Tories deny 'deal' with Murdoch

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/8361231.stm

Version 0 of 1.

The Conservatives have dismissed claims of a pact with media mogul Rupert Murdoch as "absolute nonsense".

Shadow culture secretary Jeremy Hunt told Sky News this was a "completely wrong and totally improper" allegation.

Last week, Business Secretary Lord Mandelson said Mr Murdoch's News International and the Tories had "effectively formed a contract".

This followed critical reporting in the Sun newspaper of Gordon Brown's letter to the mother of a dead soldier.

The prime minister was accused of misspelling the surname of Jacqui Janes in his handwritten note.

It was also reported that he had overwritten a misspelt mention of Guardsman Jamie Janes, rather than restarting the note.

'Very consistent'

Mr Brown, who has poor eyesight, apologised for "any unintended mistake".

But Lord Mandelson accused the Sun of "crude politicking" ahead of the next general election.

The newspaper, owned by News International, switched allegiance to the Conservatives in September after 12 years of backing Labour.

He added: "What the Sun can do for the Conservatives during the election is one part of the contract and, presumably, what the Conservatives can do for News International if they are elected is the other side of the bargain."

Mr Hunt told Sky News: "It's absolute nonsense. And if you look at what we've been saying on media policy, it's been very, very consistent for the last two years."

He added: "There are no deals. I think what Peter Mandelson said was extraordinary.

"If there was some deal between the Conservatives and News Corp [News International's parent company], then what about Labour's deal in 1997, 2001, 2005 [general election years]? It's absolute nonsense."

Mr Brown recently said he had "the most enormous personal regard" for Mr Murdoch and spoke to him regularly.

Asked whether he did the same, Mr Hunt said: "I don't ring up Rupert Murdoch and have a chat about the way things are going at all...

"I'm sure they [Mr Murdoch and Conservative leader David Cameron] have met and why shouldn't they?

"But the idea of any kind of deal would be completely wrong and totally improper."