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| Lord Justice Leveson |
Useful Links:
Leveson Inquiry Witness Statements HERE
Leveson Inquiry Witness Lists HERE
Video Recordings of each day's proceedings HERE
Live Feed From Leveson Inquiry Site HERE
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Links to articles, comment and information relevant to the Leveson Inquiry- Rupert Murdoch at Leveson in His Own Words - Editors' Blog - Journalism.co.uk
- Gordon Brown: Rupert Murdoch Wrong to Claim I Declared War on News Corp - Guardian
- Leveson Inquiry: Were Rupert Murdoch's Memory Lapses a Little Too Convenient? - Guardian
- Jeremy Hunt's Department Mishandled BSkyB Bid - Cabinet Secretary - Guardian
- The Night I Saw Jeremy Hunt Hide Behind a Tree Before Dinner With James Murdoch - Telegraph
- Rupert Murdoch Showed Just How Ruthless He Can Be at Leveson - Guardian
- Rupert Murdoch's Spell is Broken, But Not His Baleful Influence - Guardian
- FSA Considers News Corp Emails - Guardian
- David Cameron's Five Secret Meetings With Rupert Murdoch - Telegraph
- Rupert Murdoch Gives Away More Than Planned at Leveson Inquiry - Nick Davies - Guardian
- Steve Richards: Cameron Can't Easily Dismiss the Toxic Trail to Murdoch's Bid - Steve Richards - Independent
- Will Rupert and James Murdoch Topple David Cameron? - Telegraph
- Robert Jay QC: the Murdoch Inquisitor at the Leveson Inquiry - theage.com.au
- Leveson Inquiry: Editorial - Questions For Mr. Hunt - Guardian
- Rupert Murdoch Admits NoW Phone-hacking Cover-up - Guardian
- On How The Sun Reflects His Opinions - Rupert Murdoch at Leveson Inquiry - Day 2 - Reuters
- Rupert Murdoch's Influence: The Wink Stops Here - Hacking Inquiry - Hacked Off
- Rupert Murdoch at Leveson: The Highlights of Day Two - Guardian
- Phone Hacking Inquiry to Report Next Week - Guardian
- Murdoch Blames Rogue Tabloid For Phone-hacking - Reuters
- Evidence of 'Undeclared' Murdoch - Cameron Meetings Withdrawn - Guardian
- Murdoch's Everyday Business - LBR Blog - Jenny Diski
- Murdoch Blames Son's Inexperience Over Gordon Taylor Payout - Guardian
- Rupert Murdoch Under Pressure to Release Secret Law Firm File on Phone-hacking as he Admits to 'Cover-up' - Telegraph
- Murdoch and the Cameron Entourage - Polly Toynbee - Guardian
- News Corp Shareholders 'Troubled' By Murdochs' Leveson Testimony - Guardian
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Thursday, 26th April 2012
RM: Spoke to editor about Brown's handwritten letter to soldier's mother, thought paper too hard on the PM.
RM: As written in his own autobiography, Brown ordered Mandelson to say something he knew was not true.
@dansabbagh:
Murdoch says that Mandelson
"charged" NewsInt with "having done a deal with Cameron" in his book, a
statement which he knew to be false.
Murdoch lays into Yelland abt
his "very strange autobiography" when "he said he was drunk all the
time...at the Sun, which we didn't notice"
Murdoch spends less than 10% of his time in the UK. Editors - "I think they know my philosophy yes"
@skymarkwhite:
Rupert Murdoch says he stands
by every word of his claim that Gordon Brown phoned him to "declare war"
after Sub sided with Tories
Murdoch says there are conversations with his editors pretty constantly, but says he doesn't call them to tell them what to do
 |
| LJ Leveson opining that Rupert Murdoch is capable of speaking his mind to Editors!
"I'm sure your discussions are vigorous"
|
@rosschawkins:
Jay picks up point he missed
yday about RM saying his thinking can be judged by what's in Sun. RM
says takes part in policy decisions
Murdoch #Leveson : there are conversations pretty constantly with Sun
Murdoch #Leveson : wish Gove was closer to me
@dansabbagh:
LIkes Michael Gove. "wish he
was" close to me. Distinguished career at the the Times. Had dinner with
him once; met him at a conference
Murdoch drifts onto public education, his new hobby horse...wants to get involved in privatising education?
@nataliepeck:
RM: I wish I was close to Michael Gove. Passionate about education, the standard here and in American is an "absolute disgrace".
@dansabbagh:
Onto BSkyB bid and Jeremy Hunt. "Not sure I have ever met him". What about the US trip? "I don't think so".
Hunt too junior a politician for Rupert Murdoch to bother with clearly.
Attacks Telegraph for "unethical" deletion of Cable Murdoch quotes.
Murdoch on Hunt. "We just thought we'd probably get a fairer go from anyone other than Dr Cable".
Murdoch says that News Corp is doing "other things" with the money it was going to spend on the Sky bid.
Murdoch says bid failed because of the "hacking scandal" not Dowler "misfortune". But says Dowler was the trigger even if ...
..."half of [the Dowler story] which was somewhat disowned by the police".
@skymarkwhite:
Murdoch being asked whether he
ever had conversations with Jeremy Hunt, re BSkyB bid. Says may have met
him at dinner once, can't recall
Jay: Didn't your son tell you that Mr Hunt was very much on side? Murdoch doesn't remember that
@rosschawkins:
Murdoch #Leveson : Telegraph running paper in its commercial interests (not publishing Cable Murdoch war quotes)
Murdoch #Leveson : anyone other than Cable would have been fairer on BSkyB bid
RM: JM told me when Cameron removed Cable’s responsibilities and put in Mr Hunt but I don’t believe he commented on it.
Guardian Live Blog:
Murdoch is asked if he was concerned by the delay in the BSkyB deal?
Murdoch says: "We didn't have to have it, we are doing other things with the money now. We did indeed [want it] we thought it was a good investment."
He adds that James did not give him an update on a daily or weekly basis. "I don't remember any conversation to be honest with you. I am assuming he kept me up to date to some extent. I delegated the situation to him. He had a lot on his plate, did not report perhaps as often ... but we did talk of course."
Murdoch is asked about Fred Michel, the News Corp head of public affairs, who extensively lobbied the office of Jeremy Hunt over the BSkyB deal in emails published by the inquiry on Tuesday.
Were you surprised by extent Michel's activities? "I didn't see anything wrong with his activities. Was I surprised it had gone on so long, there were so many emails? Yes."
He does not believe Michel had any success with his lobbying, adding that News Corp were forced to make considerable concessions before eventually dropping the bid in June last year.
Murdoch denies he believed Hunt was "on our side".
Jay asks whether Murdoch was surprised by "the degree of apparent closeness" between Michel and Hunt's office?
"I don't want to say anything against Mr Michel but I think there could have been a bit of exaggeration there," says Murdoch.
Phone-hacking:
Chronology of hacking.
Jay: Yr lawyers produced one document which was misleading and were obstructive. Does that shock you?
Jay says #murdoch did know that when he gave evidence to Parliament. #leveson explains in detail what it means.
@adavies:
Peter Clarke who ran 1st police
investigation into hacking told parliament last yr and leveson this yr
that NI were deeply obstructive
Yet Murdoch appears completely oblivious to that evidence...
Murdoch admits there was a 'cover-up' over hacking, but appears to claim NI were the 'victims'.
@benfenton:
Senior executives were all informed and i - were all misinformed &
shielded from anything that was going on there.We were victim of cover
up
[without naming Myler] #murdoch says new editor never reported back there was more hacking. Appointed lawyers [Harbottle & Lewis]
I cannot understand a law firm reading that and not ringing chief exec and saying "Hey you've got some big problems".
J:Where does this culture of
cover-up emanate from Mr Murdoch? M:From within the NotW.1 o2 v strong
characters there been there many years
The person I am thinking of was
friend of journos, a drinking pal and a clever lawyer. Forbade people
to report to Mrs Brooks or to James.
That is not to excuse it at all. I take it extremely seriously. [that was a major allegation. Jay avoids following the thread]
J:Myler was too weak. M:That's a slight exaggeration. I hoped Myler wd do what he was commissioned to do. #leveson He did not report back.
@iankatz1000:
Murdoch: "No question someone...maybe even the editor, certainly beyond that, someone took charge of a cover-up" (on hacking)
@rosschawkins:
Murdoch blaming Harbottle &
Lewis. H&L has accused News Int of "self serving" view in past. Say
they had v narrow instruction, spent 2 weeks
Murdoch #Leveson : Hinton chose Myler as notw ed, wdnt have been my choice, stronger people on Sun
@KeirSimmonsITV:
Murdoch representative walks up
to NI counsel to talk to them as RM is questioned about hacking. Told
off by Leveson. NI people seem worried
Rupert Murdoch says Colin Myler
'would not have been my choice' for Editor of the News of the World. 'I
can think of some stronger people'
@adavies4:
As Murdoch was discussing law firms role, one of his team next to me sprung to his feet and headed over to barristers bench...
LJ Leveson then immediately asked the lawyer to sit down and not do it again
Just asked the Murdoch man who was told to sit down for his name: 'no comment'. I understand he's John Turnbull from Linklaters
I believe this is the lawyer with Murdoch team who won't tell us who he is http://www.linklaters.com/WhoWeAre/OurPeople/Pages/JohnTurnbull.aspx
Guardian Live Blog:
Jay suggests the News International's response to phone hacking was a "desire to cover up not expose"."With minds like yours," suggests Murdoch before quickly adding "I take that back."
Leveson makes a noise that sounds like disapproval.
Jay assures him: "I'm very thick-skinned Mr Murdoch, do not worry one moment."
@benfenton:
[A very different atmosphere in #leveson inquiry this morning. #Murdoch is putting blame on himself.]
A very different feel about today at
@nataliepeck:
RM: July 09 Guardian article
"hostile" and "personalised". We choose to take the word of the police
over the word of the Guardian.
RM on Guardian: I've often expressed admiration for them. I think they look after their audience pretty well.
RM on Guardian: I've often expressed admiration for them. I think they look after their audience pretty well.
@Peston:
Real frisson here over the
exchange between Murdoch and Jay about why Burton Copeland internal News
hacking probe never published
Police have asked Jay to tell Murdoch that they never said they came to view only one rogue reporter
@rosschawkins:
Murdoch #Leveson : often expressed admiration for Guardian, they look after their audience pretty well
@dansabbagh:
Rupert says Guardian "looks
after their audience pretty well". Can't quite agree that without the G
the story would not hv emerged.
Murdoch denies ringing Blair to ask for Labour to back off on phone hacking in 2009.
@adavies4:
Murdoch tries to downplay seminal role played by Guardian in exposing hacking scandal
Murdoch: don't intend to read Tom Watson's book 'Dial M for Murdoch' [laughter in room]
@nataliepeck:
Jay refers to Tom Watson's 'Dial M for Murdoch'. RM: I'm not planning on reading it.
RM: If you’ve got 20
journalists and paparazzi and microphones in your mouth, you are under
duress [on "this one" Brooks moment].
@ellapickoverpa:
Asked about saying his main priority was Rebekah Brooks, RM says was referring to media scrum
RM says doesn't want to talk about Mrs Brooks until we have "heard from her". Says he was boosting her self confidence
Murdoch still defending the
honour of the paper, says it is a "vast exaggeration" the paper was
mostly interested in salacious gossip
@rosschawkins:
Murdoch #Leveson : if you've 30 journos and paps around you you are under duress (Leveson says will return)
Murdoch #Leveson : it's part of the game. (What's the game?) RM: harass people
Murdoch #Leveson : unfair to Sun to lump it together with notw
Murdoch #Leveson : John Major bitter with press but may be element of truth in his criticisms
@dansabbagh:
Murdoch says Brooks was seeking to resign at the infamous Sunday night dinner; Murdoch was trying to restore her confidence.
We have great vibrant press...10/11 newspapers..don't know why only 3 of
them make money (it's more than that Rupert). Great competition.
Murdoch says Mirror under Piers
Morgan had some great front pages, incl picture of Murdoch w horns
coming out his head (anybody got link?)
Natural for "unpopular" John Major to make sweeping allegations against the press, says Rupert.
Murdoch repeats "Nazi orgy" as if the Mosley trial had never had happened. NoW lost on the Nazi point.
Murdoch says he is a lot more
shocked by behaviour of Times lawyer Mr Brett (in Nightjack case) not
what happened in Mosely case.
Leveson making clear that he
agrees with Eady ruling in Mosely case. Believes that Woman E was a
victim of 'blackmail.' Is that justifiable?
Faced with that, Murdoch
retreats as regards the Mosely case. What Murdoch was trying to say is
that journalists do deals for stories.
"I don't ask any politician to scratch by back," says Murdoch. I'm not "falling for" that question, he says.
Murdoch says his housekeeper was good at cleaning, but you can't believe his word either...
@nataliepeck:
RM refers to "Nazi orgy" in relation to Mosley. Then says he hasn't read the judgement…
RM: I respect Eady J and
respect what he says, I'm saying a journalist doing a favour for
someone returning one back is everyday.
@rosschawkins:
Murdoch #Leveson : agreed with Mail attack on Google re porn, was strong but fair
Murdoch #Leveson : reveals Dacre was to have been made Times editor; but "really shocked" he said Mail ed policy was based on commercial int
@benfenton:
[ #murdoch
repeats the "Nazi orgy" accusation against Max Mosley which his paper
has paid £60K damages for. But I think he's got privilege.]
@KeirSimmons:
Dramatic moment, #Leveson tells Murdoch approach of persuading people to talk to avoid a 'bad story' is a form of 'blackmail'. Long pause.
@dansabbagh:
Murdoch "I was really shocked"
by stmnt of Dacre the other day, that his editorial policy was "driven
by commercial interests". Unethical.
Then says Dacre is a "great success" but says he was shocked that ed
policy of Mail is "driven by commercial interests". KRM to attack.
Murdoch says NewsInt has done hacking compliance check at the NY Post +
in Australia. "Want to be absolutely certain," this only UK issue.
@benfenton:
[In the short pause after that, #leveson interrupted "I think you just caused 3 coronaries". Laughter in court and press room]
"Costs of maintaining ethics in
papers is peanuts compared with the hundreds of millions that this
whole scandal and inquiry has cost us."
Murdoch rejects Andrew Neil accusation that Rupert sets the culture. Says editor has duty to be responsible, not chairman.
Murdoch says that Andrew Neil, the former editor of the Sunday Times, has found it "very profitable to spread lies about me".He says spreading myths about Murdoch has become an industry, which he hopes the Leveson inquiry will put to bed.
Murdoch asks whether the inquiry will put all his evidence on the public website. "I don't give answers to questions, Mr Murdoch, I only ask them," Jay replies, to a bemused grin from Murdoch.
Jay turns to questions that have been put by another core participant.Did he ever instruct an editor to promote other business interests?
"I have no business interests," Murdoch says. "I would certainly suggest to the editor of the Sun that it would be good to mention what's coming up in our new newspaper on Sunday."
He denies telling journalists to promote News Corp's TV shows or films. "You wanna read the reviewers in the New York Post of Fox Films – they kill 'em," he says.
Has he asked his newspapers to make life uncomfortable?
"No," Murdoch says.
Why did you close the News of the World rather than tough it out?
Murdoch says:
I think that's explained in my statement, but I could put it a little more succicntly. When the Milly Dowler was first given huge publicity – I think newspapers took the chance to make this a huge national scandal, it made people all over the country aware of this, you could feel the blast coming in the window. I'll say it succinctly: I panicked, but I'm glad I did. And I'm sorry I didn't close it years before and put a Sun on Sunday in. I tell you what held us back: News of the World readers. Only half of them read the Sun. Only a quarter, regular."He describes the phone-hacking scandal as "a serious blot on my reputation"
@skymarkwhite:
Jay: Why did you close #NOTW rather than tough it out? Murdoch says I panicked.. but am glad I did
Murdoch tells #Leveson Inquiry he wishes he'd closed the #NOTW years ago and se up a Sunday Sun!
@adavies4:
Powerful stuff. Murdoch on closing NOTW: 'I panicked, but I'm glad I did. I'm sorry I didn't close it years before'
Murdoch on hacking: "there was no attempt by me ..or several levels below me...to cover it up". Not quite what he said earlier.
You saw our response to Sienna
Miller, we thought we had a major problem. Realised that company had
been "disrespectful" of parliament too.
Rupert says I am the man
cleaning it up. We have examined 300m emails being examined. That led to
a dozen "midnight" (no) arrests at Sun.
(Murdoch didn't say Sun, but that's what he meant). Says he was distressed by some of those arrests + says "I'm glad we did it".
Murdoch on the Sun: "Showing in
the Sun that you can still produce the best newspaper without the bad
practices that were exposed".
Murdoch on ethics..."we are now a new company altogether".
Murdoch says he should have
"cross examined" Goodman myself. If come to "conclusion he was telling
the truth, I wld hv torn the place apart"
@benfenton:
"Asking Prime Ministers for favours would be unethical...that's why I
didn't do it. And I invite you to ask them." [Break for 5 mins]
@iankatz1000:
Today's unanswered question.
Why has NewsCorp insisted that the first hacking lawyers, Burton Copland
are not released from privilege?
 |
| Mr Jay asking Rupert Murdoch about corporate governance and compliance.. |
Jay moves on to
If you are serious about it,
you have to do it not at the criminal end, but holistically by
instilling strong ethical culture. M: Yes.
J: Your failure to have proper internal governance NotW was a cavalier attitude to the business risk of unethical/criminal?
"It had systems. They proved inadequate and I'm sorry about that," #murdoch tells #leveson
Jay:"If the cost, as you say, of proper systems is low,shows even more
that you ahd a "swashbuckling or cavalier attitude to these matters".
Murdoch: No. He then agrees with Jay that NotW was not an agent of the public interest but what the public was interested in...
@nataliepeck:
RM: The News of the World, I'll be quite honest, was an aberration aand it's my fault.
RM: Should be more aware of PCC details but do know the no of complaints we've received and whether resolved or addressed.
RM: The MailOnline is a "great gossip site. Or bad, whichever way you look at it".
 |
| Speaking about politicians (and those celebrities with PR access) and their rights to privacy |
Main examination over, now onto question from Paul Dacre's Counsel Kaplan:
@benfenton:
[There are some questions now from other papers. Jonathan Kaplan rises to address his criticism of Paul Dacre.]
Kaplan says Dacre wasn't
talking about editorial policy being driven by commercial concerns, but
just about reasons for opposing Sky bid.
One night in the hands of the
bankers I mortgaged my New York flat [he is explaining he went close to
bust in funding his business]
 | ||
| Rupert Murdoch answering point from Dacre's Mr Kaplan. |
 |
| Mr Hendy (NUJ) |
@benfenton:
Lawyer for National Union of
Journalists wants to talk about ethical areas:treatment of journos and
photographers contributing to scandals.
NUJ wants to ask whether allowing NUJ into Wapping wouldn't be a good idea. Shd NI & others have a conscience clause.
NUJ wants to ask whether allowing NUJ into Wapping wouldn't be a good idea. Shd NI & others have a conscience clause.
M:Our journalists are perfectly free to make complaints&join the NUJ. #leveson reminds #murdoch of Matt Driscoll bullying.He doesnt know it.
@adavies4:
Murdoch: if I hadn't beaten the old craft unions...there wouldn't be such a good democratic press (as we have today)
@nataliepeck:
RM: Why didn't she [anonymous journalist] resign [from NoW]? #Leveson: I think the problem with that might be that she needs a job.
@benfenton:
[Odd that #murdoch doesn't know about £750K payment to Driscoll.He sd Taylor settlement(£425K) shd have been known to him]
@dansabbagh:
Murdoch interested in idea of a "conscience clause" in journalist contracts. Video that. Be stunned if NewsInt went for that.
That concludes the evidence from Rupert Murdoch.
