Both James and Rupert Murdoch are due to give new evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards, starting today. James will appear first, followed by his father, tomorrow. The inquiry will now focus on the relationship between the press and politicians.
The father and son duo will face new questions over phone hacking that took place at the now-defunct News Of The World, as well as questions about their dealings with senior political figures over the years.
Both James and Rupert gave evidence to the Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee last July, where they both vehemently denied any knowledge of phone hacking, and apologised sincerely to the victims.
In the wake of that testimony, News International settled numerous civil claims made by various individuals.
Murdoch senior has already joked about his relationship with British prime ministers over the years, and even said, “I wish they would leave me alone.”
Ben Fenton, media writer at the Financial Times, told Sky News:
They will be asked about phone hacking and exactly what they knew, and when, and I wouldn’t be surprised if they were asked directly about their answers to questions before the Culture, Media and Sports Select Committee last July.
Rupert Murdoch is the most important person, I believe, in the thought processes of British prime ministers over the last 20 to 30 years. Election experts will tell you that newspaper articles don’t influence voting intentions, but as long as politicians think that they do, it doesn’t matter whether they do or not.
After the 2010 general election, Murdoch senior went to visit David Cameron, but said he had been asked to use the back door at Downing Street:
To avoid the photographers at the front, I imagine. I don’t know. I was asked, I just did what I was told. I was invited within days to have a cup of tea and to be thanked by Mr Cameron for the support. No other conversation took place. It lasted minutes.
It’s long been rumoured that Murdoch senior had a good relationship with Margaret Thatcher, as well as Tony Blair. Blair famously went to Australia, and addressed the News Corporation annual conference after his Labour party victory in 1995. It was his first overseas trip as prime minister.
There will be some powerful figures watching the testimony over the next couple of days.
[Source: Sky]
