This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18405629#sa-ns_mchannel=rss&ns_source=PublicRSS20-sa

The article has changed 11 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 2 Version 3
Leveson Inquiry: John Major 'too sensitive' about press Leveson Inquiry: John Major 'too sensitive' about press
(40 minutes later)
Former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major has said he was often "too sensitive" about press coverage, at 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." He described some coverage as "hurtful" and said it was 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.
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 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 their support away from the Conservatives to Labour.
Sir John told the inquiry a "too close a relationship [with the press] probably wasn't for me". He told the inquiry it was "partly my fault that my relationship with the press wasn't too close" but he said a "too close a relationship 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 it was "easier to be hostile about people you don't know than it is about people you know well" and the relationship worsened after 1992.
"I was much too sensitive from time to time about what the press wrote. God knows in retrospect why I was, but I was," he told the inquiry.
"I think you can explain that in human terms. If you pick up the papers each day and read a caricature of what you believe you are doing and what you believe you are then I suppose it's a basic human emotion to get a bit ratty about it."
He said at the time he was prime minister the press was a "source of wonder".
"I learned what I thought that I didn't think, what I said that I hadn't said and what what I was about to do that I wasn't about to do," he said.
He said it "was a bit wearing" and he often over-reacted to coverage, but it was a "human over-reaction".
"Did I read them too much? Yes I did. Was it hurtful? Yes it was. Did I think it was malicious? I think that's for others to make a judgement," he said.
'Buccaneering businessmen'
The former PM said he met Conrad Black, former owner of the Daily Telegraph, six times in seven years, and Rupert Murdoch three times in seven years.
Sir John recalled a meeting with Rupert Murdoch in February 1997 - which he told the inquiry he had never previously spoken about. The media mogul told him to change his policy on Europe and warned his newspapers would not support him if he failed to do so.
"It is not very often someone sits in front of a prime minister and says 'I would like you to change your policy and if you do not change your policy our organisation cannot support you'," said Sir John.
Mr Murdoch has previously told the inquiry: "I have never asked a prime minister for anything."
Sir John said he was not surprised that the Sun switched its support to Labour in 1997.
Sir John said he used to joke that "I went swimming in the Thames, left my clothes on the bank and when I came back Mr Blair was wearing them".
At the time, the Sun was edited by Kelvin MacKenzie and Sir John was asked about a phone call he made to Mr 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.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."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".He described the conversation as a "bad mistake" and said it was "not a particularly productive phone call".
'Buccaneering businessmen' Sir John told the inquiry that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's right-wing views appealed to national newspaper editors and proprietors.
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."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.""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, while PM David Cameron will appear on Thursday.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.