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Leveson Inquiry: Alex Salmond says Observer accessed bank account Leveson Inquiry: Alex Salmond says Observer accessed bank account
(40 minutes later)
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has told the Leveson Inquiry into press standards that his bank account was accessed by the Observer newspaper.Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond has told the Leveson Inquiry into press standards that his bank account was accessed by the Observer newspaper.
The SNP leader made the claim before Lord Justice Leveson, sitting at London's Royal Courts of Justice.The SNP leader made the claim before Lord Justice Leveson, sitting at London's Royal Courts of Justice.
He said that following police investigations in Scotland, to his knowledge, his phone had never been hacked. Responding to Mr Salmond's claim, a spokesman for the Observer said "we have been unable to find any evidence to substantiate the allegation".
Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg gave evidence before Mr Salmond.Leader of the Liberal Democrats Nick Clegg gave evidence before Mr Salmond.
Mr Salmond has come under pressure from opposition parties in Scotland over his relationship with media mogul Rupert Murdoch. The subject of Mr Salmond's bank account came up when inquiry QC Robert Jay asked the politician if his phone had ever been hacked.
The businessman's News International organisation is at the heart of the inquiry which is looking in part at the extent of unlawful or improper conduct of media companies. The first minister said he had not been contacted by Strathclyde Police, who were investigating phone hacking in Scotland, to say he had been a victim.
Mr Murdoch closed his popular Sunday tabloid, the News of the World, in July last year following allegations the paper hacked the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl, Milly Dowler. However he added: "What I can say is that I believe that my bank account was accessed by the Observer newspaper in 1999.
"What might Alex Salmond be asked? Well, there is like to be three lines of questioning..... "My reason for believing that is I was informed by a former Observer journalist who gave me a fairly exact account of what was in my bank account that could only have been known to somebody who had seen it."
  1. "The extent of Mr Salmond's connection with Rupert Murdoch. In February 2011, emails suggest Mr Salmond was willing to lobby Jeremy Hunt on behalf of News Corporation with regard to the potential full takeover of BSkyB. Then in May of that year, the Sun in Scotland backed Alex Salmond's party to win the Holyrood election.
  2. "The duration of the connection with Rupert Murdoch. Earlier this year, Mr Salmond wrote a supporting article in the first edition of the Sun in Scotland on Sunday and also hosted Rupert Murdoch at Bute House [Mr Salmond's official residence] after - say his opponents - all the information was known about hacking.
    3.
  3. "On the issue phone hacking itself. Mr Salmond has been repeatedly asked in Holyrood whether his own phone was hacked. He has repeatedly refused to answer that saying he would give that information to the Leveson Inquiry."
    4.
Mr Salmond, who was party leader and an MP at Westminster in 1999, explained further: "For example I bought some toys for my then young nieces in a toy shop in Linlithgow High Street which was called 'Fun and Games'.
"The person who informed me told me this caused great anticipation and hope in the Observer investigation unit because they believed that perhaps 'Fun and Games' was more than a conventional toy shop."
A spokesman for Guardian News & Media, which runs the Observer newspaper, said that Mr Salmond first raised the matter of an alleged unauthorised access of his bank account with the editor of the Sunday broadsheet last year.
He added: "As we explained to him [Mr Salmond] last year, on the basis of the information he had given us, we have been unable to find any evidence to substantiate his allegation.
"As our response to him at the time made clear, we take this allegation very seriously and if he is able to provide us with any more information we will investigate further."
Murdoch dinner
Throughout this week the inquiry is hearing from politicians who are explaining what relationship they have with the press.Throughout this week the inquiry is hearing from politicians who are explaining what relationship they have with the press.
Former prime minister Gordon Brown and current Chancellor George Osborne appeared on Monday. Prime Minister David Cameron is due to give evidence on Thursday.Former prime minister Gordon Brown and current Chancellor George Osborne appeared on Monday. Prime Minister David Cameron is due to give evidence on Thursday.
During the evidence session on Wednesday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Mr Clegg told Lord Justice Leveson that he met Rupert Murdoch twice ahead of the 2010 General Election, but exchanged only a few sentences with the News Corp boss.During the evidence session on Wednesday morning, Deputy Prime Minister Mr Clegg told Lord Justice Leveson that he met Rupert Murdoch twice ahead of the 2010 General Election, but exchanged only a few sentences with the News Corp boss.
"What might Alex Salmond be asked? Well, there is like to be three lines of questioning.....
  1. "The extent of Mr Salmond's connection with Rupert Murdoch. In February 2011, emails suggest Mr Salmond was willing to lobby Jeremy Hunt on behalf of News Corporation with regard to the potential full takeover of BSkyB. Then in May of that year, the Sun in Scotland backed Alex Salmond's party to win the Holyrood election.
  2. "The duration of the connection with Rupert Murdoch. Earlier this year, Mr Salmond wrote a supporting article in the first edition of the Sun in Scotland on Sunday and also hosted Rupert Murdoch at Bute House [Mr Salmond's official residence] after - say his opponents - all the information was known about hacking.
  3. "On the issue phone hacking itself. Mr Salmond has been repeatedly asked in Holyrood whether his own phone was hacked. He has repeatedly refused to answer that saying he would give that information to the Leveson Inquiry."
He explained that at a 2009 dinner with Mr Murdoch, he sat at the end of the table "where the children sit" and was "an observer" and in March 2010, the pair exchanged "amicable greetings" in a corridor.He explained that at a 2009 dinner with Mr Murdoch, he sat at the end of the table "where the children sit" and was "an observer" and in March 2010, the pair exchanged "amicable greetings" in a corridor.
On the issue of press regulation, Mr Clegg described the Press Complaints Commission as "relatively toothless".
He added that he had known News Corp lobbyist Fred Michel, socially and professionally, for more than a decade.He added that he had known News Corp lobbyist Fred Michel, socially and professionally, for more than a decade.
But Mr Clegg said he had not discussed the company's bid to take over broadcaster BSkyB and had not spoken to Mr Michel since a dinner at the house of a mutual acquaintance in September 2010.But Mr Clegg said he had not discussed the company's bid to take over broadcaster BSkyB and had not spoken to Mr Michel since a dinner at the house of a mutual acquaintance in September 2010.
During his appearance at the inquiry, Mr Salmond was questioned about his relationship with media mogul Rupert Murdoch.
The businessman's News International organisation is at the heart of the inquiry which is looking in part at the extent of unlawful or improper conduct of media companies.
Mr Murdoch closed his popular Sunday tabloid, the News of the World, in July last year following allegations the paper hacked the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl, Milly Dowler.
Mr Salmond said he had met Mr Murdoch senior "five times in five years" which he believes was "pretty reasonable" and "isn't in the same league as Mr Blair, Mr Brown or Mr Cameron".
He told the inquiry: "I saw Mr Murdoch's evidence. He said he didn't know me well, that is fair. At the same time he said the conversations we had were friendly in tone - that is correct as well."
Mr Salmond's name has already been raised during the UK government commissioned inquiry.Mr Salmond's name has already been raised during the UK government commissioned inquiry.
When Mr Murdoch's son, James Murdoch, came before Leveson on 24 April, he was asked about emails in which it was revealed that Mr Salmond's adviser - named as Geoff Aberdein - had agreed that the first minister would call Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt "whenever we need him to".When Mr Murdoch's son, James Murdoch, came before Leveson on 24 April, he was asked about emails in which it was revealed that Mr Salmond's adviser - named as Geoff Aberdein - had agreed that the first minister would call Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt "whenever we need him to".
Tory MP Mr Hunt had been given the quasi-legal job of deciding the fate of satellite broadcaster BSkyB - which News Corp wanted to take full control of.Tory MP Mr Hunt had been given the quasi-legal job of deciding the fate of satellite broadcaster BSkyB - which News Corp wanted to take full control of.
The day after Mr Murdoch junior's appearance, Mr Murdoch senior was in the Leveson hot seat when the issue of his relationship with the SNP and its leader was raised.The day after Mr Murdoch junior's appearance, Mr Murdoch senior was in the Leveson hot seat when the issue of his relationship with the SNP and its leader was raised.
The 81-year-old was asked by inquiry lawyer Robert Jay why the Scottish Sun newspaper was anti-SNP at the 2007 Holyrood election but by 2010 had swung behind Mr Salmond and his party.The 81-year-old was asked by inquiry lawyer Robert Jay why the Scottish Sun newspaper was anti-SNP at the 2007 Holyrood election but by 2010 had swung behind Mr Salmond and his party.
Mr Murdoch said his organisation had not done any deal with Mr Salmond, although he said that on a personal level he liked the first minister.Mr Murdoch said his organisation had not done any deal with Mr Salmond, although he said that on a personal level he liked the first minister.
The Australian told the inquiry: "I don't know Mr Salmond well, but I've had three meetings here and he is an amusing guy and I enjoy his company and I enjoy talking with him and listening to him."
Since the Murdochs' appearances at the inquiry, Scotland's opposition leaders have used First Minister's Question time at Holyrood to raise the issue of Mr Salmond's relationship with News International key personnel.
During the weekly Q&A exchange on 2 May, the first minister was asked by Ruth Davidson, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, whether his phone had ever been hacked.
Mr Salmond responded by saying: "I'll be going to the Leveson inquiry, I'll be speaking specifically about a range of matters under oath and that's where I shall give my evidence, which is exactly the right thing to do."
It has already been revealed that former Scottish First Minister Lord McConnell and SNP MSP Joan McAlpine - Mr Salmond's parliamentary liaison officer and a former journalist who worked for News International - were both victims of phone hacking.
The Leveson Inquiry is expected to make public documents relating to Mr Salmond's evidence session on Wednesday afternoon.The Leveson Inquiry is expected to make public documents relating to Mr Salmond's evidence session on Wednesday afternoon.
Following Rupert Murdoch's appearance at the inquiry, News Corporation provided documents detailing meetings and phone calls between the media mogul and Mr Salmond which have been published on the inquiry website.Following Rupert Murdoch's appearance at the inquiry, News Corporation provided documents detailing meetings and phone calls between the media mogul and Mr Salmond which have been published on the inquiry website.
However, Mr Salmond's office has disputed some of the entries, including a lunch and a phone call which it said did not take place. (Details below)However, Mr Salmond's office has disputed some of the entries, including a lunch and a phone call which it said did not take place. (Details below)