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Leveson Inquiry: John Major giving evidence at Leveson Leveson Inquiry: John Major 'too sensitive' about press
(39 minutes later)
Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major has begun giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics. Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major has said he was often "too sensitive" about press coverage, at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics.
"God knows why I was, but I was," said Sir John. "It is a basic human emotion to get a bit ratty about it."
The third module of the inquiry is focusing on the relationship between the press and politicians.The third module of the inquiry is focusing on the relationship between the press and politicians.
Labour Leader Ed Miliband and his deputy Harriet Harman are due before the Leveson Inquiry later on Tuesday.Labour Leader Ed Miliband and his deputy Harriet Harman are due before the Leveson Inquiry later on Tuesday.
On Monday, Lord Justice Leveson heard from former PM Gordon Brown and Chancellor George Osborne, while the PM is due to give evidence on Thursday. Sir John Major was prime minister from 1990 until he lost the 1997 general election to Labour's Tony Blair. That defeat came after Rupert Murdoch's newspaper titles famously switched its support away from the Conservatives to Labour.
Sir John told the inquiry that he was often "too sensitive" about the press wrote but he said it was a "basic human emotion to get a bit ratty about it". Sir John told the inquiry a "too close a relationship [with the press] probably wasn't for me".
He was asked about a phone call he made to former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie in 1992 on "Black Wednesday", when the UK exited the Exchange Rate Mechanism.
He said he did not recollect the same conversation that was recounted by Mr MacKenzie, who previously told the inquiry he had warned the then PM that his newspaper's coverage would not be positive.
"There are more myths about Black Wednesday than the Greeks ever created," said Sir John.
He described the conversation as a "bad mistake" and said it was "not a particularly productive phone call".
'Buccaneering businessmen'
Sir John said some parts of the press do not report accurately.
"They tend to deal in caricatures ... it takes something that has a tiny kernel of truth in it, perhaps, and stretches it far beyond where it can honestly go," he said.
Sir John told the inquiry that former prime minister Margaret Thatcher's right-wing views appealed to national newspaper editors and proprietors.
"I think she admired buccaneering businessmen who were prepared to take risks," Sir John told the hearing.
"And that certainly applied to proprietors of newspapers."
Mr Miliband, who will give evidence this afternoon, has previously said Mr Cameron's government "bent over backwards" to help Rupert Murdoch's media empire but that Labour had also been "too close to the powerful interests" when it was in power.Mr Miliband, who will give evidence this afternoon, has previously said Mr Cameron's government "bent over backwards" to help Rupert Murdoch's media empire but that Labour had also been "too close to the powerful interests" when it was in power.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond will appear before the inquiry, at London's Royal Courts of Justice, on Wednesday. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond will appear before the inquiry, at London's Royal Courts of Justice, on Wednesday, while PM David Cameron will appear on Thursday.