Text trail: Inside Jeremy Hunt's iPhone

When these messages were sent and received by Jeremy Hunt, he can never have thought they would be released for public gaze. But his loss is our gain, so read on...

Jeremy Hunt will never have thought his texts would be released for the public gaze (Getty Images)

Fred Michel, News Corp lobbyist

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 18/10/10

Time: 11.19

Message: Hi can you attend Rupert's lecture and dinner on Thursday? James and Rupert would be very keen to welcome you. fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 18/10/10

Time: 12.09

Message: Yes but have to leave 7.45

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 18/10/10

Time: 14.06

Message: Great

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 27/10/10

Time: 18.50

Message: Today Sky cycling team has recruited a new member called...jeremy hunt! Incredible

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 27/10/10

Time: 19.13

Message: He will WIN!

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 27/10/10

Time: 20.05

Message: You should meet him :)

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 2/11/10

Time: 09.25

Message: Just sent Adam our digital numbers

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 9/11/10

Time: 15.20

Message: Hi daddy ! Can you meet James at tomorrow morning for a catch-up? Would be good. Even early morning. Fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 9/11/10

Time: 15.20

Message: Will ask [redacted] to call

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 12/11/10

Time: 19.25

Message: JH James and I will see you Monday at 6.45

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 12/11/10

Time: 19.25

Message: Great

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 12/11/10

Time: 19.25

Message: Bon weekend

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 16/11/10

Time: 15.49

Message: Thanks for the call with James today. Greatly appreciated. Will work with Adam to make sure we can send you helpful arguments. Warm regards. Fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 16/11/10

Time: 15.49

Message: Pleasure

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 2/12/10

Time: 22.15

Message: Shame about the world cup. Great campaign. See you at your speech Monday. Fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 3/12/10

Time: 05.12

Message: Thanks fred nothing u won't like!

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 24/12/10

Time: 16.21

Message: Hi. James has asked me to be the point of contact with you and Adam throughout the process on his behalf. Glad Jon Zeff is in charge of dossier. Have a great Christmas with baby ! Speak soon. Fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 24/12/10

Time: 18.47

Message: Thanks Fred. All contact with me now needs to be through official channels until decision made. Hope Daddy has a lovely Xmas! Jeremy

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 24/12/10

Time: 19.02

Message: You too mon ami! Fred

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 20/1/11

Time: 20.53

Message: Great to see you today. We should get little [redacted] together in the future to socialise! Nearly born the same day at the same place! Warm regards. Fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 20/1/11

Time: 23.44

Message: Good to see u too. Hope u understand why we have to have the

23.44 long process. Let's meet up when things are resolved J.

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 21/1/11

Time: 06.57

Message: We do and will do our very best to be constructive and helpful throughout. You were very impressive yesterday. And yes let's meet up when it's all done. Warmest regards fred

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 17.42

Message: You were great at the Commons today. Hope all well. Warm regards, Fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 17.42

Message: Merci large drink tonight!

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 17.42

Message: Me too! Taking wife out for dinner!

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 13/3/11

Time: 10.10

Message: Very good on Marr. As always! Fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 10.10

Message: Merci hopefully when consultation over we can have a coffee like the old days!

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 13/3/11

Time: 10.10

Message: That would be nice!

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 3/7/11

Time: 15.45

Message: Come on Nadal !! We should get together to celebrate the one year baby birthdays! Hope all well. Warm regards, Fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 3/7/11

Time: 16.03

Message: Agree he MUST win! Let's do that when all over

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 20/7/11

Time: 08.03

Message: Agree with what you said on BBC this morning. Hope all is well. Fred

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 20/7/11

Time: 08.03

Message: Thanks Fred

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 31/7/11

Time: 08.50

Message: Dear Jeremy, I hope you have a great Summer break. I wish we had had better news to celebrate in July but events became too overwhelming and grave for NI. I never had a more horrendous 4 weeks! News Corp is still determined to continue its good work for the media market across the world. Hope to see you soon, warmest regards, Fred.

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Fred Michel

Date: 31/7/11

Time: 17.42

Message: Dear Fred it has been the most challenging time for all of us. Thank goodness we have children to remind us what really matters! Would be great to catch up when the dust has settled Jeremy

From: Fred Michel

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 31/7/11

Time: 19.27

Message: Thank you Jeremy. You are so right! As ever, Fred

Paul Oldfield, DCMS private secretary

From: Paul Oldfield

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 10/7/11

Time: 12.28

Message: No 10 asking for outline options paper on delay, fit and proper, and anther can now trust UILs. Jon Z currently writing and No 10 happy to then take our considered conclusion tomorrow after mtg with counsel etc but want to understand the issue this afternoon. Do you want sight of that paper before it goes?

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Paul Oldfield

Date: 10/7/11

Time: 12.28

Message: Yes

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Paul Oldfield

Date: 13/7/11

Time: 13.16

Message: Has letter to cc gone yet

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Paul Oldfield

Date: 13/7/11

Time: 13.16

Message: Can we have DCMS official in box during debate to advise on any issues of competition law?

From: Paul Oldfield

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 13/7/11

Time: 13.19

Message: Legal tor gone to cc. We're just sending the letter with your proposed changes using your e-sig as we speak. Happy for us to do that?

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Paul Oldfield

Date: 13/7/11

Time: 13.39

Message: Yes

From: Paul Oldfield

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 13/7/11

Time: 13.39

Message: We'll also do sane for avaaz, Ivan Lewis, News Corp and Sky letters this afternoon. Already issues letters on your behalf consulting Das on public inquiry terms of reference

Sue Beeby, Hunt's special adviser

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Sue Beeby

Date: 22/12/10

Time: 20.36

Message: Daily Tel running something on my mtg with James M at DCMS earlier in year. Cld u check they know I met all media owners etc.? pretty sure Sky bid not discussed

From: Sue Beeby

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 22/12/10

Time: 20.36

Message: Do you know who is writing it?

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Sue Beeby

Date: 22/12/10

Time: 21.39

Message: Really sorry deleted msg. I'm sure we'll be fine, they hardly havecredibility reporting this issue!

From: Sue Beeby

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 22/12/10

Time: 21.39

Message: Exactly! Have spoken to the guardian too who have run the storyand know from an foi [Freedom of Information request] that the meeting wasn't minuted. Just said you had lots of coffees with people when you first started and due to their nature they weren't minuted

From: Sue Beeby

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 17/2/11

Time: 14.17

Message: Hi had a think about andy drink and think it might be best to wait

till news corp process is over. He's so closely linked to them that if you were seen it wouldn't look great. I'm sure he would understand and it should only be a week or so

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Sue Beeby

Date: 17/2/11

Time: 14.55

Message: Ok please tell him and arrange for a few weeks time thx

From: Sue Beeby

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 11.13

Message: I think we should turn down ft event. There are protesters

outside it. Shots would look awful on broadcast and time would

be better spent speaking to newspaper editors. [redacted] as spoken to them provisionally and they were fine about it

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Sue Beeby

Date: 4/3/11

Time: 07.09

Message: Overall papers cld have been a lot worse. I range from being a

curate to being on Ski Sunday! Thank you, u were the best I have

ever seen u, truly outstanding. Don't get poached by No 10!

From: Sue Beeby

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 4/3/11

Time: 07.09

Message: Thank you! I'm so annoyed though. You made the right decision

but no one will say that because of their own vested interests. And they talk about the power of the murdochs!

From: Sue Beeby

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 23/6/11 Time: 11.13

Message: Warning! Please don't take any calls from vince over the next few

days. Will explain all when we speak but he is trying to be very sneaky over news corp

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Sue Beeby

Date: 23/6/11

Time: 16.12

Message: Ok understood!

From: Sue Beeby

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 9/7/11

Time: 10.11

Message: Obviously i don't think you would but don't think you should have

any phone or text contact with any of the murdochs at the moment or indeed anyone at news corp/news int as we will be asked by journos

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Sue Beeby

Date: 9/7/11

Time: 12.46

Message: Agree!

Craig Oliver, Head of communications at No 10

From: Craig Oliver

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 08.11

Message: Hi Jeremy, One thought which I'm sure you are onto. View emerging that Murdoch will pull a fast one on selling Sky News - needs assurances that won't happen. C

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Craig Oliver

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 08.11

Message: Thanks think our agreement will address those concerns and will feed out

Ed Richards, Ofcom chief exec

From: Ed Richards

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 20/12/10

Time: 08.25

Message: I have an urgent last minute request for a meeting from james murdoch this morning and think I ought to do it so will not be able to make the 9 30 meeting. My apologies Ed R.

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Ed Richards

Date: 20/12/10

Time: 08.25

Message: No probs good luck!

From: Ed Richards

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 31/12/10

Time: 17.23

Message: Public interest test report should be with you now, bang on time. Happy to discuss in the new year. Best wishes, Ed

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Ed Richards

Date: 31/12/10; Time: 18.54

Message: Thanks Ed will read with interest! Happy New Year Jeremy

Ed Llewellyn, PM's chief of staff

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Ed Llewellyn

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 07.21

Message: Newscorp decision now public. Would PM or DPM like briefing?

From: Ed Llewellyn

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 08.20

Message: Possibly yes -will ask at our 0830. Can you speak to dpm office direct pse?

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Ed Llewellyn

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 08.20

Message: Sure

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Ed Llewellyn

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 18.20

Message: Am I officially allowed to talk to my boss now? :-) seriously think we r thru worst, broadcast fine although Mail and Tele will be horrible

From: Ed Llewellyn

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 19.21

Message: Yes you are! Well done today. Give me a call tomorrow - time we had a catch up

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Ed Llewellyn

Date: 9/3/11

Time: 12.48

Message: Not a single PMQ on Murdoch - I declare victory!

From: Ed Llewellyn

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 9/3/11

Time: 12.48

Message: Well done!

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Ed Llewellyn

Date: 13/7/11

Time: 09.07

Message: Does DC really want me to lead debate this afternoon? I have had written legal advice not to. I can challenge, but it seems crazy politically. Shall I come round?

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Ed Llewellyn

Date: 13/7/11

Time: 09.07

Message: Basically legal advice was only way Govt can support motion is if I have nothing to do with it

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: Ed Llewellyn

Date: 13/7/11

Time: 09.07

Message: Also do we want to put up one person who is unable to support motion?

From: Ed Llewellyn

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 13/7/11

Time: 09.07

Message: Am talking to pm now about it. Have got all your good points

James Murdoch, then N.I. Chairman

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: James Murdoch

Date: 21/12/10

Time: 12.46

Message: Sorry to miss ur call. Am on my mobile now Jeremy

From: James Murdoch

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 21/12/10

Time: 12.52

Message: Have to run into next thing. Are you free anything after two fifteen? I can shuffle after this.

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: James Murdoch

Date: 21/12/10

Time: 12.55

Message: How about 4?

From: James Murdoch

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 21/12/10

Time: 12.56

Message: Done

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: James Murdoch

Date: 21/12/10

Time: 12.57

Message: Great and congrats on Brussels, just Ofcom to go!

From: James Murdoch

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 18.33

Message: Big few days. Well played. JRM

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: James Murdoch

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 18.55

Message: Thanks think we got right solution!

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: James Murdoch

Date: 3/3/11

Time: 18.55

Message: Thanks think wY

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: James Murdoch

Date: 4/3/11

Time: 16.59

Message: Just been with the Team GB Cycling team in Manchester who aremost impressed with the personal interest you show in their performance!

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: James Murdoch

Date: 31/3/11

Time: 08.59

Message: Many congratulations on the promotion although I am sure u will really miss Ofcom in NY! Jeremy

From: James Murdoch

To: James Hunt

Date: 31/3/11

Time: 08.59

Message: Thanks Jeremy -- sadly I fear they won't see the back of me that easily! Hopefully we can move our other business forward soon so we can catch up properly, best

George Osborne, Chancellor

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: George Osborne

Date: 21/12/10

Time: 16.08

Message: CId we chat about Murdoch Sky bid? am seriously worried we are going to screw this up. Jeremy

From: Jeremy Hunt

To: George Osborne

Date: 21/12/10

Time: 16.08

Message: Just been called by James M. His lawyers are meeting now & saying it calls into question legitimacy of whole process from

beginning, 'acute bias' etc.

From: George Osborne

To: Jeremy Hunt

Date: 21/12/10

Time: 16.58

Message: I hope you like the solution!