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Related: About this forumJeremy Hunt faces calls to resign over 'absolutely illegal' News Corp advice
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/leveson-inquiry/9224775/Leveson-Inquiry-Jeremy-Hunt-faces-calls-to-resign-over-absolutely-illegal-News-Corp-advice.htmlIn a series of disclosures on by far the most dramatic day so far of the Leveson Inquiry, the Cabinet Ministers key political adviser was revealed to have given apparently confidential information on a regular basis over several months to a lobbyist working for James Murdoch.
In public, the Culture Secretary insisted that he was acting in an independent and impartial manner, but the release of the emails has led to allegations that he was privately colluding with the Murdoch family.
News Corporation released more than 170 pages of evidence, consisting of internal emails and text messages, detailing the companys extraordinary efforts to lobby the Government. The emails largely contain messages sent by Frederic Michel, the head of public affairs, to James Murdoch and other senior executives at News Corp detailing his discussions with the Government. The company also released emails and text messages between Mr Michel and Adam Smith, Mr Hunts main special adviser.
In one message, Mr Michel detailed what the Culture Secretary would say to Parliament the next day on the BSkyB takeover, noting that it was absolutely illegal for him to obtain the information.
In public, the Culture Secretary insisted that he was acting in an independent and impartial manner, but the release of the emails has led to allegations that he was privately colluding with the Murdoch family.
News Corporation released more than 170 pages of evidence, consisting of internal emails and text messages, detailing the companys extraordinary efforts to lobby the Government. The emails largely contain messages sent by Frederic Michel, the head of public affairs, to James Murdoch and other senior executives at News Corp detailing his discussions with the Government. The company also released emails and text messages between Mr Michel and Adam Smith, Mr Hunts main special adviser.
In one message, Mr Michel detailed what the Culture Secretary would say to Parliament the next day on the BSkyB takeover, noting that it was absolutely illegal for him to obtain the information.
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Jeremy Hunt faces calls to resign over 'absolutely illegal' News Corp advice (Original Post)
T_i_B
Apr 2012
OP
tjwmason
(14,819 posts)1. His adviser's gone
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17835770
Clearly an attempt at damage-limitation...but it's been clear for a long time that Jeremy Hunt was far too close to the Murdoch empire, he should have been dumped as Culture Secretary ages ago.
Clearly an attempt at damage-limitation...but it's been clear for a long time that Jeremy Hunt was far too close to the Murdoch empire, he should have been dumped as Culture Secretary ages ago.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,355 posts)2. We could see he was a danger before the Tories were elected
T_i_B
(14,745 posts)3. Indeed
It's seemed for some time as though he's there specifically to do Murdoch's bidding, so it's not that much of a suprise that he's been shown up in this manner.
First we get Tessa Jowell as culture secretary, now Jeremy Hunt. I'm kinda hoping that this department gets abolished ASAP after the Olympics so we don't get any more really terrible ministers in that position.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,355 posts)4. Avaaz petition to sack him
tjwmason
(14,819 posts)5. Thanks for the link
Seems to be getting signatures at quite a rate.
LeftishBrit
(41,209 posts)6. Done!
fedsron2us
(2,863 posts)7. Jeremy Hunt - who said Cockney rhyming slang was dead.
LeftishBrit
(41,209 posts)8. Not James Naughtie anyway...
T_i_B
(14,745 posts)9. Renewed calls for Jeremy Hunt to quit after Leveson email
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18044232
Labour has renewed calls for Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to resign after suggestions he sought "private advice" from News Corp over phone hacking.
An email at the Leveson Inquiry, sent to ex-News International chief Rebekah Brooks, said Mr Hunt wanted "guidance".
The email, from News Corporation public affairs executive Fred Michel to Mrs Brooks, dated 27 June 2011, predicted correctly that Mr Hunt would play down the influence of the phone-hacking scandal on the company's bid for full control of BSkyB.
The message stated that Mr Hunt wanted to "prevent a public inquiry".
An email at the Leveson Inquiry, sent to ex-News International chief Rebekah Brooks, said Mr Hunt wanted "guidance".
The email, from News Corporation public affairs executive Fred Michel to Mrs Brooks, dated 27 June 2011, predicted correctly that Mr Hunt would play down the influence of the phone-hacking scandal on the company's bid for full control of BSkyB.
The message stated that Mr Hunt wanted to "prevent a public inquiry".
tjwmason
(14,819 posts)10. I don't want him to resign
That would be to give him a semi-decent way out - he should be sacked with clear acknowledgement of why.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,355 posts)11. Cameron will never do that - he's too deep in it himself
To say that what Hunt did was a sackable offence would be to admit that he himself was fundamentally wrong.
T_i_B
(14,745 posts)12. Jeremy Hunt investigated over donations register
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-18144837
Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt is to be investigated over claims he failed to register donations from media firms.
Parliamentary standards commissioner Sir John Lyon launched an inquiry after a complaint from a Labour MP.
It concerns meetings organised by private companies between July 2009 and March 2010, when Mr Hunt and his deputy Ed Vaizey were in opposition. Mr Vaizey stated in his entry in the register of interests that he and Mr Hunt attended had attended eight sponsored events between July 2009 and March 2010.
Mr Vaizey registered the events as donations worth £27,000. These are not cash donations, but estimates from Mr Vaizey of the cost to the companies concerned of hosting the events. However, Mr Hunt did not declare the meetings against his name in the register. He has subsequently claimed that he attended only three of the eight meetings and has made it clear he intends to amend the register accordingly.
Parliamentary standards commissioner Sir John Lyon launched an inquiry after a complaint from a Labour MP.
It concerns meetings organised by private companies between July 2009 and March 2010, when Mr Hunt and his deputy Ed Vaizey were in opposition. Mr Vaizey stated in his entry in the register of interests that he and Mr Hunt attended had attended eight sponsored events between July 2009 and March 2010.
Mr Vaizey registered the events as donations worth £27,000. These are not cash donations, but estimates from Mr Vaizey of the cost to the companies concerned of hosting the events. However, Mr Hunt did not declare the meetings against his name in the register. He has subsequently claimed that he attended only three of the eight meetings and has made it clear he intends to amend the register accordingly.
T_i_B
(14,745 posts)13. Jeremy Hunt and the secret BSkyB memo to David Cameron
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/leveson-inquiry/9288966/Jeremy-Hunt-and-the-secret-BSkyB-memo-to-David-Cameron.html
Last month, Mr Hunt told the House of Commons that he made absolutely no interventions seeking to influence the decision on whether to refer the bid to regulators when it was the responsibility of Vince Cable, the Business Secretary.
But on Thursday the Leveson Inquiry published a memo dated Nov 19, 2010, sent just weeks before Mr Hunt took over the quasi-judicial role from Dr Cable, in which he warned that News Corps James Murdoch was furious about the Business Secretarys handling of the matter. The note expressed concerns that referring the bid to Ofcom could leave the Government on the wrong side of media policy and said it would be totally wrong for ministers to cave in to News Corps opponents.
The lengthy memo was not declared to Sir Gus ODonnell, the then cabinet secretary, either by Mr Cameron or Mr Hunt at the time of the appointment, it emerged.
Sir Gus provided legal advice on whether Mr Hunt could handle the BSkyB decision in an impartial manner.
Last month, Mr Hunt told the House of Commons that he made absolutely no interventions seeking to influence the decision on whether to refer the bid to regulators when it was the responsibility of Vince Cable, the Business Secretary.
But on Thursday the Leveson Inquiry published a memo dated Nov 19, 2010, sent just weeks before Mr Hunt took over the quasi-judicial role from Dr Cable, in which he warned that News Corps James Murdoch was furious about the Business Secretarys handling of the matter. The note expressed concerns that referring the bid to Ofcom could leave the Government on the wrong side of media policy and said it would be totally wrong for ministers to cave in to News Corps opponents.
The lengthy memo was not declared to Sir Gus ODonnell, the then cabinet secretary, either by Mr Cameron or Mr Hunt at the time of the appointment, it emerged.
Sir Gus provided legal advice on whether Mr Hunt could handle the BSkyB decision in an impartial manner.