The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Cameron may live to regret his support for Hunt

If the PM is later forced to sack Hunt, it is his judgement that will be under question.

By George Eaton Published 30 April 2012 16:33

About to dive in the deep end? David Cameron, Boris Johnson, Sebastian Coe with Jeremy Hunt at the Olympic Aquatic Centre on January 9 Photograph: Getty Images.

Update: As I wrote earlier, Cameron has never appeared as angry as he did in the Commons today. Here's footage of him telling Dennis Skinner to "take his pension".

In choosing to give Jeremy Hunt his full backing, David Cameron has taken one of the biggest gambles of his premiership. Appearing in the Commons to answer an urgent question from Labour, an extremely ill-tempered Cameron conceded that it was not for the Leveson inquiry to determine whether Hunt broke the ministerial code (as he had earlier refused to do) but again insisted that no separate investigation was required. He added, however, that he would take action if "new evidence" emerged that the code had been broken. This is a risky strategy which will leave Cameron looking foolish if he is later forced to sack Hunt. As a forensic Ed Miliband argued, there is already strong evidence that the Culture Secretary has violated the ministerial code on at least three counts.

First, Hunt falsely told MPs that he was revealing all his department's exchanges with News Corporation. Second, News Corp was given confidential information before it was disclosed to the Commons about the BSkyB takeover. Third, even if we assume that Hunt wasn't aware of his special adviser's "freelance mission", he should have been. If he did know, he's too wicked to stay in his post, if he didn't know, he's too stupid. Miliband aptly concluded: "The special adviser had to go to protect the Culture Secretary, the Culture Secretary has to stay to protect the prime minister."

The Tories' hope is that voters will agree with Cameron that the focus should be on more "serious" issues like "the eurozone, the jobs, the debts we have to deal with." But while voters care little for the minutiae of the Leveson inquiry, they are disturbed by the impression, as Miliband put it, that Cameron is "too close to a powerful few, out-of-touch with everyone else." It is not enough for Cameron to point out, as he repeatedly did, that Tony Blair and Gordon Brown also fell under the spell of the Murdoch empire. It is he, not Blair or Brown, who is now holding the reins of power and who repeatedly promised to hold himself to a higher standard. "The last lot were just as bad" is not an argument that will persuade anyone to give Cameron the benefit of the doubt.

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Tags: David Cameron Jeremy Hunt

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23 comments

Wed, 2012-05-02 00:04 — trevor21

In all my fifty two years I have never known such a contemptible government as this,as a poster above said,they are self destructing and its very amusing to watch.Cameron's going to go down in history as the Tories most disastrous leader ever and,if you fancy a laugh just nip over to the Torygraph and see what the stalwarts are saying about him and his Government. Quite simply the guys toast. I really can't see this charade running for another three years.With any luck we might be witnessing the terminal twilight of the Tory party itself. One can hope and pray.

Wed, 2012-05-02 00:05 — trevor21

Wed, 2012-05-02 00:07 — trevor21

Sorry about the double post. Blame it on the itchy fingers caused by my having the scent of blood for this crumbling junta.

Tue, 2012-05-01 16:07 — ClaireL (not verified)

Cameron hopefully, will live to regret his support of Murdoch too. Plus his ageist remarks to a veteran MP. What happened to the "working longer" policy? The PM's cut his own throat, politically.

Tue, 2012-05-01 10:28 — p.finch (not verified)

I hope that one of Cameron's advisers has a quiet word in his ear and gets him to make a grovelling apology to Dennis Skinner for his disgraceful insult to him. Just because he threw his toys out of the pram for being recalled to parliament like a naughty schoolboy it was an uncalled for remark to a person,like him or not, who is twice the man Cameron will ever be!

Tue, 2012-05-01 09:18 — Bill23 (not verified)

Most people are more interested in corruption in local government. Why for instance can't we have the Royal Institute of Town Planners in charge, rather than councillors and bureaucrats who take bribes.

Tue, 2012-05-01 08:29 — Quattro Man (not verified)

What a stunning perfomace by our leader yesterday, David Cameron simply destroyed the pathetic whimperings from Labour.

Is this really the best Labour can do? Wasting everyones time and money...as usual, with no coherent strategy, and Skinner as their spokesperson, They continue to be an unelectable shambles.

So funny to see Millipede's face, talk about having a face like a smacked bum. You could just tell what he was thinking...."Oh no, not again, why do I keep making such a completete fool of myself?" I just laughed and laughed.

Anyway, really looking forward to Boris being re-elected, see he is 4 to 1 on with the bookies, wow! Not even Londoners are supporting Labour...where did it all go so wrong for Labour?

Tue, 2012-05-01 11:23 — Miserable Sod (not verified)

If you're real, the Conservatives are in worse shape than I thought...

Tue, 2012-05-01 08:38 — Celeriac (not verified)

"What a stunning perfomace by our leader yesterday, David Cameron simply destroyed the pathetic whimperings from Labour."

Ha ha, been on the wacky baccy again? You're on a different planet.

Oh yes, and I'd be careful around phrases like 'our leader'. You are being arrogant. He's not my f**king leader.

Tue, 2012-05-01 08:24 — Livers (not verified)

He won't be able to insult Jay QC, lets just hope Jay asks the right questions.

Tue, 2012-05-01 04:47 — Online slots bonus (not verified)

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Tue, 2012-05-01 04:13 — Karla Russell (not verified)

Let the absurd Cameron have his way.
He is self- destructing, and it's very funny to watch!

Tue, 2012-05-01 03:58 — mbrecker (not verified)

Probably so.

Mon, 2012-04-30 23:16 — New statesmanA (not verified)

Isnt it funny how mr cameron is siding with the wrong doers again.....

Mon, 2012-04-30 23:14 — New statesmanA (not verified)

Can mr cameron please take his pension instead? Mr skinniner is much more of a man the camerona any day.

Mon, 2012-04-30 23:09 — p j wall (not verified)

Carry on Flashman, your hubris is shining through!, spoilt, petulant," i`ll scweem and stamp my feet if i don`t get my own way"!!!, Diddums, Diddums.
Flashmans condescending ways, and his nastiness are there for all to see!, everyone should again, take another look at his Bullingdon Club photo, and put that image to the way he comes across!, never thought i`d agree with Nadine Dorries, but she was spot on!!.

Mon, 2012-04-30 22:02 — Daphne47 (not verified)

I.am.a.little.concerned.that.Hunt.now.has.several.weeks.to.prepare.his.testimony.and.take.legal,political,andpresentational.advice.
Cameron.must.be.confident.that.he.will.do.his.homework.

Mon, 2012-04-30 22:01 — Daphne47 (not verified)

I.am.a.little.concerned.that.Hunt.now.has.several.weeks.to.prepare.his.testimony.and.take.legal,political,andpresentational.advice.
Cameron.must.be.confident.that.he.will.do.his.homework.

Mon, 2012-04-30 21:53 — Victoria1984 (not verified)

It's weird - when I first watched the video clip, it sounded like the PM was saying that Jeremy Hunt could take his pension any time he wanted. Maybe that was wishful thinking on my part! If it hadn't been for the articles on the internet, I probably wouldn't have realised that the PM was actually referring to Dennis Skinner.

Mon, 2012-04-30 21:18 — Barrie J (not verified)

The 'last lot' were certainly as bad - unfortunately, when the music stopped the parcel was in the Tories' lap, and when it comes to brown nosing wealth there are few to beat them, they've had centuries of practise.

Mon, 2012-04-30 21:13 — Barrie J (not verified)

Cameron's performance in Parliament today was truly pathetic.
A spoilt schoolboy prevented from having his own way, resorting to verbally abusing an 80 year old man - if anybody needs to go it's the Prime minister and preferably the rest of the coalition with him.
Is there anybody in the Tory party who admires this man?
I'm no Labour voter but he absolutely disgusts me.

Mon, 2012-04-30 20:06 — kenelmist (not verified)

Attacking someone for being old is hardly going to appeal to the millions of older people.

Mon, 2012-04-30 16:49 — cjmill (not verified)

It's all about perception. The longer he defends him, then when he goes then he's going to be associated with all that is wrong with the relationships in the corridors of power...