British PM David Cameron has been sent scurrying for cover following revelations made by media mogul Rupert Murdoch's son, James, about the closeness between News Corp and the minister for culture, media and sport, Jeremy Hunt, in the government.
James's testimony before a judicial inquiry into phonehacking and press standards being conducted by Lord Justice Brian Leveson
suggested close consultation between him and Hunt in respect of a
controversial bid by News Corp to increased its holding in British
direct-to-home service provider BSkyB from 39% to 100%. This was based on 163 pages of emails.
Forced to make a statement on the subject in the House of Commons
on Wednesday , Hunt claimed he had "strictly followed due process" . He
denied News Corp had any "back channel" of influence . Hunt was helped
by a statement from Frederic Michel
, director of public affairs at News Corp and the author of many of the
emails to James, that his references to "JH" in emails were actually
shorthand for Smith, and that he had had no direct contact with Hunt.
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