Leveson Inquiry: More heat on Jeremy Hunt to resign as his plea is rebuffed

Leveson Inquiry: More heat on Jeremy Hunt to resign as his plea is rebuffed

By James Chapman

PUBLISHED: 16:44 EST, 27 April 2012 | UPDATED: 15:07 EST, 28 April 2012

[caption

David Cameron hinted for the first time yesterday that Jeremy Hunt will face a Government inquiry into his relationship with News International.

The Prime Minister had ruled out an investigation, but as pressure builds on the Culture Secretary to resign, Mr Cameron has warned Mr Hunt he may yet order a Whitehall probe.

A spokesman for the Conservative leader said yesterday: 'If there is anything that suggests there has been a breach of the code the Prime Minister would of course act'.

The news follows reports Lord Justice Leveson is powerless to  decide whether Mr Hunt broke the Ministerial Code.

If true, the claim - made by sources close to the Leveson Inquiry - would be a heavy blow to No 10’s hopes that Mr Hunt could be spared a potentially damaging separate and independent inquiry into his handling of an attempted takeover of BSkyB.

A Leveson Inquiry source said: ‘The simple fact is he is not the arbiter of the ministerial code on discipline, whatever anybody else is saying. There is somebody else who has that role.

'The responsibility for investigating ministerial behaviour rests with Alex Allan, it is not a responsibility for Lord Justice Leveson. We want to be clear on that.’

Damaging emails between one of Mr Hunt’s special advisers, Adam Smith, and a Rupert Murdoch lobbyist, which have emerged at the Leveson Inquiry, have left the Culture Secretary clinging to his job.

Most seriously, the messages suggest market-sensitive information was given to Mr Murdoch’s empire on Mr Hunt’s intentions regarding its proposed £8billion takeover of BSkyB before Parliament was informed

Mr Hunt has pleaded to be allowed to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry earlier than planned, but his request appears to have fallen on deaf ears, meaning uncertainty over his political future will drag on for weeks if not months.

Enlarge  

Yesterday, three senior Liberal Democrats insisted Mr Cameron should reconsider his decision not to order a separate probe.

Lib Dem deputy leader Simon Hughes said: ‘What I cannot understand is why the matter of the ministerial code of conduct, which is to do with, “Do you take responsibility for your special adviser?”, is not something the Prime Minister should immediately refer to the person who has been given the job of doing that, Sir Alex Allan.’

Getting on with it: PM David Cameron has so far resisted an inquiry and left a school in his constituency today with cup cakes the children made for him

He was backed by the chairman of the Lib Dem parliamentary party, Lorely Burt, and Lib Dem peer Lord Oakeshott.

The chairman of the Committee on Standards in Public Life, Sir Christopher Kelly, added to the pressure as he suggested Sir Alex was the ‘obvious’ person to conduct an investigation.

‘It is important for public confidence in the integrity of government... that this is done â€" and done reasonably quickly,’ he said.

But Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg rejected calls for a separate inquiry into Mr Hunt’s conduct, suggesting that it would lead to ‘crossed wires’.

‘Let’s get to the bottom of what happened and what didn’t happen by hearing what Jeremy Hunt has to say before Lord Leveson,’ Mr Clegg said.

And a senior Government source said: ‘Lord Justice Leveson isn’t judging the Ministerial Code, we know that.

‘But if Jeremy Hunt on oath can’t confirm that he didn’t know specifics on what Adam Smith was passing back and forth, then he’s done for.

Pressure: Text messages sent between News Corp lobbyist Frederic Michel, left, and Jeremy Hunt have heaped pressure on to Mr Cameron to launch an inquiry

‘The evidence will be there for all to see whether Jeremy can stay in his job or not. We haven’t been reluctant to look at the Ministerial Code because we are scared of anything. Our logic is that all will be outed in the inquiry.’

Mr Hunt had been expected to give evidence in around four weeks’ time. A spokesman for the inquiry was quoted as saying Mr Clegg’s suggestion that Mr Hunt would appear before then was ‘inaccurate’.

Mr Hunt denies acting improperly.

But Labour leader Ed Miliband said: ‘People watching this Prime Minister’s actions will conclude he has a great deal to hide and that his real fear is that Jeremy Hunt’s resignation will put his own actions and behaviour centre stage.’

A spokesman for the Deputy Prime Minister said Mr Clegg had not intended to suggest that agreement had been reached with Lord Leveson on an early appearance for the Culture Secretary.’

• Egypt's 'plans for farewell intercourse law so husbands can...
• Giant cannibal shrimp more than a FOOT long invade waters...
• Dentist pulled out ALL boyfriend's teeth after he dumped her...
• Never-before-seen photos from 100 years ago tell vivid story...
• Model, nurse, cheerleader, churchgoer: Stunning wife of...
• Married Secret Service agent who 'refused to pay Colombian...
• Married school principal quits after student secretly films...
• Vintage vixen: Topless photos of Marilyn Monroe at last-ever...
• Judge awards $5.8 MILLION to woman who danced for Girls Gone...
• 'What took you so long?': What drug-addict mother, 34, said...
• Survivalist 'shoots himself dead' in bunker after SWAT teams...
• 'Everything I've done in my life will benefit him': How...

Share this article: