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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.
He described some coverage as "hurtful" and said it was 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 their support away from the Conservatives to Labour. Sir John Major was prime minister from 1990 until he lost the 1997 general election to Tony Blair. That defeat came after Rupert Murdoch's newspaper titles famously switched their support away from the Conservatives to Labour.
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 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 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 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.""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".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. "I learned what I thought that I didn't think, what I said that I hadn't said and 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".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."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' 'Son followed'
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.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. Sir John recalled a meeting with Mr Murdoch in February 1997 - which he told the inquiry he had never previously spoken about. He said the media mogul told him to change his policy on Europe and warned that 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."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."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 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". He 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.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".
Sir John told the inquiry that former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's right-wing views appealed to national newspaper editors and proprietors. Lead counsel for the inquiry, Robert Jay QC asked Sir John about press intrusion.
"I think she admired buccaneering businessmen who were prepared to take risks," Sir John told the hearing. He said his office once received a phone call purporting to be from an hospital's accident and emergency department saying they were to operate on his son's girlfriend after an accident, but first they needed to know whether she was pregnant. His son's girlfriend had not been in an accident and was not pregnant, he added.
"And that certainly applied to proprietors of newspapers." He also said his 20-year-old son James was pursued by a photographer for the News of the World on a motorbike, who had been "instructed to follow him day and night" to get a story.
The former PM said the examples were "illustrative not exhaustive".
Sir John was also asked about his "back to basics" policy, which some sections of the press criticised at the time.
"Back to basics wasn't a puritanical moral crusade at any time," he said.
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.