Further to that last post, Leveson released more than 100 pages of News Corp correspondence this afternoon. Alex Salmond features in four emails sent by Fred Michel, the Murdochs’ chief lobbyist and PR guy:
1. 1/11/10
– Libdem MP, former Sky employee, with major Sky customer centres in his constituency and around will contact Vince Cable to ask himm to bear in mind the economic/investment point of view rather than getting influenced by political games, especially in times of austerity and very difficult economic environment for those areas. He will also emphasise the opportunity for Cable to show the maturity of the Libdems as coalition partners, working for the long-term, and will draw from the Coaliton government experience lib-dems have had in Scotland. He agrees with the need for this to be looked at by Brussels rather than scrutinised again on plurality ground in the UK
2. 9/11/10-Alex Salmond 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.
Meeting with Rupert Harrison who works with George yesterday
Confirmed tensions in the Coalition around Vince Cable and his current policy positions.
Vince made a political decision, probably without even reading the legal advice, as confirmed also to us by Vicky Plice and David Laws yesterday.
I underlined the impact such regulatory process has for us financially; the signals it sends to major global potential investors. Rupert said the case would be made to BIS.
He was very much taken by our commitment to Scotland and Alex Salmond’s desire to support us. He thought it was a strong ally to put forward, very contrarian/unexpected. Same for Scottish lib-dems.
Discussed the way the Government can look at the creative industry and its economic contribution; how we can make sure the upcoming roundtable Vince is setting up functions effectively.
Gave a strong feedback on David’s comments praising Google and US fair-use for the IP Review. Gave detailed feedback on the pitfalls to avoid in the IP review process.
3. 11/2/11Rupert and I will have an ongoing dialogue in weeks to come.
I met with Alex Salmond’s adviser today.
He will calI Hunt whenever we need him to.
1.He noticed a major chauge in the Sun’s coverage recently. The Daily Record is running a very persona[ campaign against him.
2. He believes the time has come to organise a First Ministerial debate between him and Ian Gray [labour leader], who are the two only possible FM candidates.
3. 2/3/11He would be very keen for Sky News to organise it with Adam.There is a timing issue as it would have to be orgamsed before dissolution on 22nd March.
Alex Salmond called. He had a very good dinner witla the Editor of the Sun in Scotland yesterday.
The Sun is now keen to back the SNP at the election. The Editor will make his pitch to the editorial team tomorrow.
Alex wanted to see whether we could help smooth the way for the process.
Moreover we have a very good detailed chat on EU Fisheries policy.
He would be very keen to welcome Fred and Kathryn in Edimburgh with his Minister.
Alex has a been a MP for fisheries communities for 20 years and is absolutely on board with our campaign.
He also asked whether we could go for dinner at Bute House before the election campaign kicks-off on the 22nd March.
I dare say some will consider this proof that the First Minister is Murdoch’s bootboy. But if these are “scandalous” dealings with the Murdoch empire then scandal has become an empty word. They seem perfectly normal dealings to me and not very different from what might have been expected from any First Minister of any party. This will not prevent Labour and the Tories and the Lib Dems from using them to attack the SNP at Frist Minister’s Questions this week. But if this is all there is then I suspect the First Minister’s team, already doubtless prepping their defence, will not be in too much trouble.On the Sky bid, he will make himself available to support the debate if the consultation is launched.
Besides, it is possible for a politician to act in ways that benefit his party – and, naturally, be aware of that – while also thinking that many of the objections to the Murdoch bid were less than substantial and that these, just as much as the bid itself, were nothing more than properly, justifiably, self-interested pieces of lobbying.
In any case, if Labour and the Tories can court newspapers, I’m not sure it’s actually all that reprehensible for the Scottish National Party to do likewise.
UPDATE: It’s should also be noted that Murdoch’s media empire commands a considerably smaller share of the Scottish media market than it does of the UK market at a whole and that, consequently, the “plurality” argument is weaker as it applies to Scotland than it did to the UK mediaverse.
Comments