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| George Osborne and Gordon Brown appear before Leveson inquiry | |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, and former prime minister Gordon Brown will appear before the Leveson inquiry on Monday as the investigation into media standards enters its most politically charged week. | The chancellor of the exchequer, George Osborne, and former prime minister Gordon Brown will appear before the Leveson inquiry on Monday as the investigation into media standards enters its most politically charged week. |
| With David Cameron due to give evidence on Thursday, both the Conservative and Labour leaderships will face scrutiny over their relationships with media barons. | With David Cameron due to give evidence on Thursday, both the Conservative and Labour leaderships will face scrutiny over their relationships with media barons. |
| Much of the questioning of Osborne is likely to centre on his role in building relations between the Tory leadership and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation before and after the 2010 general election. | Much of the questioning of Osborne is likely to centre on his role in building relations between the Tory leadership and Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation before and after the 2010 general election. |
| In opposition, Osborne played a key role in recruiting former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as the Conservatives' director of communications in 2007. | In opposition, Osborne played a key role in recruiting former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as the Conservatives' director of communications in 2007. |
| When he appeared last month, Coulson said that within two months of his resignation from the paper in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, Osborne had begun courting him. | When he appeared last month, Coulson said that within two months of his resignation from the paper in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, Osborne had begun courting him. |
| The chancellor may also face questions over any role he played in the saga over News Corp's takeover bid for BSkyB once the Tories were in power. | The chancellor may also face questions over any role he played in the saga over News Corp's takeover bid for BSkyB once the Tories were in power. |
| The inquiry has previously heard that the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, had texted him expressing concern about the way the issue was handled in government. | The inquiry has previously heard that the culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, had texted him expressing concern about the way the issue was handled in government. |
| When the business secretary, Vince Cable, was stripped of his responsibilities for the bid after voicing his hostility to the Murdochs and Hunt took over the brief, Osborne texted back: "I hope you like our solution." | When the business secretary, Vince Cable, was stripped of his responsibilities for the bid after voicing his hostility to the Murdochs and Hunt took over the brief, Osborne texted back: "I hope you like our solution." |
| When he enters the witness box in court 73 at the Royal Courts of Justice, Brown can also expect an examination of his dealings with News Corp and the Murdochs. | When he enters the witness box in court 73 at the Royal Courts of Justice, Brown can also expect an examination of his dealings with News Corp and the Murdochs. |
| Rupert Murdoch told the inquiry that they had previously enjoyed a "warm personal relationship". | Rupert Murdoch told the inquiry that they had previously enjoyed a "warm personal relationship". |
| In 2008, Murdoch's wife, Wendi, and the News International chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, attended a so-called "pyjama party" at Chequers hosted by Brown's wife, Sarah. | In 2008, Murdoch's wife, Wendi, and the News International chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, attended a so-called "pyjama party" at Chequers hosted by Brown's wife, Sarah. |
| However, Murdoch said relations broke down after the Sun switched its support to the Conservatives during the 2009 Labour party conference. | However, Murdoch said relations broke down after the Sun switched its support to the Conservatives during the 2009 Labour party conference. |
| The inquiry is also likely to discuss the Sun's 2006 story disclosing that Brown's son Fraser was suffering from cystic fibrosis. | The inquiry is also likely to discuss the Sun's 2006 story disclosing that Brown's son Fraser was suffering from cystic fibrosis. |
| Brooks denied the story had been obtained through hacking into medical records and said the information came from a source connected to a charity. | Brooks denied the story had been obtained through hacking into medical records and said the information came from a source connected to a charity. |
| Also giving evidence to the inquiry this week are former prime minister John Major and Labour's leader and deputy leader, Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman, who appear on Tuesday. | Also giving evidence to the inquiry this week are former prime minister John Major and Labour's leader and deputy leader, Ed Miliband and Harriet Harman, who appear on Tuesday. |
| They will be followed on Thursday by the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond. | They will be followed on Thursday by the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and Scotland's first minister, Alex Salmond. |