The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

Is this the end for Jeremy Hunt?

Culture Secretary under pressure after acting as a "cheerleader" for the BSkyB bid.

By George Eaton Published 24 April 2012 15:10

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt Photograph: Getty Images.

Jeremy Hunt is swiftly emerging as the cabinet minister with the most questions to answer following James Murdoch's testimony to the Leveson inquiry. Rupert Murdoch has submitted 163 pages of emails between News Corp lobbyist Frederic Michel and Hunt's special adviser to the inquiry, which suggest that the Culture Secretary, in the words of Robert Jay, QC, acted as a "cheerleader" for the BSkyB bid. Even before he acquired ministerial responsibility for the deal, Hunt received "strong legal advice" not to meet James Murdoch but, according to the emails, later offered to speak to him on the phone. In addition, through his special adviser, he allegedly communicated his personal support for the deal. On 15 June 2010, Hunt's special adviser reportedly told Michel, that he didn't believe there was a "media plurality issue" and that "the UK government would be supportive throughout the process".

In December, after Ofcom outlined its concerns over the bid, Michel claimed he had a "very good debrief with Hunt ... he is pretty amazed by its findings, methodology and clear bias. He very much shares our views on it."

With the full emails due to be published online after Murdoch's appearance ends at 4pm, worse is likely to come.

Hunt has never made any secret of his admiration for News Corp and Murdoch snr. In an interview with Broadcast magazine while shadow culture secretary, he argued:

Rather than worry about Rupert Murdoch owning another TV channel, what we should recognise is that he has probably done more to create variety and choice in British TV than any other single person because of his huge investment in setting up Sky TV which, at one point, was losing several million pounds a day.

We would be the poorer and wouldn't be saying that British TV is the envy of the world if it hadn't been for him being prepared to take that commercial risk. We need to encourage that kind of investment.

But given that he told MPs on 3 March that "at every stage of this process (the BSkyB deal) we have sought to be completely transparent, impartial and fair" the exchanges are deeply embarrassing and could even prove fatal. Indeed, Ladbrokes has just suspended betting on him being the next minister to leave the cabinet.

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Tags: Jeremy Hunt James Murdoch News Corporation

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26 comments

Tue, 2012-07-17 19:47 — Mireille Rodrig (not verified)

Et pour les plus sérieux d'entre nous il y a une alarme incendie sur ce site.

Tue, 2012-07-03 20:39 — Brice Wolford (not verified)

But more troubling is the latter issue. It seems a safe bet the law which is preventing the IPCC from revealing the information is Section 17 of the Regulatory of Investigatory Powers Act اخبار مصر

Tue, 2012-06-19 17:33 — Onomeas Virulento (not verified)

Compre camisetas ufc na única loja oficial do ufc no Brasil.

Wed, 2012-04-25 10:45 — thinkov

good day to academyise another primary school

Wed, 2012-04-25 10:31 — p j wall (not verified)

I think James Naughtie had a point, when he refered Mr Hunt as Jeremy C**t!!!!, spot on Jim!.

Wed, 2012-04-25 08:31 — Barrie J (not verified)

It was very entertaining watching Mark Field, Tory MP providing vocal support for Hunt on Sky News this morning - if that was an example of a Tory MP's debating skills then no wonder it's such a sh#t government.
Even Eamon Holmes could have buried him.
Apparently bluster and distraction is the key to defence - I must try it next time I'm up before the 'beak'.
650 tossers under one roof

Wed, 2012-04-25 10:37 — kenelmist (not verified)

Perhaps Huhne will try it.

Wed, 2012-04-25 10:35 — kenelmist (not verified)

Jacob Rees-Mogg was another Tory plonker defending the indefensible on Newsnight, and looking foolish.

Wed, 2012-04-25 08:06 — Livers (not verified)

Hunt is ill advised to cling on, he *will* be fired. I think his refusal is partly because he can't accept that it is over and partly because another resignation for this govt would be really bad news.

Can't wait to hear what Rupert has to say, I just hope no-one on the Left is gonna get hit.

Wed, 2012-04-25 09:07 — Super Huey (not verified)

I hope every politician gets hit because unlike 'most' lefties, I think this spans not only the tories but Labour. Yes Labour dipped their feet in the pool too contrary to what Harriet has said on LBC today. Let's see if Blair and Brown get away with it.

Wed, 2012-04-25 09:07 — Super Huey (not verified)

Wed, 2012-04-25 07:43 — kenelmist (not verified)

I am loving the "narrative" playing out over weeks and months. Of a government blundering and reeling from mistake to mistake. All of them are "toast".

Tue, 2012-04-24 23:26 — Agent (not verified)

Given his looks he could always become the next Dr Who (?)

Tue, 2012-04-24 22:35 — Davidaslindsay (not verified)

The "responsible" Cabinet Minister was and is nothing more than a stooge and a shill of Rupert Murdoch?

I am shocked, shocked, shocked to the core. Shocked to the core, and a little bit more.

Jeremy Hunt is only the starter. The main course will be Alex Salmond.

Wed, 2012-04-25 09:09 — Super Huey (not verified)

Tony Blair, Gordon Brown, Gideon... you name it, all the high profile MPs dipped their feet in it.

Tue, 2012-04-24 22:26 — Graemeyh (not verified)

I watched the tv news reports at 10 pm this evening. I used to think Nick Robinson was biased in his reporting, but has anyone ever listened to Tom Brady on ITV? He doesnt even pretend to be balanced in his reporting. He might aswell be a tory spin doctor!

Tue, 2012-04-24 20:51 — Gideon (not verified)

It seems Gove needs to spend some time reforming private education rather than public education as they turn out consummate, congenital bare faced liars like Cameron, Glegg, Osbourne, Hunt, the Murdochs, Brooks etc., etc.

Tue, 2012-04-24 20:31 — hugh markey (not verified)

Jeremy Hunt was the obvious 'fall guy'. Some people couldn't even get his name right. A Tintin haircut, no more and no less. Goes to live in Japan and marries a Chinese lady.
Confused - not since viewing 'Soap' the television series.
If memory serves us right Jeremy went to that famous school. No - not that one!
Minister for Fun? More like Minster for Viruses!

Trojan

Tue, 2012-04-24 19:19 — elrob

If you had seen his face at the depths of the furore last year, while Miliband was going gung-ho in PMQs, the cameras flashed across to Hunt, and I can still see his pasty face, near ever-presnt smirk well and truly removed: a picture of fear. He is surely toast.

Tue, 2012-04-24 19:18 — elrob

Tue, 2012-04-24 19:11 — Graeme Hancocks (not verified)

Time for the weird looking Jeremy *unt to do the decent thing and resign. But judging on the other ministers in this government who had to "fall on their sword" this won't be until it has been on the front page for several days.

Tue, 2012-04-24 18:58 — Mike45 (not verified)

All the main parties have been in bed with these crooks for years. Ed Miliband was at the centre of Labour when his party was in bed with Murdoch.

Tue, 2012-04-24 16:43 — steve doorknob (not verified)

wonder if vince gable was just pretending to be hostile to the murdocs as he had done eff all of any value since he got into government.

Wed, 2012-05-30 17:44 — Trevor J (not verified)

to be fair to Vince Cable, he was battling Murdoch cronies from both within and without of government. As soon as it became clear that he wasn't going to suck up to the Murdochs he was swiftly removed from office.

Wed, 2012-05-30 17:44 — Trevor J (not verified)