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Campbell diaries: Murdoch 'called Blair over Iraq' | Campbell diaries: Murdoch 'called Blair over Iraq' |
(about 6 hours later) | |
Rupert Murdoch called Tony Blair urging him not to delay the invasion of Iraq, former Number 10 communications chief Alastair Campbell has said. | Rupert Murdoch called Tony Blair urging him not to delay the invasion of Iraq, former Number 10 communications chief Alastair Campbell has said. |
The claim is made in the latest part of Mr Campbell's diaries, which are being serialised in the Guardian newspaper. | The claim is made in the latest part of Mr Campbell's diaries, which are being serialised in the Guardian newspaper. |
Mr Campbell said there were three calls in March 2003, a week before a crucial vote on Iraq in the House of Commons. | Mr Campbell said there were three calls in March 2003, a week before a crucial vote on Iraq in the House of Commons. |
Mr Murdoch's company, News Corporation, said claims he lobbied Mr Blair were "complete rubbish" and unsubstantiated. | |
The media boss previously told the Leveson inquiry he "never asked a prime minister for anything". | |
There has been no response to the claims from Mr Blair's office. | |
'Over-crude diplomacy' | 'Over-crude diplomacy' |
According to Mr Campbell's book, The Burden of Power: Countdown to Iraq, Mr Murdoch's moves were made to support Republicans in Washington. | According to Mr Campbell's book, The Burden of Power: Countdown to Iraq, Mr Murdoch's moves were made to support Republicans in Washington. |
The ex-Downing Street director of communications said the interventions from Mr Murdoch came "out of the blue". | The ex-Downing Street director of communications said the interventions from Mr Murdoch came "out of the blue". |
In one call Mr Murdoch was said to have tried to pressure the then Prime Minister Mr Blair to accelerate UK military involvement in Iraq. | In one call Mr Murdoch was said to have tried to pressure the then Prime Minister Mr Blair to accelerate UK military involvement in Iraq. |
On 11 March 2003, Mr Campbell wrote that Mr Blair "took a call from Murdoch who was pressing on timings, saying how News International would support us, etc". | On 11 March 2003, Mr Campbell wrote that Mr Blair "took a call from Murdoch who was pressing on timings, saying how News International would support us, etc". |
Mr Campbell continued: "Both TB [Tony Blair] and I felt it was prompted by Washington, and another example of their over-crude diplomacy. Murdoch was pushing all the Republican buttons, how the longer we waited the harder it got." | Mr Campbell continued: "Both TB [Tony Blair] and I felt it was prompted by Washington, and another example of their over-crude diplomacy. Murdoch was pushing all the Republican buttons, how the longer we waited the harder it got." |
The following day he added: "TB felt the Murdoch call was odd, not very clever." | The following day he added: "TB felt the Murdoch call was odd, not very clever." |
'Complete rubbish' | |
The claims were dismissed by News Corporation. | |
In a statement, it said: "It is complete rubbish to suggest that Rupert Murdoch lobbied Mr Blair over the Iraq war on behalf of the US Republicans. | |
"Furthermore, there isn't even any evidence in Alastair Campbell's diaries to support such a ridiculous claim." | |
The company is understoood to be stressing Mr Murdoch has never denied stating his opinion on policies to politicians, and that he made this clear in a written statement to Lord Leveson, whose inquiry has examined the relationship between the press and those in power. | |
After Mr Murdoch told the inquiry he never asked a prime minister for anything, former PM Sir John Major this week told Lord Leveson Mr Murdoch had pressed him on policy when he was prime minister in the mid 1990s. | |
Sir John said the media magnate asked him to change the Conservatives' stance on Europe otherwise his papers would withdraw their support. | Sir John said the media magnate asked him to change the Conservatives' stance on Europe otherwise his papers would withdraw their support. |
Sir John recalled the exchange from a private meeting in 1997, which he said he had not spoken about before. | Sir John recalled the exchange from a private meeting in 1997, which he said he had not spoken about before. |
Later that year his Conservative party lost power to Labour with the Sun backing his rival Mr Blair. | Later that year his Conservative party lost power to Labour with the Sun backing his rival Mr Blair. |