From The Independent:
The extraordinary access that Cabinet ministers granted Rupert Murdoch and his children was revealed for the first time yesterday, with more than two dozen private meetings between the family and senior members of the Government in the 15 months since David Cameron entered Downing Street.
In total, Cabinet ministers have had private meetings with Murdoch executives more than 60 times and, if social events such as receptions at party conferences are included, the figure is at least 107.
On two occasions, James Murdoch and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks were given confidential defence briefings on Afghanistan and Britain's strategic defence review by the Defence Secretary, Liam Fox. A further briefing was held with Ms Brooks, Rupert Murdoch and the Sunday Times editor John Witherow.
http://www.independent.co.uk/...
Sounds a little too cozy for comfort. And like perhaps PM Cameron has a bit more explaining to do.
The article also reveals that the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, met with Murdoch executives 16 times since last May (more than once a month!).
And, the Culture Minister, Jeremy Hunt, had dinners with Rupert Murdoch only days after coming to power, and AFTER he was given oversight of the News International takeover of BskyB.
AND...the Education Secretary, Michael Gove, has had meals with Rupert six times since last May, and a total of twelve meetings with News International executives. I wouldn't be surprised if Murdoch is trying to privatize UK education, just as he is hoping to in the United States. Blech.
UPDATE 1:
From MKSinSA in the comments, it appears Dubya did the exact same thing for Rupert back in 2004:
Didn't Condi Rice do the same thing on this side of the pond as well? While we were struggling to keep our coalition together, she took time to brief Rupert and his Conservative media team.
At the same time, Administration aides were busy trying to hold together the coalition of the sort-of willing that was cobbled together to support the invasion of Iraq.
...
Surely, National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice, a key player on all the fronts that were in play, had a very long list of responsibilities. No time for diversions on Friday, right? Wrong.
Rice took time out of the middle of the day to address a secretive gathering that included global media mogul Rupert Murdoch and top executives from television networks, newspapers and other media properties owned by Murdoch's News Corp. conglomerate. Rice spoke at some length via satellite to Murdoch and his cronies, who had gathered at the posh Ritz Carlton Hotel in Cancun Mexico, according to reports published in the British press.
http://www.commondreams.org/...