3. 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.
4. Murdoch-Hunt media scandal :
its influence on UK Government - 2
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.
5. 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."
6. The Case 2
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.
7. 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.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. Articles for further reading on this subject
(just click what you want to know)
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 scandal
4. Can the UK Prime Minister Survive Murdoch Scandal?
5. The effects of the phone haking scandal on journalism
