Damning emails which reveal the backdoor collusion between Jeremy Hunt and News Corp

April 25th, 2012

FAKE NEWS for the Zionist agenda

Remarkable 163-page dossier of emails between Mr Hunt’s office and Murdoch lobbyist revealed to Leveson Inquiry
News
Corp lobbyist Frederic Michel said he had inside information on a
statement Mr Hunt was about to make which was ‘absolutely illegal’
Mr Hunt said it would be ‘game over’ for the bid’s
opponents when plans were announced for Sky News to be independent, message claims

By
Michael Seamark

PUBLISHED:

13:41 EST, 24 April 2012

|

UPDATED:

19:08 EST, 24 April 2012

Pressure: Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, pictured at No 10 yesterday, is facing calls to resign

As
Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt was supposedly the impartial government
arbitrator tasked with deciding whether to allow News Corp to take
control of BSkyB.

But dozens
of devastating emails between Mr Hunt’s office and James Murdoch’s
chief lobbyist Frederic Michel have laid bare an astonishing secret
relationship between the media empire and the minister.

The
163-page dossier – containing 161 pages of emails – released by the
Leveson Inquiry reveal that Mr Murdoch was being provided with a running
commentary on government thinking and being leaked confidential
‘inside’ information on an almost daily basis.

Crucially, they also suggest Mr Hunt privately backed the controversial deal.

The
email trail starts in June 2010, a month after the election, when Vince
Cable had responsibility for overseeing the takeover bid.

But they become even more frequent after December of that year when Mr Hunt was put in charge of the deal.

Mr
Michel said he didn’t meet Mr Hunt very often but ‘shared a night of
anxiety’ when both his and the minister’s wife gave birth in the same
London hospital ward.

The
lobbyist insisted that phrases in the emails such as ‘spoke to Hunt’,
‘had a call with JH’ or ‘Jeremy said’ were merely ‘shorthand’ for what
he was told by Mr Hunt’s special adviser, Adam Smith.

In
one message, the lobbyist emailed Mr Murdoch to say he had ‘managed to
get some info’ on what Mr Hunt would announce to Parliament the next
day, adding that it was ‘absolutely illegal’.

Mr Michel also appears to have been in contact with the Prime Minister and Nick Clegg’s private advisers.

Here are a selection of the damning emails from Mr Michel to his boss, sent between June 2010 and July 2011:

15.6.2010 Subject: Cable call (a conference call between Mr Murdoch, Mr Cable and Mr Michel)

‘Vince
Cable call went very well. He did say he thought “there would not be a
policy issue in this case”. We should have recorded him!’

15.6.2010 Subject: Jeremy Hunt/Financial Times tomorrow.

‘Jeremy
just called. He did an interview with FT (Financial Times) today, after
his chat with JRM (James Murdoch). He was asked about Sky/NC (News
Corp). Said it was ‘a matter for competition authorities but he didn’t
see any problems’.

15.9.2010
BBC Business Editor Robert Peston blogs that Mr Cable is likely to ask
media regulator Ofcom to look at the proposed deal. Seven minutes later,
Mr Michel emails:

‘Jeremy Hunt is not aware and thinks it’s not credible at all. He is checking now.’

Calls to quit: Jeremy Hunt, pictured leaving his office in central London last night, defied calls to resign and has vowed to defend his reputation

James Murdoch is pictured being driven away from the Leveson Inquiry yesterday after a day of devastating revelations for the Government

A MEETING WITH REBEKAH

5.10.2010 Subject: Rubicon (News Corp codename for BSkyB bid).

‘The
Telegraph Group has written to Cable to ask him to refer the bid to
Ofcom. The Mail has now also done the same. Rebekah (Brooks, then News
International chief executive) and I had a very useful meeting with
Jeremy Hunt today on the bid which I will debrief each of you on.’

1.11.2010 Subject: Scotland – confidential.

He
claims that a Scottish Lib Dem MP with Sky call centres in his
constituency will lobby Mr Cable over the ‘economic/investment point of
view’ regarding the deal, adding:

‘Alex
Salmond (SNP leader and Scottish First Minister) is very keen to also
put these issues across to Cable and have a call with you tomorrow or
Wednesday. His team will also brief the Scottish press on the economic
importance of News Corp for Scotland.’

Now Sir Gus faces questions
Evidence: James Murdoch addresses the Leveson Inquiry yesterday

Evidence: James Murdoch addresses the Leveson Inquiry yesterday

9.11.2010 Subject: HM Treasury meeting.

‘Meeting
with Rupert Harrison (adviser to the Chancellor) who works with George
(Osborne) yesterday. Confirmed tensions in the Coalition around Vince
Cable and his current policy decisions.

‘Vince
made a political decision, probably without even reading the legal
advice, as confirmed to us also by Vicky Price (sic) (Cable’s adviser at
the Business Department) and David Laws (former Lib Dem minister)
yesterday.’

‘YOU MUST BE F*****G JOKING’

15.11.2010 Subject: Hunt meeting – urgent.

‘Jeremy
tried to call you. He has received very strong legal advice not to meet
us today as the current process is treated as a judicial one (not a
policy one) and any meeting could be referred to and jeopardise the
entire process.

‘Jeremy is
very frustrated about it but the Permanent Secretary (Hunt’s top Civil
Service aide) has now also been involved. My advice would be not to meet
him today as it would be counter-productive for everyone, but you could
have a chat with him on his mobile which is completely fine, and I will
liaise with his team privately, as well.’

Mr
Murdoch then emails back: ‘You must be f*****g joking. Fine. I will
text him and find a time to meet to avoid legal obstacles.’

Mr Murdoch told the inquiry yesterday: ‘I said I was displeased.’

14.12.2010 Subject: Hunt – confidential.

After
Ofcom raises issues about the Sky bid: ‘Very good debrief with Hunt on
the issues letter. He is pretty amazed by its findings, methodology and
clear bias. He very much shares our views on it.We are going to try to
find a way for you to meet with him one/one before Xmas.’ Minutes later
Rebekah Brooks, responds to the email writing: ‘Same from GO (George
Osborne) – total bafflement at response.’

21.12.2010 Subject: Clegg confidential.

Enlarge

‘Illegal’ tip-off: Frederic Michel writes that he had been tipped off on an annoucement that Jeremy Hunt is due to make.

Enlarge

Claims: message says Jeremy Hunt does not want News Corp’s proposed £8billion takeover of BSkyB to go before the Competition Commission

(Cable
has been removed from decision-making process after telling undercover
Telegraph reporters he had ‘declared war’ on Rupert Murdoch.) ‘Just
spoke. He (Clegg) is absolutely furious. Said Cable’s comments
unacceptable.’

24.12.2010 Subject: Hunt – confidential.

‘Just
spoke to JH (Hunt). Said he was very happy for me to be the point of
contact with him/Adam (Smith) on behalf of JRM (Murdoch) going forward.

‘Very
important to avoid giving the “anti” any opportunity to attack the
fairness of the process and fine to liaise at that political level,
while also DCMS (Department for Culture)/NWS (News Corp) legal teams are
in touch.’

‘HE WANTS US TO TAKE THE HEAT’

23.1.2011 Subject: update – confidential.
'Jeremy tried to call': Message says Jeremy Hunt was 'very frustrated' that he had been advised not to meet News Corp executives

‘Jeremy tried to call’: Message says Jeremy Hunt was ‘very frustrated’ that he had been advised not to meet News Corp executives

Email
to News Corp executives, giving a detailed timetable, in advance, of Mr
Hunt’s plans to announce on January 25 that he intended to refer the
bid to the Competition Commission – but before doing this he will take
more time to consider News Corp plans to spin off Sky News.

‘He (Jeremy Hunt) understands fully our concerns/fears … but he wants us to take the heat, with him, in the next two weeks.

‘He
very specifically said that he was keen to get the same outcome and
wanted JRM to understand he needs to build some political cover on the
process.

‘If he were not to
provide any details of the Ofcom report, he would be accused of putting a
deal together with us behind closed doors and it would get in a much
more difficult place.

‘His
view is that once he announces publicly he has a strong UIL (undertaking
from News Corp), it’s almost game over for the opposition. He said we
would get there at the end and he shared our objectives. He is keen for
me to work with his team on the statement during the course of tomorrow
and offer some possible language. That’s really good news.’

Mail: This was sent on the day Mr Michel wrote to Mr Murdoch describing the Culture Secretary's views about a recent letter about the proposed merger published by regulator Ofcom

Mail: This was sent on the day Mr Michel wrote to Mr Murdoch describing the Culture Secretary’s views about a recent letter about the proposed merger published by regulator Ofcom

‘IT’S ABSOLUTELY ILLEGAL!’

24.1.2011 Subject: Re: CONFIDENTIAL – JH STATEMENT.

On the eve of Hunt’s announcement, Mr Michel provides a detailed breakdown of precisely what the minister will say.

‘Managed to get some infos (sic) on the plans for tomorrow (although absolutely illegal!)’

25.1.2011 Subject: JH.

‘Just
had an update on today’s events with JH. We seem to have been able to
weaken most of the arguments of the complainants and Labour and expose
Ofcom’s very political/biased approach towards the bid and its
rationale.

‘JH believes we are in a good place tonight. Let’s see what the morning’s coverage brings.’

HUNT’S NIGHT AT THE OPERA

9.2.2011 Subject: CONFIDENTIAL – JH – CONFIDENTIAL.

‘I have managed to get hold of JH quickly before he went in to see Swan Lake …. and have further chat.

‘I
told him he had to stand for something ultimately and this was his
chance to dismiss Ofcom’s views and show he had some backbone, he said
he couldn’t ignore Ofcom, he had brought them into this OFT process to
get some cover and in public debate, he would get absolutely killed if
he did such a thing.’

‘THIS IS SUCH FUN’ SAYS LEVESON’S QUIZMASTER ROBERT JAY

Robert Jay

Lord Leveson’s chief quizmaster
Robert Jay QC has prosecuted multinational corporations for dumping
toxic waste in African waters and defended the government over alleged
colonial war crimes in Kenya.

But it appears the leading silk enjoys nothing more than making media heavyweights squirm under the heat of his interrogations.

As
Lord Leveson cut short Jay’s grilling of James Murdoch for lunch this
afternoon, a journalist claimed to have spotted him turn to another
lawyer and gleefully whisper what a good time he was having.

ITV
News’ UK Editor Keir Simmons wrote on Twitter: ‘Leveson rises, James
Murdoch’s questioner Robert Jay QC walks away and mouths to colleague
‘this is such fun’.

Since
taking on the role as Leveson’s chief forensic inquirer his most high
profile media interviewees include Rupert Murdoch, Piers Morgan, Kelvin
McKenzie, Rebekah Brooks and Dominic Mohan over ethical standards at
their media organisations.

Figures
have revealed that, until January 31, £536,100 of tax-payers’ money
was used to meet the costs of his three-man interrogation team.

While
the exact fees paid out to each barrister are not disclosed, it has
been reported that Jay would earn £180-£250 a hour for his work.

13.4.2011 Subject: JH – CONFIDENTIAL.

‘I
debriefed him on the NoW (News of the World) issues and what we have
been doing since last week to address (phone hacking) claimants and also
engage in details with the select committees.

‘We
are still looking at a decision to be made just after the local
elections, so around 5-10th May. Given the current onslaught in the
media against News International, the numerous allegations of
pressures/collusions with the Government and the attempts to make the
Sky deal a test of our suitability as a UK corporation, there will be a
strategic decision to make for the Government as to the day it will
chose (sic) to clear the deal.

‘We know it will clear it. We just need to push them strongly now to announce it as early as possible.’

‘HE UNDERSTANDS OUR FRUSTRATION’

17.5.2011 ‘JH just called back. He said he might give you a call in the coming days. He understands our frustration on the process.’

2.6.2011 Subject: JH confidential.

‘JH
just called. He said that over the last few days he has been causing a
lot of chaos and moaning from people at DCMS on our behalf. I should
have an update later today.’

6.6.2011 Subject: JH – confidential

‘As
discussed, had very strong conversation with JH and explained we had
now no intention of engaging further in any more commercial negotiations
with OFT (Office of Fair Trading) or Ofcom and had reached a very
delicate stage.

‘I also
insisted he needed to get a grip….. JH repeated he was definitely keen
to see this through as quickly as possible and was having conversations
with his lawyers today/tomorrow and also Ofcom.’
E-mail: Two days before Mr Hunt's addresses Parliament Mr Michel wrote to News Corp executives, stating: 'His view is that once he announces publicly he has a strong UIL (an undertaking in lieu from News Corp), it's almost game over for the opposition.'

E-mail: Two days before Mr Hunt’s addresses Parliament Mr Michel wrote to News Corp executives, stating: ‘His view is that once he announces publicly he has a strong UIL (an undertaking in lieu from News Corp), it’s almost game over for the opposition.’

‘SO WILL HE BE AT TAKE THAT?’

7.6.2011 Mr Michel emails Mr Smith asking why News Corp has been unable to meet DCMS minister Ed Vaizey since the general election.

Mr
Smith replies: ‘I would think it is obvious why he hasn’t met News
Corp. The same reason Jeremy isn’t coming to the (News Corp) summer
party.’

After another email
exchange on the subject, Mr Michel writes: ‘By the way, does that mean
you and Jeremy will not be coming to Take That on July 4th?’

30.6.2011 Subject: JH debrief.
January 2011: 'JH said there was plenty of support for the remedy in the statement'

January 2011: ‘JH said there was plenty of support for the remedy in the statement’

Enlarge

Update: Jeremy Hunt is ‘impressed’ by the latest submissions from News Corp, according to this email

‘Had
a debrief with JH and his team tonight at 7pm before he left for his
constituency. He is very happy with the way today went and especially
with the absolutely idiotic debates led by Watson (Labour MP Tom Watson,
who played a key role in the exposure of phone hacking) and (Lord)
Prescott.’

7.7.2011 Subject: Clegg – confidential.

Email to Mr Murdoch.

‘Impressed. Reassured me that he is not trying to block anything and believes decision on Sky deal is in Hunt’s hands only…’

7.7.2011 Subject: JH – CONFIDENTIAL – please read.

Email to Mr Murdoch.

‘Latest
on Rubicon. Was not discussed at the No10 meeting that Hunt had with
the PM – was discussing the two enquiries (‘police’ one led by a judge,
and ‘media practices’ one not with a judge and led by DCMS).

‘The closure of NoW does not affect JH decision and if anything help (sic) the media plurality issue by weakening our voice.

‘The cabinet divisions reported in the press are much more to do with the hacking saga rather than the deal itself.’

'Not impressed': Frederic Michel provides an update on the £8bn takeover of BSkyB on February 23, 2011, as they try to get over regulatory hurdles