Thatcher was 'soulmate' for Murdoch
David Mellor told the Leveson Inquiry that former Conservative Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher was a “soulmate” for media tycoon Rupert Murdoch.
Mr Mellor – a Conservative MP between 1979 and 1997 – said Mrs Thatcher was “ready to bend the rules” for Mr Murdoch.
He said Mr Murdoch “endeared himself” to Mrs Thatcher – who is now Lady Thatcher and was prime minister between 1979 and 1990 – and was used to ministers “doing his bidding”.
“I was responsible for media policy, including press regulation, for much of the period from 1983-1992, at the Home Office and at the Department of National Heritage,” said Mr Mellor in a written witness statement.
“I was a close witness to the arrangements whereby Rupert Murdoch became the most powerful press baron in the history of the United Kingdom.
“Murdoch’s undeniable love for newspapers made him a buyer when others weren’t, while his straightforward right wing populist opinions made him a soulmate for Mrs Thatcher, who at that time, the early 80s, didn’t have that many.
“She was therefore ready to bend the rules to allow him to establish a commanding position over the UK print media, and to take on a position of political influence which was to remain unbroken for more than a quarter of a century.
“Murdoch further endeared himself to Mrs Thatcher for breaking the power of the print unions.”
Mr Mellor added: “He was used to ministers doing his bidding, rather than the other way around.
“He was personally charming to deal with, but he was one of the few people, apart from Heads of State, I, as a minister, had to visit at his premises rather than him having to schlepp over to the Home Office.”
But Mr Mellor said there was a “huge downside”.
“Whatever benefits Murdoch brought to Mrs Thatcher personally, the Tory party generally, or the UK national interest, he had a huge downside,” added Mr Mellor.
“There’s no doubt that he coarsened British newspapers, especially his two red-tops, and dragged other red-tops down with him.
“He has no real stake in the UK as old style proprietors used to do, so anything goes, to promote the commercial well-being of what used to be, but is no longer, a great cash cow for his global ambitions.
“Britain as an entity really doesn’t matter to him, which is why the amount of power he had for so long is so regrettable, and the way that he and his minions have chosen to exercise it, often so deplorable.
“The downside of Murdoch soon became apparent, but there was never any serious prospect of any government doing anything about the excesses of the tabloids.
“I spoke of the tabloid press ’drinking in the last chance saloon’, but it was more bravado than anything else.
“And as soon as they had my head on a pole, the chance of anything being done, always minimal, became non-existent.
“The pusillanimity of politicians in the face of press excesses continues to this day.
“I suspect there are plenty of people in the present government who now regret letting this Inquiry loose, rather than employing the time honoured tactics of trying to sweep everything under the carpet.
“This is of course the main reason why this inquiry must not fail to advocate clear, common sense solutions, that politicians cannot slither away from.”
