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Leveson Inquiry: Press links inevitable, says Tony Blair Leveson Inquiry: Press links inevitable, says Tony Blair
(40 minutes later)
A close interaction between politicians and the press is inevitable, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the Leveson Inquiry.A close interaction between politicians and the press is inevitable, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has told the Leveson Inquiry.
Mr Blair told the inquiry that at its best British journalism is the best in the world.Mr Blair told the inquiry that at its best British journalism is the best in the world.
But Mr Blair said the use of newspapers as instruments of political power creates a relationship that is "unhealthy".But Mr Blair said the use of newspapers as instruments of political power creates a relationship that is "unhealthy".
The inquiry is investigating the link between the press and politicians.The inquiry is investigating the link between the press and politicians.
Mr Blair said it would be strange if senior media people and senior politicians did not have an interaction.Mr Blair said it would be strange if senior media people and senior politicians did not have an interaction.
He said the word "unhealthy" rather than "cosy" was a better description of the relationship.He said the word "unhealthy" rather than "cosy" was a better description of the relationship.
Mr Blair said he made a strategic decision as a political leader that he was going to manage that and not confront it.Mr Blair said he made a strategic decision as a political leader that he was going to manage that and not confront it.
He told the inquiry: "It's almost impossible now, even now, to dispute this issue to do with so-called "spin".He told the inquiry: "It's almost impossible now, even now, to dispute this issue to do with so-called "spin".
"I can't believe we are the first and only government that has ever wanted to put the best possible gloss on what we're doing, that is a completely different thing to saying that you go out to say things that are deliberately untrue.""I can't believe we are the first and only government that has ever wanted to put the best possible gloss on what we're doing, that is a completely different thing to saying that you go out to say things that are deliberately untrue."
Counsel to the inquiry, Robert Jay QC, asked Mr Blair why he did not take on the media.Counsel to the inquiry, Robert Jay QC, asked Mr Blair why he did not take on the media.
He responded that this would have provoked a major confrontation and he did not want that to detract from other policy goals.He responded that this would have provoked a major confrontation and he did not want that to detract from other policy goals.
Mr Blair said he thought Ofcom was probably the right body to deal with media policy but did not envisage it replacing the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).
Close relationship
He said the Sun and the Daily Mail were the two most powerful of the papers, and the Sun was important because it is prepared to shift its political allegiance.
Mr Blair said his government decided more things against the interests of Mr Murdoch than for them.
Mr Blair is the first of several senior politicians due to appear at the inquiry this week, including Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.Mr Blair is the first of several senior politicians due to appear at the inquiry this week, including Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
He was the Labour Party leader between 1994 and 2007, and was prime minister from 1997 to 2007, before being succeeded by Gordon Brown.He was the Labour Party leader between 1994 and 2007, and was prime minister from 1997 to 2007, before being succeeded by Gordon Brown.
He is reported to have a close relationship with News Corporation chairman Mr Murdoch, which could form the basis of the scrutiny levelled by the inquiry's barristers.He is reported to have a close relationship with News Corporation chairman Mr Murdoch, which could form the basis of the scrutiny levelled by the inquiry's barristers.
Mr Blair's relationship with Mr Murdoch first came into public view in 1995, when he travelled to Hayman Island in Australia to address News Corp executives.Mr Blair's relationship with Mr Murdoch first came into public view in 1995, when he travelled to Hayman Island in Australia to address News Corp executives.
The trip was part of a New Labour strategy to reach out to newspapers that had unfavourably portrayed previous leaders Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock.The trip was part of a New Labour strategy to reach out to newspapers that had unfavourably portrayed previous leaders Michael Foot and Neil Kinnock.
It seemingly worked, and in 1997 the Sun newspaper, owned by the Murdoch subsidiary News International, switched allegiance from the Conservative to Labour.It seemingly worked, and in 1997 the Sun newspaper, owned by the Murdoch subsidiary News International, switched allegiance from the Conservative to Labour.
'Faustian pact'
The witness list also shows that Education Secretary Michael Gove, Home Secretary Theresa May, Business Secretary Vince Cable, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke and Mr Hunt are all due to appear before Lord Justice Leveson before 31 May.The witness list also shows that Education Secretary Michael Gove, Home Secretary Theresa May, Business Secretary Vince Cable, Justice Secretary Ken Clarke and Mr Hunt are all due to appear before Lord Justice Leveson before 31 May.
Giving evidence earlier in May, one of Mr Blair's former cabinet ministers Lord Mandelson told the inquiry he felt the relationship had "arguably" become "closer than wise".Giving evidence earlier in May, one of Mr Blair's former cabinet ministers Lord Mandelson told the inquiry he felt the relationship had "arguably" become "closer than wise".
But he dismissed claims of a "Faustian pact" involving commercial concessions for News Corp in return for support from its newspapers.But he dismissed claims of a "Faustian pact" involving commercial concessions for News Corp in return for support from its newspapers.
In April, Mr Blair's former press secretary Alistair Campbell also denied any kind of deal prior to the 1997 general election.In April, Mr Blair's former press secretary Alistair Campbell also denied any kind of deal prior to the 1997 general election.
He told the inquiry: "I never was witness to, and I do not believe there was ever a discussion that said, 'now, Tony, if you do this and do this my papers will back you' - it just never happened."He told the inquiry: "I never was witness to, and I do not believe there was ever a discussion that said, 'now, Tony, if you do this and do this my papers will back you' - it just never happened."
During his evidence, Mr Campbell was also asked about three phone calls that took place between Mr Blair and Mr Murdoch in the run-up to the Iraq War in March 2003.During his evidence, Mr Campbell was also asked about three phone calls that took place between Mr Blair and Mr Murdoch in the run-up to the Iraq War in March 2003.
He dismissed suggestions that Mr Blair could not have pursued his defence policy without the backing of Mr Murdoch and the Sun as "complete nonsense"He dismissed suggestions that Mr Blair could not have pursued his defence policy without the backing of Mr Murdoch and the Sun as "complete nonsense"