Leveson Inquiry: News Corp 'made threat to Lib Dems over BSkyB'
James Cusick
James Cusick is political correspondent of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday. As an experienced member of the lobby, he has previously worked at The Sunday Times and the BBC. His career as a journalist has been split between print and television, including senior positions as producer with Sir David Frost and at BBC Newsnight. He is also an award-winning golf and travel writer, working for over a decade as the UK contributing editor for one of the USA’s leading golf magazines. He broadcasts regularly for the BBC and CNN. He lives in London.
Wednesday 27 June 2012
Related articles
Senior News Corp lobbyist Fred Michel threatened to unleash News International's newspapers against the Liberal Democrats if Vince Cable obstructed the $12bn bid for BSkyB, the Leveson Inquiry heard yesterday.
Norman Lamb, a Coalition minister and Nick Clegg's former political adviser, told the inquiry that Mr Michel, right, made the "brazen" threat in a meeting in October 2010. The lobbyist, who reported directly to James Murdoch, allegedly said that if Dr Cable took the decision to refer the BSkyB bid to the competition authority Ofcom, then Murdoch's newspapers would "turn nasty". Alternatively, if the bid process were to "run smoothly", there would be support for the Coalition.
Dr Cable told the inquiry last month that he had heard "directly and indirectly" from parliamentary colleagues that there had been "veiled threats" if he took the decision to refer the bid.
The specific threats alleged to have been made by Mr Michel appear to contradict the assurances given to the inquiry by Rupert Murdoch who said it was a "myth" that he "used the influence of The Sun" to get favourable treatment.
Mr Lamb read details of the Michel discussion from a note he made shortly after their meeting. The note – which he said had only been found by his wife when he texted her requesting that she look through a pile of letters – ended with the words: "So refer case and implication was clear. News Int turn against the coalition and AV."
Another note Mr Lamb made after he had discussed the threats with the Deputy Prime Minister, read: "[Clegg] horrified by what I tell him of Fred Michel meeting – 'We will lose the only papers who have been positive'." Rhodri Davies, News Internationals' leading counsel, said he been given no time to respond to the allegations made by the LibDem MP. Mr Michel has denied making any implied or explicit threats. Texts and emails exchanged between Mr Michel, the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, and his former special adviser, Adam Smith, were one of the revelations of the inquiry's examination of the relationship between politicians and the press.
The inquiry also heard criticisms of the way some newspapers and the Press Complaints Commissions handled requests for privacy from a grieving parent who had lost his 11-year-old son in a coach crash in Switzerland. In March, Sebastian Bowles was among 28 people, mostly schoolchildren, killed as they were returning from a ski trip. A family friend told the inquiry that the boy's father Edward Bowles was left distraught by journalists lifting photos from Facebook.
-
Gay couple beaten in park urge MPs to moderate language on gay marriage
-
Strewth mate. Aussies wave goodbye to Britain as it becomes too pricey to stay
-
World news in pictures
-
X marks the spot: The find that could rewrite Australian history
-
Oklahoma tornado: Children trapped in wreckage and at least 91 dead after massive storm rips through suburbs
- 1 'He was lucky he didn't die' - George Michael fell out of speeding car onto M1 motorway, according to eye witness
- 2 Tottenham to smash pay scale with £150,000-a-week contract in attempt to tie Gareth Bale to club
- 3 Austerity has hardened the nation's heart
- 4 Gay couple beaten in park urge MPs to moderate language on gay marriage
- 5 Why Arsène Wenger must spend to put icing on the cake and buy likes of Stevan Jovetic for Arsenal
Get your summer started with British Military Fitness
BMF is the UK’s biggest and best loved outdoor fitness classes
Visit York
Find out what The Independent's resident travel expert has to say about one of the most beautiful small cities in the world
Enter the latest Independent competitions
Win anything from gadgets to five-star holidays on our competitions and offers page.
Business videos from commercial thought leaders
Watch the best in the business world give their insights into the world of business.
Independent Dating
iJobs General
Project Engineer - Wind Energy
£28000 - £34000 Per Annum: The Green Recruitment Company: The Green Recruitmen...
Front end Developer - Havant - £250 / £300 a day
£250 - £300 per annum: Progressive Recruitment: Front end Developer - Havant -...
Class teachers for expanding primary federation
Negotiable: Randstad Education London: An Ofsted graded good school are lookin...
Nursery Nurse
£15000 - £18000 per annum: Capita Education Resourcing Permanent Team: Looking...
Day In a Page
The price of pacifism
Jason Isaacs: Groupies, theatre bores and James Bond
Sealand: 'Micronation' or illegal fortress?
Legend of James Hunt has set Hollywood hearts racing
Macklemore: 'I don't have moderation'






