LONDON, (Reuters) – Rupert Murdoch’s UK newspaper chief told David Cameron the night before a crucial political speech in 2009 that they were “professionally in this together”, an inquiry revealed yesterday, embarrassing the man who now governs Britain.
A text message to Cameron, then in opposition, from Rebekah Brooks, then the head of Murdoch’s British newspapers, was read out to the prime minister on live television during a grilling about his ties to the tycoon’s News Corp.
“I am so rooting for you tomorrow not just as a personal friend but because professionally we’re definitely in this together. Speech of your life? Yes he Cam!” Brooks told Cameron in that message the night before his speech to the Conservative Party’s annual conference.
Testifying under oath at the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics, Cameron said Brooks had merely meant that they had a common interest because her Sun newspaper had come out in support of the Conservative Party ahead of the 2010 election.
But the message makes excruciating reading for Cameron as “We’re all in this together” was the Conservatives’ campaign slogan for that election. It was meant to present the party as inclusive and caring, but the Brooks message instead reinforces the perception of a party in thrall to a powerful media clique.
