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John Major tells Leveson inquiry: I was too sensitive about press coverage John Major tells Leveson inquiry: I was too sensitive about press coverage
(about 14 hours later)
Sir John Major has admitted that he overreacted to the hostile press he received during his seven years as prime minister but said he thought it would have been undignified for the leader of the country to engage with the media personally.Sir John Major has admitted that he overreacted to the hostile press he received during his seven years as prime minister but said he thought it would have been undignified for the leader of the country to engage with the media personally.
Major, who ran the country from 1990 to 1997, also conceded at the Leveson inquiry on Tuesday morning it was a "very bad mistake" to have phoned Kelvin MacKenzie, then editor of the Sun, late on "Black Wednesday", the day in 1992 when Britain was forced to remove the pound from the Exchange Rate Mechanism.Major, who ran the country from 1990 to 1997, also conceded at the Leveson inquiry on Tuesday morning it was a "very bad mistake" to have phoned Kelvin MacKenzie, then editor of the Sun, late on "Black Wednesday", the day in 1992 when Britain was forced to remove the pound from the Exchange Rate Mechanism.
But he denied that during the phone conversation on 16 September 1992 MacKenzie told him that he would "pour a bucket of shit" over him in the following day's paper.But he denied that during the phone conversation on 16 September 1992 MacKenzie told him that he would "pour a bucket of shit" over him in the following day's paper.
Major agreed with the counsel to the inquiry, Robert Jay QC, that he had a very hostile press during his tenure as prime minister but said he had made a conscious decision not to engage with the media when he took over from Baroness Thatcher. Major agreed with the counsel to the inquiry, Robert Jay QC, that he had a very hostile press during his tenure as prime minister but said he had made a conscious decision not to engage with the media when he took over from Lady Thatcher.
"I thought I wouldn't do it very well but secondly, I did think it was rather undignified … I don't think it's the role of the prime minister to court the press," he told the inquiry."I thought I wouldn't do it very well but secondly, I did think it was rather undignified … I don't think it's the role of the prime minister to court the press," he told the inquiry.
Major was widely mocked during his premiership and constantly ribbed about his background as the son of a circus performer.Major was widely mocked during his premiership and constantly ribbed about his background as the son of a circus performer.
Today he said he had "moved on" from those days but admitted he was sensitive about the "caricature" painted of him in the press. "My overreaction was principally a human overreaction," Major said. He said he had "moved on" from those days but admitted he was sensitive about the "caricature" painted of him in the press. "My overreaction was principally a human overreaction," Major said.
He confirmed that he was "much too sensitive from time to time about what the press wrote". "God knows why I was, but I was," he said. "It is a basic human emotion to get a bit ratty about it."He confirmed that he was "much too sensitive from time to time about what the press wrote". "God knows why I was, but I was," he said. "It is a basic human emotion to get a bit ratty about it."
Major said "the press to me at the time was a source of wonder". "I'd wake up each morning and I opened the morning papers and I learned what I thought I didn't think, what I said that I hadn't said, what I was about to do that I wasn't about to do," he added.Major said "the press to me at the time was a source of wonder". "I'd wake up each morning and I opened the morning papers and I learned what I thought I didn't think, what I said that I hadn't said, what I was about to do that I wasn't about to do," he added.
"It is a bit wearing and I freely confess that I probably overreacted to that.""It is a bit wearing and I freely confess that I probably overreacted to that."
At this point Lord Justice Leveson quipped, to laughter in the courtroom: "I've had that feeling." At this point, Lord Justice Leveson quipped, to laughter in the courtroom: "I've had that feeling."
Jay also asked Major about the conversation with MacKenzie in September 1992. MacKenzie told the inquiry during his evidence in January that he said to Major, in relation to what he was going to publish about Black Wednesday in the following day's Sun: "I said I've got a bucket of shit on my desk, prime minister, and I'm going to pour it all over you."Jay also asked Major about the conversation with MacKenzie in September 1992. MacKenzie told the inquiry during his evidence in January that he said to Major, in relation to what he was going to publish about Black Wednesday in the following day's Sun: "I said I've got a bucket of shit on my desk, prime minister, and I'm going to pour it all over you."
Major said his recollection was different. "It wasn't a very successful phone call and it had assumed an air of mythology. There are more myths about Black Wednesday than the Greeks ever created."Major said his recollection was different. "It wasn't a very successful phone call and it had assumed an air of mythology. There are more myths about Black Wednesday than the Greeks ever created."
But he added: "I have read the substance of the alleged conversation with a degree of wonder and surprise.But he added: "I have read the substance of the alleged conversation with a degree of wonder and surprise.
"As to the conversion itself, I frankly can't recall it in any detail. I would have recalled the bit that has entered mythology. I'm sure I would have not forgotten that.""As to the conversion itself, I frankly can't recall it in any detail. I would have recalled the bit that has entered mythology. I'm sure I would have not forgotten that."
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