The Staggers

The New Statesman’s rolling politics blog

RSS

Ten things we have learned from Rupert Murdoch

Top facts from Rupert Murdoch's evidence to the Leveson inquiry.

By Martha Gill Published 25 April 2012 18:05

Rupert Murdoch in Sun Valley, Idaho July 8, 2011. Getty Images

He uses the back door of Downing Street, as "it happens to be a shortcut to my apartment."

His relationship with Alex Salmond is "warm". "He is an amusing guy, and I enjoy his company."

He is “attracted by the idea” of Scottish independence.

He doesn’t know who the Observer commentator Andrew Rawnsley is.

His opinions on any given issue can be found in the Sun.

It was "pure coincidence" that the BSkyB bid was made after the general election.

He gave Mr MacKenzie “a hell of a bollocking” after the "Sun wot won it" headline in April 1992.

He was "as surprised as anyone" when Andy Coulson was hired as David Cameron's spin doctor.

He claims Gordon Brown misled people over story the Sun ran about his son.

He has never read Harold Evans' book, Good Times, Bad Times.

More from Martha Gill

View the discussion thread.

7 comments

Fri, 2012-04-27 09:56 — duck soup

Four things we haven't learned from the New Statesman

1. Alex Salmond's duty as First Minister is to protect jobs and News International employs thousands in Scotland.Therefore he is obliged to meet major employers such as NI.

2. The Scottish edition of The Sun is radically different in tone and outlook from the edition that goes out in England.

3. The mainstream media in Scotland,and this includes BBC Scotland in breach of the Corporation's Charter,is solidly partial and often rabidly anti-independence.Nationalists quite naturally welcome the different tack taken by the Scottish Sun.

4. Alex Salmond has virtually zero influence with the Westminster Government.

Wed, 2012-04-25 23:50 — Go GG (not verified)

'Ten things we have learned from Rupert Murdoch'

that he's an a***hole?

Wed, 2012-04-25 20:49 — Fergus Pickering (not verified)

Of course Gordon' mad. But north of the border it probably doesn't show. I don'tknow Gordo but |I did know Robin Cook, and his opinion of Broon was lurid and unprintable.

Wed, 2012-04-25 19:58 — ElaineS (not verified)

I would trust gordon with my life and my childrens life but then again unlike Fergus Pickering I actually know Gordon and have for years. He has more than protected and worked damned hard as our MP in Kirkcaldy. I would also state that you are the lowest of low calling Gordon mad, he is probably saner than you! How about you attack that Enlgish PM pf yours, you know the one.....the Tory that Scotland hates with such vengeance! No matter we will soon be free of all things south of the border!

Thu, 2012-04-26 09:48 — Super Huey (not verified)

Yeah he was sane, he protected jobs especially when he signed a contract to build an aircraft carrier costing millions and millions more to cancel it. He was definitely sane when he called an end to the boom and bust economics only to borrow huge amounts of money during the boom era and doomed the UK with the highest debt and deficit in the history of the entire country when he was chancellor.

Wed, 2012-04-25 19:58 — ElaineS (not verified)

Wed, 2012-04-25 18:54 — Fergus Pickering (not verified)

I wouldn't trust Brown to tell me the time. Also, he's been mad for years. Mrudoch, on the other hand, is sharp as ever. Do you think we could have him as PM, if he could fit us in?