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| Jeremy Hunt (left) and David Cameron (right) (Image: The Telegraph) |
It's not every day you would see me praising David Cameron but after over two years of being Prime Minister, it was almost inevitable that I would agree with recent events concerning him, and that is ignoring his petty attack on comedian Jimmy Carr who was caught avoiding taxes. This concerns the Leveson Inquiry as last week, Lord Justice Leveson and Counsel Robert Jay QC interviewed high-profile politicians, past and present such as former Prime Ministers Sir John Major and Gordon Brown, and current Ministers like Chancellor George Osborne and Scotland's First Minister, Alex Salmond. They gave their personal feedback on what their relationship is/was like with the press and News International.
David Cameron was under oath and questioned on the Thursday and it was interesting to listen to his version of the controversial appointment of former News of the World editor, Andy Coulson as Communications Director. Coulson is one of the central figures to the phone hacking scandal leading to the Leveson Inquiry. Mr. Cameron said if he knew Coulson, who resigned from the Conservative Party in January 2011, was involved in the phone hacking, he would never have employed him in the first place. It has been widely known that Coulson is a quiet person who distances himself away from potential further trouble. When he appeared to the Leveson Inquiry earlier this month, he continuously denied and was unsure about certain claims when he was interrogated by Leveson and Jay QC.
Coulson's approach to Leveson was a complete contrast to former News of the World editor and News International Chief Executive Rebekah Brooks's appearance to the Inquiry earlier this month. Although most of the time she speaks garbage, whatever she says gets her further into trouble after being charged with perverting the course of justice last month. On Friday, she appeared in court again facing further charges due to her role in the phone hacking. Coulson should receive the Brooks treatment - and we shall not dismiss former News of the World editor Piers Morgan from more questioning after being accused of teaching TV Presenter, Jeremy Paxman how to phone hack.
Back to Cameron, he was forced to defend himself with regards to Coulson. All the Prime Minister knew was that Coulson was just a Conservative supporting former tabloid editor who left his role abruptly. They both had a vision to get the Tory Party back to 10 Downing Street. Once they did, News International, who's Chief Executive during the beginning of the Conservative-led Coalition government reign was Rebekah Brooks, started to test the Party's motives in the summer of 2010. Their coalition with the Liberal Democrats started badly due to the cuts to the public and private sector budgets but both James Murdoch (then News International Chairman) and Rupert Murdoch (News Corporation Chairman) intended to own 100 percent of BSkyB a significant increase to their 39.1 percent stake at the broadcasting company. They eventually backed out of the deal in the summer of 2011 after seeing off a bold move from business secretary and Lib Dem, Vince Cable who intervened in this proposed £12 billion investment in November 2010 and Labour's pressure to the Conservatives to try and block Murdoch's move. Cameron at this time did nothing however, it was later leaked that Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt supported the Murdoch Empire's move to take full ownership of BSkyB. This caused much uproar and has now been a hot topic since the Leveson Inquiry started hence why some of the politicians have been questioned last week.
The Leveson Inquiry has added more hostility to the Coalition government as Liberal Democrat leader and Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg told Leveson last week that Jeremy Hunt should resign as Culture Secretary as supporting the Murdochs during News International's most controversial stages of their career was almost considered suicidal. Clegg echoed Labour leader, Ed Miliband's call for Hunt's resignation, moments after the initial story broke. Despite this, Cameron insists on defending Hunt and says he must continue to do the job he is doing and prepare for the London 2012 Olympic Games which is just over four weeks away.
This is where I defend Cameron, for the first time in his political career. Rupert Murdoch knows how British politicians operate. Particularly during these difficult economy times, MPs are becoming increasingly money oriented. Last week for example, BSkyB continued to support the English Premier League (football) and partnered BT to showcase 150 top flight games in a deal worth £3.04 billion, boosting the league's funding and supporting the clubs considerably until 2016. So there is little wonder why Jeremy Hunt wanted Murdoch to fully own Sky - boosting the economy and broadcasting revenue so the government don't have to. However, for shame sake, that bid didn't go ahead which was completely understandable but with 92.6 percent wanting him to go, Hunt has to be careful about his future actions.
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| Cameron with Baroness Warsi, left (Image: The Telegraph) |
The decision to keep Jeremy Hunt as Culture Secretary has given David Cameron a firm warning about his decision-making skills. Soon after the start of Hunt-gate (calling it this for now), it was announced Conservative co-Chairperson, Baroness Warsi allegedly broke the government's Ministerial Code by claiming for overnight accommodation, staying over a friend's house rent-free. In addition, it has been claimed she shared business interest with a relative, who is believed to be a community activist while on an official visit to Pakistan in July 2010, two months after being appointed as a Minister. She has apologised to Cameron in whom he acknowledged but now this case has gone further as an inquiry is to take place on the situation, putting Warsi's job on the line.
I can understand why Baroness Warsi needed to apologise as it is common sense that work related issues remain in the workplace and should not be addressed in any shape or form at home but I feel a fine would have been enough. She has apologised but it hasn't impacted on Cameron's decision that an investigation would take place. Both Warsi and Hunt have made errors of judgement but neither has harmed the British public by doing their jobs. Cameron has to prioritise more efficiently and must treat his employers equally. Either neither or both should be investigated. It's as simple as that.
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