Hunt Admits his Bias

Jeremy Hunt has appeared at the Leveson Inquiry today to answer questions on his media policy. The day primarily focused on his bias in favour of the News Corp takeover of BSkyB, it has been a difficult day for the government. Despite what has emerged today David Cameron is still confident that Hunt “did not break the ministerial code”.

One of the more worrying concerns is texts sent by Hunt to a number of people, including James Murdoch and George Osborne. The texts were sent on the day that Vince Cable was stripped of his right to oversee the BSkyB takeover, the texts clearly demonstrate that Hunt was completely biased in favour of the News Corp takeover and shot not, therefore, be handed the responsibility of overseeing it.

Here is a timeline of the texts that day:

12:00: News Corp is given the go-ahead by the European Commission in Brussels to buy the remaining shares of BSkyB. The EU competition commissioner, Joaquín Almunia said “I am confident that this merger will not weaken competition in the United Kingdom.”

12:46: Jeremy Hunt texts James Murdoch, “sorry to miss your call. [I] am on my mobile now.”

12:52: Murdoch texts Hunt, “Have to run into next thing. Are you free anything after 14:15? I can shuffle after this.”

[Murdoch and Hunt arrange to meet at 16:00]

12:57: Hunt tests Murdoch, “Great and congrats on Brussels. Just Ofcom to go.”

14:30 The full transcript of the interview between undercover reporters and Vince Cable is published by the BBC’s business correspondent Robert Peston. The report includes some information that the Daily Telegraph had not published.

15:56: News Corp issues a statement saying that they are “shocked and dismayed” by the reports of Cable’s comments. “They [the comments] raise serious questions about fairness and due process.”

16:00: Hunt and Murdoch talk briefly on the phone about Cable’s comments.

16:08 Hunt texts Osborne, “could we chat about Murdoch Sky big? I am seriously worried we are going to screw this up.”

16:08: Hunt texts Osborne, “Just been called by James. His lawyers are meeting now and saying it calls into question legitimacy of whole process from beginning. ‘acute bias’. etc.”

16:10: Hunt email to Coulson, “Could we chat about this? I am seriously worried Vince Cable will do real damage to coalition with his comments.”

16:58: Osborne text to Hunt “I hope you like the solution.”

17:45: Vince Cable is stripped of his responsibility over the BSkyB bid and it is handed over to Jeremy Hunt.

I find it impossible to understand how the government does not believe they did anything wrong when appointing Jeremy Hunt, even with hindsight. Cameron stripped Cable of his responsibility due to bias and handed to Hunt, who was also known to be biased… but in the opposite direction. The fact that Hunt texted Osborne with before Cable had been removed from the BSkyB bid process shows that Osborne and Cameron knew that Hunt was biased. They have no excuse, it is an absolute disgrace.

I agree with parts of the media that call Hunt “the Minister for Murdoch.”