Rupert Murdoch denied yesterday that he had exerted a decades-long stranglehold over British politics as he finally testified at an inquiry sparked by the misdeeds of his media empire.
I never asked a prime minister for anything... It is a complete myth that I used influence
His evidence came as an adviser to a government minister was forced to resign over allegations of leaking details to Mr Murdoch’s US-based News Corp. as it tried to take full control of pay-TV giant BSkyB. But 81-year-old Murdoch turned in a flinty performance at the Leveson Inquiry into press ethics, hitting out at “lies” that he used his ties to a succession of British leaders for commercial gain.
“I’ve never asked a prime minister for anything,” he told the inquiry in London, which was set up last year in response to the phone-hacking scandal at Mr Murdoch’s now-defunct News of the World newspaper.
“It is a complete myth that I used the influence of The Sun (his market-leading British tabloid) or its supposed political power to get favourable treatment.”
The Australian-born tycoon also denied discussing the controversial BSkyB deal with current British prime minister David Cameron, and rejected rumours he was unhappy with Mr Cameron for setting up the judge-led inquiry into the press.
As Mr Murdoch spoke, Adam Smith, a special adviser to culture minister Jeremy Hunt, resigned over claims that he leaked details to News Corp. about the government’s view of its bid to take full control of BSkyB.
Texts and e-mails from him to News Corp. executive Frederic Michel emerged during evidence given on Tuesday, in which Mr Smith apparently gave confidential details and said that Mr Hunt backed the deal. Mr Hunt – who had the responsibility for the decision about whether the BSkyB takeover should be allowed to go ahead – rejected calls from the opposition to resign.
Mr Cameron told Parliament that Mr Hunt, who also has responsibility for the 2012 London Olympics, had his “full support”.
But he added that “hand on heart, we all did too much cosying up to Rupert Murdoch, I’m sure we’ll agree.”
At the inquiry, Mr Murdoch rejected suggestions that he had used his ties to Mr Cameron and previous prime ministers Margaret Thatcher, John Major, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown to boost his media empire.
“I think you are making sinister inferences,” he told counsel for the inquiry Robert Jay when asked about his ties to former Labour premier Blair, the godfather to one of Mr Murdoch’s daughters.
Mr Murdoch said he had met Mr Cameron several times, and was “impressed” with him initially, but denied they had discussed BSkyB or British regulators.
He boasted of his global reach by saying that he enjoyed meeting world leaders and “some impress me more than others.” But he rejected claims that he only backed political candidates when he knew they were going to win.