sábado, 30 de julio de 2011

Labour Reveals News International Meetings - Sky News

4:20pm UK, Saturday July 30, 2011

Ruth Barnett, politics reporter

Labour frontbenchers have published details of dozens of meetings with senior News International figures after Ed Miliband attacked the Government for getting too cosy with the newspaper group.

From left: Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, David Cameron and Ed Miliband

The Conservative and Labour party reveal their meetings with the press

The party revealed a list of which editors, senior executives and media proprietors the shadow cabinet have met since May last year.

It covers all news organisations, but the biggest focus will be on Labour's dealings with News International (NI) due to the party leader's attacks on the company over allegations of phone hacking.

Tessa Jowell, the former culture secretary who believes her phone was hacked, spent Christmas Eve and Boxing Day with Rebekah Brooks, the documents show.

She saw the former chief executive of News International, who was arrested and bailed in connection with the hacking inquiry, at a party and a dinner held by Elisabeth Murdoch, the daughter of Rupert Murdoch.

Tessa Jowell

The list shows Tessa Jowell was a guest at many News International events

Mrs Jowell's link to the group is Matthew Freud, the PR chief married to Mrs Murdoch.

She attended six events held by NI or senior staff.

Mrs Jowell hired lawyers earlier this year after police told her that her mobile may have been hacked in 2006.

The lists also confirm Mrs Jowell attended Elisabeth Murdoch's summer party with what has been dubbed the "Chipping Norton" set.

Prime Minister David Cameron and a host of figures from the Conservatives, Labour and NI went to the bash, which came two days before revelations murder victim Milly Dowler's phone was hacked prompted a crisis for the media company.

Ed Balls, the shadow chancellor, is shown to have met Colin Myler, the most recent editor of the News Of The World (NOTW), on at least three occasions since the General Election.

He attended eight meetings or social events with NI figures, including Mrs Brooks and NI executive Will Lewis, Times editor James Harding and Sunday Times editor John Witherow.

Most of the shadow cabinet acknowledged attending receptions hosted by NI as well as Sky News, which is 39% owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation.

Some, including shadow transport secretary Maria Eagle and shadow energy secretary Meg Hillier, said they had not met any senior media figures in the past 15 months.

Mr Miliband had already published a list of the executives he mingled with since becoming leader but the latest document dates back to last May.

It shows he met Mrs Brooks in September 2010, along with Dominic Mohan the editor of The Sun. He also met Mr Myler in August and attended an NI reception in June 2010.

He sought to capitalise politically on his less close relationship with NI by drawing attention to the Prime Minister's social engagements with Mrs Brooks, who lives near his constituency, and his decision to hire Andy Coulson, ex-editor of the now-defunct NOTW.

Mr Cameron and his Cabinet released details of their meetings with senior media figures earlier this month.

The Conservatives accused the opposition of publishing the information at the weekend in the hope no one would notice.

Baroness Warsi, the party chairman, said the details show Labour "courted News International staff extensively".

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