Jeremy Hunt fights for his political career
It's been built up for the last fortnight - Jeremy Hunt, Culture Secretary, stepping in front of Lord Leveson to discuss his conduct while overseeing the BSkyB bid and his relationship with News International executives. The crux, was he impartial or 'a cheerleader' for the deal to proceed? Jay Turner from Freshwater Public Affairsdiscusses the issue now that Hunt has offered his side of events.
At the Leveson Inquiry into press standards this week, the spotlight turned briefly to press regulation and issues of freedom of speech, with senior Tories Michael Gove and Theresa May appearing before the inquiry to state on the record their opposition to any intervention in the running of the print media with new legislation. In a memorable display of oration and conviction, Gove launched a robust defence of free speech, insisting that the case for stricter regulation “needs to be made very strongly before you curtail liberty.”
But it was the highly-anticipated appearance of Jeremy Hunt today that was the real highlight. In giving evidence, he offered a robust defence of his handling of News Corporation’s bid for BSkyB, arguing that he conducted the process with ‘scrupulous fairness.’ At stake is nothing less than the Culture Secretary’s ministerial career. Up to now, David Cameron has expressed confidence in his minister but has said he will call in his independent ethics adviser Sir Alex Allan or take immediate action himself if Hunt’s evidence suggests he has breached the Ministerial Code.
Section 3.3 of the code states that responsibility for the management and conduct of special advisers ‘rests with the minister.’ The code makes clear that perception matters as does control of a special adviser and Mr Hunt’s critics have argued that the culture secretary should go as he is in breach of the code for failing to supervise his adviser, Adam Smith. Hunt also stands accused of breaching section 1.2c of the code, which says that ministers must provide full and accurate information to Parliament, by his previously erroneous assertion that he had published all contacts between his department and News Corporation.
Hunt was viewed as one of the Cabinet's most capable ministers and many saw him as a future leader of the Conservative Party, but as Tom Watson MP remarked, “after this he'll be lucky to get elected to the culture, media and sport select committee … let alone 10 Downing Street.”
This could be a defining moment for Cameron, who has made no secret of his reluctance to reshuffle his ministers. It is quite probable that as an alternative to sacking Hunt and inviting accusations of sleaze and incompetence, the PM will try to keep the Culture Secretary in place until he reshuffles this summer, when he will be quietly dropped.
And looking further ahead, there are suggestions in Conservative circles that after his virtuoso performance earlier in the week, Michael Gove may have just launched his bid to be the next leader of the Conservative Party.
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