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Leveson Inquiry: Gordon Brown 'cooked up' deal claim Leveson Inquiry: Brooks sent 'rooting for Cameron' text
(about 1 hour later)
  
David Cameron has accused Gordon Brown of "cooking up" a "specious and unjustified conspiracy theory" about a deal between the Conservatives and media group News International. Ex-News International executive Rebekah Brooks told the PM she was "rooting for him" both professionally and personally after the Sun switched allegiance to his party, the Leveson Inquiry heard.
Mr Brown had told the Leveson Inquiry the Tories agreed to cut funding for the BBC and media regulator Ofcom in return for political support from NI. The text was discussed during Mr Cameron's evidence about the relationship between MPs and the press.
But Mr Cameron said the suggestion was "complete nonsense". He also said ex-PM Gordon Brown's claims about a Tory deal with NI were "complete nonsense".
He said he had "never traded a policy" in return for media backing. And he said his hiring of an ex-News of the World editor had haunted him.
Mr Cameron is a friend of ex-News International boss Rebekah Brooks, and hired ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson as his communications chief. Andy Coulson became Mr Cameron's communications chief after resigning from the paper.
But Mr Cameron said there had been "no overt deals", "no covert deals" and "no nods and winks" with the company. Mr Cameron said Mr Brown's claims that the Tories agreed to cut funding for the BBC and media regulator Ofcom in return for political support from News International had been made because he was "very angry and disappointed" at the Sun's decision to switch support from Labour ahead of the 2010 general election.
Media meetings Mr Cameron said the text of support from Mrs Brooks, dated October 2009, was a reflection of the fact that the Sun had the previous week switched its support to the Conservatives.
It read: "I am so rooting for you tomorrow, not just as a personal friend but because professionally we're definitely in this together."
Despite the friendship, he said there had been "no overt deals", "no covert deals" and "no nods and winks" with the company.
Media meetings
He said he did have some conversations with editors in which he told them "we'd love a bit more support from your paper", but "not very often".He said he did have some conversations with editors in which he told them "we'd love a bit more support from your paper", but "not very often".
Policies relating to Ofcom and the BBC were "born out of proper Conservative thinking about the media", he insisted, not any kind of deal.Policies relating to Ofcom and the BBC were "born out of proper Conservative thinking about the media", he insisted, not any kind of deal.
The prime minister's witness statement reveals he had 1,404 meetings with "media figures" - 26 a month on average - while in opposition between 2005 and 2010. Once in government, that fell to an average of about 13 a month.The prime minister's witness statement reveals he had 1,404 meetings with "media figures" - 26 a month on average - while in opposition between 2005 and 2010. Once in government, that fell to an average of about 13 a month.
"Most of these meetings were about me trying to promote Conservative policy," he said."Most of these meetings were about me trying to promote Conservative policy," he said.
In 2008 he took a trip to the Greek island of Santorini for a dinner with News International boss Rupert Murdoch because it was a chance to "build a relationship" with him.In 2008 he took a trip to the Greek island of Santorini for a dinner with News International boss Rupert Murdoch because it was a chance to "build a relationship" with him.
A text message sent by Mrs Brooks to Mr Cameron in October 2009 was read to the inquiry in which she said she was "rooting for him", both as "a personal friend" and because "professionally we're in this together". When asked by Robert Jay QC, counsel for the inquiry, how frequently Mr Cameron saw Mrs Brooks in the period from 2008 to 2009, the prime minister replied: "It's very difficult because I don't have a record and I don't want to give you an answer that isn't right, so sometimes I would expect we would have been talking to each other quite a bit particularly around the time of [her] wedding or when we were both in Oxfordshire."
The PM said that was a reflection of the fact that the Sun had the previous week switched its support to the Conservatives. He went on to say he did not see Mrs Brooks "every weekend... in 2008/09. I'd have to check, I might be able to go back and check but I don't think every weekend, I don't think most weekends, but it would depend."
Mrs Brooks and her husband Charlie - who went to school with Mr Cameron - have both been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to the phone-hacking scandal surrounding News of the World. Both deny wrongdoing.Mrs Brooks and her husband Charlie - who went to school with Mr Cameron - have both been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to the phone-hacking scandal surrounding News of the World. Both deny wrongdoing.
The prime minister told the inquiry he accepted hiring Mr Coulson was "a controversial appointment", but he had been given "assurances" at the time by Mr Coulson that he had no knowledge of phone hacking at the paper.
Earlier Mr Cameron said politicians "have to take care when you have personal friendships [with individuals in the media] but that can be done and I have done that".Earlier Mr Cameron said politicians "have to take care when you have personal friendships [with individuals in the media] but that can be done and I have done that".
'Respect''Respect'
The prime minister was also asked about his decision to employ Mr Coulson after he had resigned from the News of the World. Mr Cameron said the relationship between politicians and the media had deteriorated.
He said he accepted it was "a controversial appointment" which had "come back to haunt him and me", but he had been given "assurances" at the time by Mr Coulson that he had no knowledge of phone hacking.
"I sought assurances, I got them and that was the basis on which I employed him," the PM added.
Mr Cameron's appearance at the Royal Courts of Justice in London is part of the inquiry's examination of the relationship between politicians and the media.
He said that relationship had deteriorated, meaning "a lot of politicians think the press always get it wrong" and the press think politicians "are just out for themselves".
"It's become a bad relationship. How we get it to a better place, I think part of it will be about transparency, better regulation, having a bit more distance, that will be part of respect."It's become a bad relationship. How we get it to a better place, I think part of it will be about transparency, better regulation, having a bit more distance, that will be part of respect.
"But respect has to come from high standards in both places... respect has to be earned on both sides.""But respect has to come from high standards in both places... respect has to be earned on both sides."
He continued: "When I say distance, partly what I mean is that the politicians... have got to get out of the 24-hour news cycle, not try and fight every hourly battle, focus on long-term issues and be prepared to take a hit on a story they don't immediately respond to."He continued: "When I say distance, partly what I mean is that the politicians... have got to get out of the 24-hour news cycle, not try and fight every hourly battle, focus on long-term issues and be prepared to take a hit on a story they don't immediately respond to."
Mr Cameron said the rolling, 24-hour news agenda meant newspapers had been forced to "turn up the volume" on their coverage, and focus on "finding an angle" rather than reporting facts alone.
"I think that newspaper reporting and coverage feels like you're being shouted at rather than spoken to."
He said the inquiry was a "cathartic moment" and a chance to "reset" relations.He said the inquiry was a "cathartic moment" and a chance to "reset" relations.
Resignation calls
The Conservatives have been accused of having a biased view in favour of the bid by News International's parent company News Corp to take over BSkyB.The Conservatives have been accused of having a biased view in favour of the bid by News International's parent company News Corp to take over BSkyB.
The inquiry is likely to ask Mr Cameron about Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's handling of the BSkyB bid, which was abandoned in July 2011 amid outrage over the phone-hacking scandal.The inquiry is likely to ask Mr Cameron about Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's handling of the BSkyB bid, which was abandoned in July 2011 amid outrage over the phone-hacking scandal.
The inquiry previously heard that Mr Hunt sent a memo to Mr Cameron voicing support for the bid before he was put in charge of overseeing it at the end of 2010.
Labour accuse Mr Hunt of being too close to News Corp, but the prime minister has backed Mr Hunt amid calls for him to resign.Labour accuse Mr Hunt of being too close to News Corp, but the prime minister has backed Mr Hunt amid calls for him to resign.
Shortly after the prime minister arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice, the Metropolitan Police announced that three people, including a former prison officer, had been arrested as part of a probe into alleged corrupt payments to public officials. In other developments:
The Crown Prosecution Service has also announced that Guardian journalist David Leigh, who admitted hacking an arms company executive's phone, will not face charges.
  • The Metropolitan Police have announced that three people, including a former prison officer, had been arrested as part of a probe into alleged corrupt payments to public officials.
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  • The Crown Prosecution Service has announced that Guardian journalist David Leigh, who admitted hacking an arms company executive's phone, will not face charges.
    •