(British) PM's impartiality (re competition inquiry) in doubt after Xmas date with Murdoch executive

[Turborama]

Source: The Independent (UK)

By Oliver Wright, Whitehall Editor | Friday, January 21 2011

David Cameron was yesterday accused of "tucking into turkey" with a senior News Corporation executive days after he intervened in the company's bid to take full control of BSkyB. The Prime Minister went to the Oxfordshire home of Rebekah Brooks during the Christmas holiday, shortly after he stripped the Business Secretary Vince Cable of responsibility for ruling on the deal. (Mr Cable had been caught "declaring war" on the News Corp chairman Rupert Murdoch.)

Mr Cameron faces questions over the appropriateness of the visit while News Corp faces a possibly lengthy competition inquiry into its attempt to buy BSkyB.

The visit came shortly after Mr Cameron passed the quasi-judicial responsibility for the decision to the Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt – who had previously appeared to back the proposed take-over.

Mr Murdoch is currently in the UK on News Corp business. Usually such visits coincide with board meetings, Sky's annual results or the summer party of News Corp subsidiary News International. This is not the case, however, this time – which has led to speculation that Mr Murdoch may be in London to finalise a deal with the Government over News Corp's attempt to buy the 60.9 per cent of BSkyB that it does not already own.

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/pms-impartiality-in-doubt-after-christmas-date-with-murdoch-executive-2190323.html

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Rupert Murdoch, the chairman of News Corp, with his key London lieutenant Rebekah Brooks

[aquart]

1. Why don't we ever think of challenging Murdoch?

Or ComCast? Or....anybody?