Labour criticise Boris over dinner with Murdoch

In the latest Mayoral Gifts and Hospitality Register for the Greater London Assembly it shows that the Conservative Mayor Boris Johnson had dinner with Rupert Murdoch on 4th March 2013. Mr Johnson has been criticised from those on the left as well as some in the Conservative party for his close relationship with the Chairman and CEO of News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, who own a number of newspapers in the United Kingdom including the Sun and the Times.

The Labour Leader on the Greater London Assembly Len Duvall criticised Mr Johnson for not meeting with any of trade unions since his election in 2008, saying: "Boris’ latest dinner with Rupert Murdoch is further proof that he’s more interested in promoting himself than promoting the interests and well being of Londoners. Instead of creating division and calling for harsh new trade union laws, Boris should be seeking to bring people together and resolve differences in an open manner. Since he was elected in 2008 he hasn’t met with any of the trade unions who represent working people across our city. However, he can find the time to have regular dinners with Mr Murdoch. Instead of bringing people together he is trying to create more conflict to appeal to his next electorate."

Mr Duvall also criticised Mr Johnson's close relationship with News International: "His own relationship with News International and Rupert Murdoch has been far too close. When the phone-hacking scandal first broke, Boris described it as “codswallop” and played down the importance of alleged serial criminal activity. This latest meeting is all part of his plan to get the Murdoch press on his side before he launches his leadership bid. Rather than position himself for his next job, Boris should be focussing on the issues that matter to Londoners, like protecting frontline emergency services from his cuts and building affordable homes. Nearly a year into his new administration he is easing up on his job and getting ready to leave City Hall."

Politicians warn against "statutory control" of the press

More than 80 parliamentarians warned against state regulation of newspapers as Prime Minister David Cameron prepared to receive a key report into the phone-hacking scandal. The cross-party group of legislators said in a letter published in the Guardian and the Daily Telegraph newspapers that introducing laws to govern Britain's raucous press would be the biggest blow to media freedom in 300 years.

But a new poll showed that 60 percent of the public are in favour of implementing the recommendations of Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into media ethics, due to be announced Thursday, even if Leveson calls for statutory regulation. Cameron ordered the inquiry after the discovery of widespread illegal hacking of voicemails at Rupert Murdoch's News of the World tabloid, which the Australian-born tycoon closed in July 2011.

The letter says: "As parliamentarians, we believe in free speech and are opposed to the imposition of any form of statutory control even if it is dressed up as underpinning," said the letter, signed by members of both houses of parliament. It added: "No form of statutory regulation of the press would be possible without the imposition of state licensing -- abolished in Britain in 1695."

London 2012 Olympics chief Sebastian Coe was among the senior Conservatives who signed the letter, as well as former defence minister Liam Fox and former Shadow Home Secretary David Davis. One MP from the Liberal Democrat coalition partners, John Hemming, also signed along with several Labour MPs, including Kate Hoey, a former sports minister, and Frank Field, a former welfare minister.

But Hollywood actor Hugh Grant, who has spoken out on behalf of victims of phone hacking, said the letter had misrepresented what campaigners wanted. "What people are campaigning for is an end to newspapers being able to regulate themselves, marking their own homework," the "Four Weddings and a Funeral" star told BBC television. The British press is currently self-regulated through the widely criticised Press Complaints Commission. Grant added: "No one is arguing for statutory regulation that I have ever heard of. They are arguing for independent regulation underpinned by statute, which is a very, very different beast."

Mr Cameron has received a copy of the report, a day before Leveson makes the findings public. The Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and the Secretary of State for Culture, Media & Sport Maria Miller have also received copies. The Government is under no obligation to implement Leveson's recommendations, but having taken the decision to set up the inquiry Mr Cameron is likely to face heavy criticism if he takes no action. 

Its understood that he will make a statement to the House of Commons at 14:30pm tomorrow. It is also rumoured that the Deputy Prime Minister and Leader of the Liberal Democrats has requested a separate statement after the Prime Minister. On the other hand Cameron also faces deep divisions in his own party and even a possible

rebellion within the Conservative ranks if he agrees to any statutory regulation of newspapers.

Forty-two MPs from the centre-right Conservatives -- who are the senior partners in a coalition government with the centrist Liberal Democrats -- wrote an earlier letter calling for strong new press laws. A poll published in Wednesday's Guardian found strong public support for tough legislation. According to the YouGov poll taken on behalf of the Media Standards Trust, 79 percent were in favour of an independent press regulator established by law while 60 percent believed Cameron should implement Leveson's recommendations.

Over eight months of hearings overseen by one of Britain's most senior judges, the Leveson inquiry has looked in detail at the methods of the British tabloids, which used to pride themselves on their aggressive tactics. Cameron set up the inquiry after it emerged that the now-defunct Nes of the World had hacked the phone of Milly Dowler, a murdered schoolgirl, as well as targeting dozens of crime victims, celebrities and politicians. The police have launched three linked investigations into phone hacking, bribery of officials and breaches of privacy under which there have been more than 90 arrests. 

Boris "blinded" by ambition showed "appalling judgement" by inviting Murdoch to the olympics

Hunt greeted by Murdoch as he arrives at the aquatics centre

Rupert Murdoch was invited "personally" to the London 2012 games by the London Mayor, Boris Johnson. The invitation was to see the ladies eight hundred metres freestyle, which was won by Katie Ledecky of the United States. Mr Murdoch was greeted by the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, you'd of thought Mr Murdoch would be the last person he would want to see after all the damage that has been done over the handling of the BSkyB bid.

Boris Johnson's decision to invite Mr Murdoch has led to criticism from a number of quarters. Jenny Jones, a green party member of the London assembly who sits on the police and crime committee, said inviting Murdoch was "inappropriate" and showed "appalling judgement". Jones said: "Johnson seems to think he can get away with anything but there is always a step too far and this could be it. Most people will be appalled that he has taken someone who heads up a company that is currently involved in a criminal investigation."

The Deputy Chairman of the Labour party and DCMS committee member Tom Watson MP (Lab West Bromich West) told me that: "He [Boris Johnson] is an ambitious man. I think he's blinded by it". The Independent candidate for London mayor in May, Siobhan Benita, told me "no" she wouldn't of invited Mr Murdoch to the games continuing "my guest list to the Olympics would have been very different I suspect". Liberal Democrat Brian Paddick, who had his phone hacked, said it is an "error of judgement" to of invited Mr Murdoch to the olympics.

Lawrence Webb who was the UKIP candidate for London mayor back in May told me that: "Clearly Boris owes him a favour; I would have invited Corporal Beharry and the family of Corporal Budd as my guests, for as much as I admire the efforts and sacrifices made to become an Olympian they pale into insignificance when compared to the sacrifices made by our armed services, all of which are done without the hope of winning a medal or a lucrative sponsorship deal."

The, Liberal Democrat Leader and Deputy Prime Minister in the coalition government, Nick Clegg, has in the past attacked the Tories for their decision to ‘bow and scrape’ before Rupert Murdoch. Saying in May this year ‘Almost the entire political class competed to bow and scrape in front of Rupert Murdoch. The whole thing was rotten, and it inevitably came crashing down.

The invite came just weeks after the London mayor was forced to deny there was an attempt to conceal a meeting with Rupert Murdoch that took place as the phone-hacking scandal was gathering momentum in early 2011. Boris Johnson's office said an "administrative error" meant details of the meeting in January last year were not published for 10 months.

The mayor, a former journalist who now writes a regular column in the Daily Telegraph, "dropped into dinner" at Murdoch's London home on 24 January 2011. This was just two days before the police launched a new phone-hacking investigation. The dinner took place just three days after Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor and No 10 director of communications, resigned from the government role, saying the phone-hacking scandal was making it impossible to do his job.

Boris Johnson's spokesman made clear that the tickets for Mr Murdoch and his wife Wendi Deng were not funded by the taxpayer, but came from Johnson's allocation of 506 Olympic tickets sponsored by private companies through London & Partners. His spokesman also confirmed that the mayor had offered 2012 Games tickets to thirty nine people "who suffered the most severe and life-changing injuries and to the families of the fiftytwo people who lost their lives" in the terrorist bombings on July 7th 2005.

Labour criticise Boris over Murdoch olympic invite

The Mayor of London Boris Johnson has been criticised by Labour for giving the Chairman and CEO of News Corporation, Rupert Murdoch, a personal invite to the Olympics. It is thought that Mr Murdoch and his wife Wendi Deng are expected to join Mr Johnson on Friday. The meeting is part of Mr Johnson's drive to use the Games to promote London to leading business figures and encourage investment.

Labour members on the London Assembly have questioned the "appropriateness" of the invitation. Len Duvall, leader of the Labour Group on the London Assembly, said: "There are serious questions as to the appropriateness of Boris Johnson taking Mr Murdoch to the Olympics. An internal City Hall investigation is still underway after it was discovered the mayor had failed to declare meetings with Mr Murdoch. I do not think it is appropriate for the mayor to be entertaining Mr Murdoch in this way."

The meetings Mr Duvall spoke off are these the ones left leaning political scrapbook blog uncovered in June 2012.

A spokesman for Boris Johnson said: "The Mayor has always said he would use the Games to shamelessly promote London as the leading business hub in Europe. "With that aim in mind he's meeting, and will continue to meet, a range of business and media executives at or on the margins of Olympic events to further London's drive for investment that will spur jobs and growth."

Chris Bryant (Lab Rhondda) had a clash on twitter saying "Boris just doesn't get it. He's i/c the Met, yet he wants to schmooze with Murdoch whilst investigation ongoing!" A Boris Johnson attack dog blasted back "U R hypocritical attacking Newsintl. with respect. Go for the Mirror! ~I dare you!" Mr Bryant pointed out "I've already criticised the Mirror. But the evidence regarding the NotW and News Corp is far more substantial". The clash continued  Like many 'of your ilk' U R jumping on a popular leftie bandwagon". Mr Bryant retaliated with "Excuse me. I first asked Brooks about corrupt payments in 2003. Hardly a bandwagon". Video of that is below.

Speculation is that the mayor who was seen as favourite to replace David Cameron as the Leader of the Conservative party in the future is trying to keep Rupert Murdoch close by to support him for his bid. Should a vacancy happen before twenty sixteen then Mr Johnson will be out of the running as he wont be in the Commons. The other main challengers would be Foreign Secretary and the Former Tory leader William Hague and the Education Secretary and former News International journalist Michael Gove.

If Boris Johnson is on manoeuvres then he's going about it in the wrong way. As in July 2012 Mr Murdoch announced he had resigned from a string of directorships controlling his News Corporation's UK newspapers.