Tony Blair at Leveson inquiry: There was no Labour deal on media policy with Murdoch

Source: Evening Standard

28 May 2012

Tony Blair today denied on oath that he traded Labour’s media policy for support from Rupert Murdoch’s newspapers.

The former Prime Minister rejected claims of a “great conspiracy” with the 81-year-old mogul when asked why Mr Murdoch entered and exited Downing Street through the back door. He said: “There was no deal on issues to do with the media with Rupert Murdoch or indeed with anybody else — either expressed or implied. To be fair, he never sought such a thing.”

But he admitted he had become “pretty close” to the Murdoch stable as his support declined after the 2003 Iraq war. He admitted assuring the tycoon personally in 1994 that if elected he would drop Labour’s long-standing commitment to media ownership laws that would have reduced the Murdoch empire. In a day of political drama at the Leveson inquiry, Mr Blair praised some British journalism as the “best in the world” but attacked what he called “poison” in parts of the media. In his most significant admission, the former Labour leader was asked: “Did you get too close to News International?

Mr Blair replied: “Yes… the way I put it is the closeness… with Rupert Murdoch and everyone else, this is a working relationship. It’s actually subsequent to leaving office that I would say that my relationship with him became completely different.


Read more: http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/uk/tony-blair-at-leveson-inquiry-there-was-no-labour-deal-on-media-policy-with-murdoch-7792823.html

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Tony Blair: I only had a working relationship with Rupert Murdoch while Prime Minister

Tony Blair said he only had a working relationship with Rupert Murdochs and denied he was too 'cosy' with News International, as he gave evidence at the Leveson Inquiry into press standards. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/leveson-inquiry/9294820/Tony-Blair-I-only-had-a-working-relationship-with-Rupert-Murdoch-while-Prime-Minister.html

Former British PM Tony Blair grilled over links to Rupert Murdoch

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Blair is godfather to one of the powerful News Corp. chairman and CEO.'s children.

Ordered by Prime Minister David Cameron, the inquiry has tarnished Britain's elite by laying bare the collusion between politicians, the police and the media.

While Blair is no longer active in British politics, the inquiry may still prove uncomfortable as it examines issues such as his decision after stepping down as prime minister to become a godfather to Murdoch's daughter Grace at a ceremony on the banks of the River Jordan.

"Blair led the way in having no shame about courting Murdoch," said Ivor Gaber, professor of political journalism at City University. "He set the style and the standard and if you regard Cameron as the 'heir to Blair' then it's not exactly surprising that he followed suit."

more:http://worldnews.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/05/28/11914747-former-british-pm-tony-blair-grilled-over-links-to-rupert-murdoch?lite

Live - Blair at the Leveson Enquiry~ thanks to dipsydoodle
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-18232204