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Coalition to split in vote over Jeremy Hunt's future Lib Dem abstention in Hunt vote is just 'politics', says Cameron
(about 1 hour later)
  
Liberal Democrat MPs are set to abstain in a parliamentary vote over the future of Conservative Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt. David Cameron has attempted to shrug off the Lib Dems' decision to abstain in a vote over the future of Tory Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.
The PM said he "understands" the motives of his coalition partners and said that was just "politics".
He told MPs they wanted to make a point that they had not been as close to the media as Labour or the Tories.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said the PM had misjudged the issue "so badly even his deputy doesn't support him".
Labour wants an inquiry into whether Mr Hunt broke the ministerial code in his handling of News Corp's bid for BSkyB.Labour wants an inquiry into whether Mr Hunt broke the ministerial code in his handling of News Corp's bid for BSkyB.
But Nick Clegg has told his Lib Dem MPs to "stay away" from the vote.But Nick Clegg has told his Lib Dem MPs to "stay away" from the vote.
Many in the party are angry that David Cameron backed Mr Hunt minutes after he told the Leveson Inquiry he had acted impartially over the takeover bid.Many in the party are angry that David Cameron backed Mr Hunt minutes after he told the Leveson Inquiry he had acted impartially over the takeover bid.
Mr Clegg, who is Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader, has reportedly complained that he was not consulted before the prime minister made the decision.Mr Clegg, who is Deputy Prime Minister and Lib Dem leader, has reportedly complained that he was not consulted before the prime minister made the decision.
But Tory MPs are accusing the Lib Dems of undermining coalition unity, with one of them, Louise Mensch, saying they were "being silly".But Tory MPs are accusing the Lib Dems of undermining coalition unity, with one of them, Louise Mensch, saying they were "being silly".
The party's deputy chairman, Michael Fallon, called the decision "slightly disappointing".The party's deputy chairman, Michael Fallon, called the decision "slightly disappointing".
'Nobody's interested''Nobody's interested'
Mr Hunt will defend himself when he responds for the government during the debate, while Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman is expected to repeat calls for him to resign.Mr Hunt will defend himself when he responds for the government during the debate, while Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman is expected to repeat calls for him to resign.
Even if all 57 Lib Dems abstain, the motion is likely to fail, as Tory MPs outnumber those on the Labour benches and from other parties.Even if all 57 Lib Dems abstain, the motion is likely to fail, as Tory MPs outnumber those on the Labour benches and from other parties.
They cheered, they thumped the tables, then they decided to leave Jeremy Hunt to fend for himself.They cheered, they thumped the tables, then they decided to leave Jeremy Hunt to fend for himself.
The meeting of the Liberal Democrats in committee room 11 ended with "unanimous" agreement, I am told, that MPs from the coalition's junior partner should "stay away" from Wednesday's vote.The meeting of the Liberal Democrats in committee room 11 ended with "unanimous" agreement, I am told, that MPs from the coalition's junior partner should "stay away" from Wednesday's vote.
Nick Clegg's lot are angry about the speed at which David Cameron cleared his culture secretary of any wrong doing, within hours of his Leveson appearance last month.Nick Clegg's lot are angry about the speed at which David Cameron cleared his culture secretary of any wrong doing, within hours of his Leveson appearance last month.
The deputy prime minister wasn't consulted beforehand.The deputy prime minister wasn't consulted beforehand.
They believe there are still questions to answer. They believe it should have been a coalition issue.They believe there are still questions to answer. They believe it should have been a coalition issue.
"You can't act with impunity" on this, one Lib Dem said to me."You can't act with impunity" on this, one Lib Dem said to me.
So they are reminding their Tory partners that this is a government of two.So they are reminding their Tory partners that this is a government of two.
Contrast that with the message from Conservative high command that this is about party politics, not coalition politics.Contrast that with the message from Conservative high command that this is about party politics, not coalition politics.
The problem for the Cabinet minister arguing that case is that everything comes down to coalition politics.The problem for the Cabinet minister arguing that case is that everything comes down to coalition politics.
Mr Hunt has been accused of having too close a relationship with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp before and during the BSkyB takeover process, in which he was given a "quasi-judicial" role.Mr Hunt has been accused of having too close a relationship with Rupert Murdoch's News Corp before and during the BSkyB takeover process, in which he was given a "quasi-judicial" role.
Labour is demanding an investigation into whether he breached the ministerial code by failing to give "accurate and truthful information to Parliament" over his contacts during the bid process and by failing to "take responsibility" for his special adviser, Adam Smith.Labour is demanding an investigation into whether he breached the ministerial code by failing to give "accurate and truthful information to Parliament" over his contacts during the bid process and by failing to "take responsibility" for his special adviser, Adam Smith.
Mr Smith resigned after admitting the number and tone of messages he exchanged with News Corp lobbyist Frederic Michel about the Sky bid had been inappropriate.Mr Smith resigned after admitting the number and tone of messages he exchanged with News Corp lobbyist Frederic Michel about the Sky bid had been inappropriate.
The prime minister gave his backing to Mr Hunt just minutes after the culture secretary gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry on press standards.The prime minister gave his backing to Mr Hunt just minutes after the culture secretary gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry on press standards.
BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith said Mr Clegg had privately urged Mr Cameron a number of times to refer Mr Hunt to the independent adviser on ministerial standards.BBC News Channel chief political correspondent Norman Smith said Mr Clegg had privately urged Mr Cameron a number of times to refer Mr Hunt to the independent adviser on ministerial standards.
But one source said Mr Cameron had told Mr Clegg that "nobody's interested" in the Leveson Inquiry.But one source said Mr Cameron had told Mr Clegg that "nobody's interested" in the Leveson Inquiry.
Sources have described relations between the prime minister and his deputy as "terse" and "bumpy" but have dismissed suggestions that the issue marks a serious rift within the coalition.Sources have described relations between the prime minister and his deputy as "terse" and "bumpy" but have dismissed suggestions that the issue marks a serious rift within the coalition.
'Big things''Big things'
Discussing the abstention, Mr Fallon said: "What the Liberal Democrats are doing today is slightly disappointing, but it's understandable."Discussing the abstention, Mr Fallon said: "What the Liberal Democrats are doing today is slightly disappointing, but it's understandable."
He told Sky News the party's MPs wanted "to make it clear that they were not really involved" in attempts to court the Murdoch press, while Labour had "sucked up for years" in an effort to gain support.He told Sky News the party's MPs wanted "to make it clear that they were not really involved" in attempts to court the Murdoch press, while Labour had "sucked up for years" in an effort to gain support.
The BBC understands a number of Lib Dem MPs had wanted to vote with Labour and against Mr Hunt, but Mr Clegg argued this would put them in an impossible position with their Conservative coalition partners and recommended they abstain instead.The BBC understands a number of Lib Dem MPs had wanted to vote with Labour and against Mr Hunt, but Mr Clegg argued this would put them in an impossible position with their Conservative coalition partners and recommended they abstain instead.
Lib Dem MP Don Foster said: "Nick Clegg was absolutely clear from the outset that if, after Jeremy Hunt's appearance at Leveson, questions still remain, they need to be properly addressed.Lib Dem MP Don Foster said: "Nick Clegg was absolutely clear from the outset that if, after Jeremy Hunt's appearance at Leveson, questions still remain, they need to be properly addressed.
"He wasn't consulted by the prime minister on his decision not to refer Jeremy Hunt to the independent advisor and therefore he cannot condone that decision.""He wasn't consulted by the prime minister on his decision not to refer Jeremy Hunt to the independent advisor and therefore he cannot condone that decision."
Mr Clegg is giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry ahead of the parliamentary debate and Mr Cameron will be cross-examined over his handling of the BSkyB bid and allegations against Mr Hunt on Thursday.Mr Clegg is giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry ahead of the parliamentary debate and Mr Cameron will be cross-examined over his handling of the BSkyB bid and allegations against Mr Hunt on Thursday.
News Corp dropped its bid to take full control of BSkyB last year, following the revelations of phone hacking at its News of the World newspaper, which was closed down following the scandal.News Corp dropped its bid to take full control of BSkyB last year, following the revelations of phone hacking at its News of the World newspaper, which was closed down following the scandal.