Stephens clear that once Hunt took over responsibility for BSkyB bid, any informal communication w News Corp by his officials wd be wrong

The Leveson inquiry has drawn our attention to a fundamental political problem which hasn't had the attention it deserves. I'm referring to the fact that Jeremy Hunt supported News Corp's bid for BSky... Continue to article

Jeremy Hunt privately urged David Cameron to back Rupert Murdoch’s BSkyB takeover bid just weeks before the Prime Minister put him in charge of ruling on the issue, it emerged last night. Continue to article

Robert Jay QC describes the BSkyB takeover as a “boiling hot potato” for the DCMS. #Leveson http://t.co/LNFuAWOj

Jonathan Stephens: “Management of special advisers is for the ministers who appoint them.” #leveson http://t.co/LNFuAWOj

Dear Jeremy Hunt, everyone here thinks you need to go. Regards, Everyone. #Leveson

Adam Smith told Hunt he would resign if pressure became too great. Hunt said " it won't come to that" says Smith. Not wrong for long...

Adam Smith says he "wasn't that fussed" about BSKYB bid which wd seem curious cos there was enough"fuss" to prompt his resignation #leveson

This is a reminder of why Robert Jay earns whatever it is he earns. He's a master of the long game. #Leveson

Smith said he told Michel he hd bn "causing lot of chaos and moaning" on NC's behalf to get Michel off his back. "This is one I regret most"

Smith says one text he regrets was "to get him off my back...in hindsight I shdn't have sent it"

Adam Smith says tone of some texts with BSKYB lobbyist Michel "too flippant" but substance was not inappropriate #leveson

Smith on his chummy emails/texts: "I think the tone of some what I said was a bit flippant...but don't think substance was inappropriate"

Continue to article

Key point Smith denies he was speaking for Hunt on emails but wouldn't express views contrary to his.

Adam Smith: “I was more of a buffer and a channel of communication rather than representing Mr Hunt’s views.” #Leveson http://t.co/LNFuAWOj

Smith says Hunt felt more strongly than he did: "Mr Hunt drafted it [memo on UIL] I probably didn't go as far as Mr Hunt"

* Leveson inquiry * Frédéric Michel * Adam Smith * News Corporation * Media business * Jeremy Hunt * Ofcom * BSkyB * James Murdoch John Plunkett guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited o... Continue to article

Adam Smith called by BSKYB lobbyist Michel at 3am while he was in office preparing Hunt statement to Commons that morning #leveson

SkyNews proving they not in Murdoch's pocket. Sticking with Leveson rather than Rupe's favourite British politician Salmond(BBC hv switched)

Adam Smith.."I often say things which are not Mr Hunt's opinion." #leveson

Adam Smith helps his former boss, saying sure he said things that were not Mr Hunt's opinions. Not His Master's voice then.

Adam Smith: “I am sure that I often said things that were not Mr Hunt’s opinion.” #Leveson http://t.co/LNFuAWOj

David Cameron says key issue with Jeremy Hunt was "not what he had said in the past (about BSKYB) but how he was going to do the job."

* Jeremy Hunt * Leveson inquiry * BSkyB * News Corporation * Media business * Television industry * BSkyB * Tony Blair Mark Sweney guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliat... Continue to article

Tory leader's main comms guy is ex-BBC (Craig Oliver) and Labour leader's main comms guy (Tom Baldwin) is ex-Murdoch. #funnyoldworld

Continue to article

So, Tony Blair on Monday at Leveson. He's seen off Hutton and Chilcot. Will Leveson/Jay cause him any problems? #leveson

So Blair on Mon, May & Gove Tues, Cable & Clarke Wed with Hunt Thursday.

Former Prime Minister Tony Blair is to appear before the Leveson Inquiry on Monday. Continue to article

Leveson says email from BSKYB lobbyist suggests "there is a common cause being fought" by Jeremy Hunt and News Corp #leveson

Smith says Michel's (slightly) infamous "game over" email was a "colourful explanation of the process" but doesn't dispute it captures gist

Labour has renewed calls for Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt to quit over a potentially damning memo sent to Prime Minister David Cameron weeks before he was given quasi-judicial oversight of News Corp'... Continue to article

Lord Justice Leveson getting frustrated with Adam Smith repeated use of phrases like "...I don't remember...I don't think" #leveson

Cameron/Hunt/BSkyB story No 2 on R4, no 2 on Daybreak, not in top 8 on Sky. Mmmm, this the kind of multi platform JH was cheerleading?

Jay reads internal DCMS dept email makes clear dept knew Adam Smith was point of contact with Fred Michel (so knocks rogue Spad theory)

Email from Jeremy Hunt's spad Adam Smith says BSKYB lobbyist "has been pushing me quite hard" #leveson

Jeremy Hunt's special adviser Adam Smith says he was "bombarded" with info by BSKYB lobbyist Fred Michel #leveson

Adam Smith confirms Jeremy Hunt knew he was in contact with Fred Michel.

Why didn't J Hunt follow Ofcom's advice of Dec 31 2010 & refer News Corp's Sky bid to Competition Commission? http://t.co/3stYRJz2 soon

* Jeremy Hunt * Leveson inquiry * BSkyB * Labour * BSkyB * Television industry Dan SabbaghPatrick WintourDavid LeighAlexandra Topping guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affil... Continue to article

Adam Smith back at Leveson soon & we await next week's witnesses. Shld be some big guns. Hunt poss Thurs? Blair poss Mon? PM following week?

How long will it take for Jeremy Hunt to resign? Sudden death is less damaging that protracted torture. New Tory sleaze builds ineptocracy.

So Cameron gave the job of adjudicating on the Murdoch Sky bid to a known supporter of the bid. A big question here: is that corrupt?

Prime Minister himself knew that Hunt was already backing the BskyB bid - @HarrietHarman on @SkyNews

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Being a special adviser at the heart of the Government is necessarily a privileged but hugely sensitive role. Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Continue to article

Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt told his special adviser to quit after highly damaging emails revealing the close relationship between his department and the Murdoch empire were released, the former aid... Continue to article

Jeremy Hunt's former special adviser told a News Corporation lobbyist that the media giant's BSkyB takeover bid would go ahead once plans to spin off Sky News were accepted, the Leveson Inquiry heard. Continue to article