Jeremy Hunt (UK Media Sec) at the Leveson (Murdoch etc.) inquiry - live

[muriel_volestrangler]

Highlights so far (note the 'Murdoch' in the highlights is James):

• Special adviser given no instructions on BSkyB bid
• On day he was handed BSkyB bid, Hunt texted Murdoch
• Hunt admits he was 'sympathetic' to News Corp's BSkyB bid
• Spoke to Murdoch on mobile after being told not to meet him
• Hunt advised in November 2010 not to get involved in Sky bid
• Says he was 'worried' at that time about the deal
• Used personal email account rather than official DCMS one

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2012/may/31/jeremy-hunt-leveson-inquiry-live

There are a lot of tweets from journalists analysing the evidence - and I think it's looking pretty bad for Hunt; his special adviser Adam Smith has already resigned for being too close to Murdoch, but Hunt has admitted "I doubt there's a minister who worked more closely with a special adviser than I worked with Adam Smith".

Plus the Chancellor, George Osborne, has been pulled into this too - when the Lib Dem Vince Cable was removed from making the decision about the BSkyB takeover after telling undercover journalists he was 'at war' with Murdoch, and Hunt, known to want the takeover to go ahead, was put in charge instead, Osborne texted him "I hope you like our solution".

The question is: since Hunt's full job title is "Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport", will they try to keep him on until after the Olympics to avoid a difficult change at a crucial time, or would having a lame duck Secretary be too much of a problem?

Hunt's texts on the day he was given the deciding role for the takeover:

11.41am: We now have a transcript of Hunt's texts on 21 December 2010:

12.46: Hunt to Murdoch: Sorry to miss your call. Am on my mobile now. Jeremy

12.52: Murdoch to Hunt: Have to run into next thing. Are you free anything after 2.15? I can shuffle after this

12.55: Hunt to Murdoch: How about 4?

Murdoch to Hunt: Done.

12.57: Hunt to Murdoch: Great and contrats on Brussels, just Ofcom to go!

16.10: Hunt to Coulson: Could we chat abvout this? Am seriously worried Vince will do real damage to coaltion with his comments …

16.08: Hunt to Osborne: Cld we chat about Murdoch Sky bid? Am seriously worried we are going to screw this up.

16.08: Hunt to Osborne: Just been called by James M. His lawyers are meeting now & saying it calls ino question legitmach of whole process form beginning 'acute bias' etc

16.58 Osborne to Hunt: I hope you like the solution!

Looks like they wanted to cave to Murdoch as soon as they could.