffee like the old days!'
And on July 31, after the withdrawal of BSkyB's bid in the wake of the closure of the News of the World, Mr Michel said he sent a message to Mr Hunt saying News Corp was still 'determined to continue its good work for the media market'.
The inquiry heard the Culture Secretary replied: 'Dear Fred it has been the most challenging time for all of us. Thank goodness we have children to remind us what really matters! Would be great to catch up when the dust has settled Jeremy.'
Frederic Michel revealed they shared a ‘night of anxiety’ together at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital weeks after the election.
He said they bumped into each other in the very same ward.
Mr Hunt and Mr Michel were well known to one another – and used to drink coffee together and share the occasional personal text message.
In his witness statement, Mr Michel said: 'As it happens, both our wives gave birth in late May 2010 at Chelsea and Westminster hospital.
'We bumped into each other in the very same ward and shared a night of anxiety.
'When management of the BSkyB proposal was passed to DCMS (Department for Culture, Media and Sport) from BIS (Business, Innovation and Skills), I got in touch by text with Jeremy Hunt on 24 December 2010 to suggest that I could be the point of contact with him and Adam during the process,' he said.
'He replied by text on the same day, making clear that he did not want to have any personal contact related to the BSkyB proposal.'
His statement said the text message read: 'Thanks Fred. All contact with me now needs to be through official channels until decision made.'
Mr Michel said after that he only met Mr Hunt at two formal DCMS meetings on the BSkyB proposal on January 6 and 20, 2011, as well as briefly before a dinner on May 20, 2011 after a speech by Mr Murdoch.
He also revealed several personal text messages between him and Mr Hunt.
After the meeting on January 20, 2011, Mr Michel sent the Culture Secretary a text saying it had been good to see him.
He replied: 'Good to see u too. Hope u understand why we have to have the long process. Let's meetup when things are resolved J.'
On March 13 last year, after Mr Hunt had appeared on the Andrew Marr show, Mr Michel said he texted him saying he had been 'very good', to which he replied: 'Merci hopefully when consultation over we can have a coffee like the old days!'
And on July 31, after the withdrawal of BSkyB's bid in the wake of the closure of the News of the World, Mr Michel said he sent a message to Mr Hunt saying News Corp was still 'determined to continue its good work for the media market'.
The inquiry heard the Culture Secretary replied: 'Dear Fred it has been the most challenging time for all of us. Thank goodness we have children to remind us what really matters! Would be great to catch up when the dust has settled Jeremy.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2134464/Tory-minister-rack-emails-reveal-told-Murdoch-8bn-BSkyB-deal-problem.html#ixzz1t25bwKXB
