Given that James Harding is generally regarded as the best editor of The Times to have worked under Rupert Murdoch, what happened yesterday? Mr Steerpike has been making some inquiries. It emerges that Murdoch had not been on speaking terms with Harding since summer last year, and latterly did not even bother to see him on his irregular visits to his Wapping HQ. It is not clear why proprietor has fallen out with editor, though huge losses, falling circulation and too pinkish/independent an editorial line are the usual reasons for Murdoch turning against his editors — and The Times had been “guilty” of all three.
Twice this year News International CEO Tom Mockridge has been dispatched by Old Rupe to fire the editor only to be stopped at the last minute. Insiders say that The Times accounts had been looking steadily better of the last year, as the fruits of its cost-cutting exercise fed through into the P&L sheet.
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