» SubscribeMain section
-
Top story
Iraq War: "Implacable support" of Murdoch press a key factor for Blair
Nicholas Jones
DATELINE: 7/2/12
The role of newspapers like the Sun in offering "implacable support" for Tony Blair's backing of the American-led invasion of Iraq was cited at the Leveson Inquiry as an example of how the Murdoch press was required to reflect the political views of its proprietor.
Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail, told Lord Justice Leveson (6.2.2012) that he valued his "total freedom" as an editor – unlike the editors of The Times, Sunday Times, Sun and News of the World who had to follow the "strong views" which Rupert Murdoch communicated to them.
Dacre claimed that Blair, as Prime Minister, would have been unable to commit the use of British forces in the Iraq War "without the implacable support provided by the Murdoch newspapers...and that came from Murdoch himself."
Evidence which backed up Dacre's claim – although not referred to at the inquiry – was obtained by the Glasgow Media Group in October 2008 as a result of requests under the Freedom of Information Act.
Extracts from telephone conversations between Murdoch and Blair revealed the depth of Murdoch's commitment to support the British Prime Minister.
The claim by Paul Dacre that without the backing of the Murdoch press Blair would have been unable to sustain the use of British forces supporting the US invasion of Iraq was made during persistent questioning by the Inquiry's counsel, Robert Jay, QC.
Dacre insisted that he was probably unlike other editors in Fleet Street because he was not subjected to interference by his proprietor. "I have worked for the Rothermere family for twenty-two years...for the present Lord Rothermere and his father because they allow me total freedom."
Dacre said that although Rupert Murdoch was a great proprietor, who now faced "deep problems", he had always communicated his own "strong views" to his editors.
The whole issue of the degree to which there is contact between Prime Ministers and newspaper proprietors and editors is one which Lord Justice Leveson has been asked to investigate and in response to another question, Dacre agreed that his own relationship with the former Prime Minister Gordon Brown was better than with Blair.
But Dacre said it was preposterous to suggest he had ever felt he could exercise influence over Brown or the former Labour Home Secretary Jack Straw whom had known since their days at university.
His involvement with Brown was as a result of being asked to assist with an inquiry into the thirty-year rule for the release of state papers which was reduced, as a result of their recommendation, to twenty years. "I was very proud that reduction was introduced into law."
Dacre's criticism of Murdoch for influencing the line taken by his editors has highlighted one of the few on-the-record examples of the collusion between the Murdoch press and Blair.
Extracts from previously undisclosed telephone calls between the two men were revealed in 2008. In one conversation, in January 1998 Blair tells Murdoch that he is "instinctively sympathetic" to Murdoch's plans to get European Union support for the expansion of Sky's interactive television services.
The call that provided documentary evidence to support Dacre's claim took place in July 2002, in the lead up to the 2003 invasion of Iraq. Murdoch told Blair that he was "deeply preoccupied at the time with attempting to launch a Sky-like channel in Italy."
The Downing Street note of the conversation then added: "He (Murdoch) praised the Prime Minister for his position on Iraq and said that his newspapers would strongly support the government on Iraq and foreign policy."
If the front pages of the Sun are any guide the unstinting support of the Murdoch press for the involvement of British troops in the Iraq War was never in doubt.ends
Last modified: Tuesday, February 7, 2012
Your comments:
» Click here to add your comment.
Comments will be subject to approval and should not be defamatory, obscene, racist, in breach of copyright, or contrary to law. The CPBF is not reponsible for any views expressed here.
Previous Leveson Inquiry stories
Women's groups - Leveson must back ban on sexualized images in media
Ofcom and BSkyB bid: We should have looked at News Corporation's political influence
Leveson Inquiry: PCC chief says appetite for fresh start
Chilling effect on BBC journalism of licence freeze: a warning to Leveson Inquiry
Co-ordinating Committee for Media Reform call for change
BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten rebukes David Cameron
Opinion: "Leveson: reasons to be wary of press promises"
Cameron's links with the Murdoch press: only superficial probing at Leveson
Press Freedom: a democratic rubric
Leveson Inquiry edges closer to Cameron
James Murdoch 'shown damning email'
Rupert Murdoch met David Cameron at Downing Street twice during BSkyB bid
The Leveson Inquiry: Should We Care?
Leveson Inquiry kicks off but ministers could still act
Ditch the PCC: CPBF backs inquiry into the ethics and culture of the press
-
Notices
Events & Announcements
World Press Freedom Day
More reporters are currently imprisoned in Turkey than in any other country in the world. Only a matter of weeks ago lawyers failed to persuade a Turkish court to release a 76-year-old journalist from a Turkish internet news station.
World Press Freedom Day on Friday May 3, 2013 is being marked in Britain by a rally to highlight the dangers facing journalists in Turkey and in this podcast, Nicholas Jones speaks to Barry White, Organiser at the Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, and Sam Bamford, the TUC's policy officer for Eastern Europe and Africa about the importance of a campaign to highlight international press freedom.
The World Press Freedom Day rally is being staged by the National Union of Journalists at the NUJ head office, Gray’s Inn Road, London WC1 on Thursday May 2, 6pm-8pm.
DATELINE: 27/4/13
UK launch of EU media campaign
DATELINE: 13/3/13
The UK launch of a 'European Citizens' Initiative' calling for EU rules against concentration of media power will take place on Thursday March 21 from 11:00am – 12:30pm in Committee Room 4A at the House of Lords, London. Guest speakers will include actor and activist Hugh Grant (pictured), media consultant Claire Enders, Professor Steven Barnett, Barry McCall (President of the NUJ) and Marc Gruber (Director of the European Federation of Journalists).
A European Citizens' Initiative is an official petition, like a Downing Street petition. If it succeeds in gathering a million signatures across the EU, the Commission is obliged to respond.
This petition calls for the EU to act to protect media pluralism and press freedom.
CPBF Annual General Meeting
DATELINE: 1/3/13
Make a note in your diary
Saturday 13 July 2013 from 10.00am
NUJ HQ, 308/312 Gray's Inn Road, London WC1.
Leveson, media ownership, CPBF future work.
DOWNLOAD FREEPRESS NOW
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Download Freepress in PDF, ePub or mobi format. Issue 194 now available.
MEDIA FOR ALL CONFERENCE
DATELINE: 26/3/10
Papers from the Media for All Conference
MEDIA MANIFESTO
DATELINE: 26/3/10
The media’s job is to inform and entertain us but we rely on them too to tell us what our rulers and representatives are up to. In the run-up to the Iraq war the government used spin and disinformation in the media to create panic and mislead people. The truth is coming out now, but we need stronger, more independent media to be able to scrutinise governments and make informed choices.
-
Previous stories
Leveson Inquiry
Women's groups - Leveson must back ban on sexualized images in media
Ofcom and BSkyB bid: We should have looked at News Corporation's political influence
Leveson Inquiry: PCC chief says appetite for fresh start
Chilling effect on BBC journalism of licence freeze: a warning to Leveson Inquiry
Co-ordinating Committee for Media Reform call for change
BBC Trust chairman Lord Patten rebukes David Cameron
Opinion: "Leveson: reasons to be wary of press promises"
Cameron's links with the Murdoch press: only superficial probing at Leveson
Press Freedom: a democratic rubric
Leveson Inquiry edges closer to Cameron
James Murdoch 'shown damning email'
Rupert Murdoch met David Cameron at Downing Street twice during BSkyB bid
The Leveson Inquiry: Should We Care?
Leveson Inquiry kicks off but ministers could still act
Ditch the PCC: CPBF backs inquiry into the ethics and culture of the press
