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Vince Cable: I declared war on Murdoch... now everyone agrees with me
Joe Murphy, Political Editor15 Jul 2011
Vince Cable today says there is "a big case to answer" about whether Rupert Murdoch is fit and proper to keep his stake in broadcaster BSkyB.
In an interview with the Evening Standard, the Business Secretary also reveals for the first time that he considered resigning from Cabinet during the furore when he said he was "at war" with the media tycoon.
"I certainly felt rather low at the time because I was heavily criticised," he said at the end of a week that has seen the tables comprehensively turned between the two men.
"And I had broken the strict procedures that I could not discuss this [the BSkyB takeover bid] with other people, even though I thought it was a private conversation. So it was very awkward and there were queues of journalists outside my house for days on end.
"But I was persuaded to stick in there by family and various colleagues and I'm glad I did."
The furore broke when the Daily Telegraph secretly taped him telling an undercover reporter whom he thought was a Twickenham constituent, "I have declared war on Mr Murdoch and I think we are going to win". Mr Cable was at the time in charge of media regulation, including the £8 billion BSkyB bid.
He was humiliatingly rebuked by David Cameron and responsibility for media policy plus some 60 civil servants were all handed to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, a Tory who admired Mr Murdoch.
Today, however, Mr Cable feels vindicated. His spirits fully recovered, he joked of being "delighted to discover that everyone in Britain and the House of Commons now agrees with me".
Earlier, he had likened the anti-Murdoch fever to "the end of a dictatorship, when everybody suddenly discovers they were against the
dictator".
Asked if he thinks Mr Murdoch was a "fit and proper" person to own the 39 per cent of BSkyB he already has, the minister said: "There's certainly a big case to answer. I don't know whether they pass that or not, it's for Ofcom to decide."
But for his actions last year in referring the takeover to Ofcom, he said, it would have been "waved through" by now.
"There was very strong advice in Whitehall and outside that I had no basis for referring this," he revealed. "But I took independent advice which did suggest a serious plurality issue - and on the strength of that I referred it to Ofcom, who in turn said it should go to the Competition Commission. Had I not done that we would now be dealing with a fait accompli."
The effect, he said, would have been a "very high concentration" of media in one man's hands "that was potentially very unhealthy".
"There would have been a great deal of cross-promotion," he said. "As a result the group would have been much stronger than the sum of its parts and real plurality and choice would have been seriously threatened."
Mr Cable says he is "not into empire building" and does not want his old powers over media regulation back.
However, he is amused with a suggestion that perhaps a Lib-Dem minister in the Coalition should be responsible in future because they are the only party untainted by close association with the Murdoch empire.
"The Lib-Dems have gone out on a limb in the past to be independent, sometimes criticising proprietors like Mr Murdoch, and we've been caned in the media for it. We do collectively feel vindicated for it."
He thinks it "fairly obvious" that Rebekah Brooks was right to resign over the phone hacking scandal but that Mr Murdoch, whom he has never met, is ultimately to blame for what went wrong.
"Clearly as the primary owner the responsibility rests with him. I'm not trying to run the guy down. I think he is probably big enough to accept it's his responsibility."
Labour leader Ed Miliband "has had a good two weeks" he said but said the real test was just beginning: "I think what will now matter is which of the parties will have the courage to go ahead with the radical reforms that are going to be required to the oversight of the press, the competition rules and the concentration of ownership."
Reader views (39)
I don't agree with you Cable; I think you are nuts. There's one who doesn't then. I am sure there will be many more who feel the same.
- albert hall, hove england, 25/07/2011 16:45
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I still think Cable let himself and the public down with comments such as declaring war against Rupert Murdoch. You can't have politicans having a gung ho approach. Yes, cable was right about his judgement on Murdoch, but it was wrong of him to brag about it.
- W.R., London, 17/07/2011 14:34
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How typical of this big-headed politician to presume to say that everyone agrees with him. Well I don't agree with him.
- Michael Cawood, Wrexham, Wales, UK, 17/07/2011 12:53
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Has anyone seen that obnoxious little lick-spittle boy Jeremy Hunt lately?
Now that his chances of getting a well paid job for licking Rupert Murdoch's a*se, have gone up in smoke, Hunt must be feeling as sick as a parrot now.
Well, every cloud has a silver lining...
- John Smith, London, EUSSR, 15/07/2011 16:25
Indeed. Schaden is a dish best served freude...
- Giustina, London, 16/07/2011 23:54
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Shut up Cable ! You are a boring, smug, and sanctimonious petty politician.
- Bill, Islington in London, 16/07/2011 16:48
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The liberals knew Cameron was in bed with NI, none more so than Clegg who didn't do much to defend Cable, now they should ditch Clegg and get stuck in to all the tories who have been less than honest about NI.
- James, Grays, 16/07/2011 16:02
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hahaha, left wing witch hunt, "LEFT"!!! what a sun reader!!!! if anything vince deserves an appology from the tory PM who reprimanded him for actually having the gall to say what he thinks of this disgusting greedy man. this man that has ruined the lives of thousands of brits first hand, and ruined millions of british lives with his brain washing them into constantly believing the only way to sort this country out is to keep voting for more of the same. although he's not solely to blame, there's millions of brits out there that were ignorant enough to swollow this mans right wing, anti working class propaganda. you know who you are!!!!!
- tom, london, 16/07/2011 13:57
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Adam, london,
Just the response we would expect from a below average sun reader.Take those blue tinted specks off and the real world will look much better.
- jimmy, Camden Town, 16/07/2011 13:25
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Brown and Cable illustrate the sheer nastiness of the left wing witch hunt against Murdoch, and they do it so well.
Keep it up guys - your sanctimonious hypocrisy is great to see.
- adam, london, 16/07/2011 09:05
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Perhaps if the 'thinking' readers of the Sun, if there are any, showed their disapproval of Murdoch and his grubby outfit by boycotting the paper for a week or two, we may see the end of this vicious little rag.
Everything that Murdoch touches becomes coarsened and vulgarised. We have dozens of TV channels these days, but only the BBC consistently produced programmes of quality.
But we must be careful about what we wish for. With Murdoch's impact diminished, the Independent could go 'giveaway' and that would have a serious effect for the Guardian, unless loyalty is its saviour. The Guardian, remember, is the paper responsible for exposing News International's tactics.
- Dave, Devon, UK, 16/07/2011 02:17
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Join the club Vince. I declared war on Murdoch years ago, along with thousands of others. So your declrtion is nothing new; you're just jumping on the bandwagon, just like Clegg. If nything its Clare Short that should be congratulated. At last the filthy Sun is to be cleaned up and some decency and morals brought back into the public media.
- dhan raj, basildon, 15/07/2011 23:18
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Two reasons why Murdoch wasn't interested in the Libdems. Firstly, he knew they would never be in the position of power to do him any favours. Secondly, Murdoch, a rogue and scoundral didn't get where he is by not being able to judge fellow untrustworthy rogues and hypocrites. Everything their party has done since joining the coalition has proved him to be right.
- jimmy, Camden Town, 15/07/2011 20:21
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Vince Cable once again "considered resigning". How many times must this man show how petulant he is over matters of principle before he actually follows through with his after-the-fact declarations ?
Don't like Murdoch actions ? - then resign at the time, not trot out the threat months later
Don't like student fees ? - then resign at the time, don't try and sweet talk a couple of women engaged in a honey trap by referring to 'a nuclear option'.
You were selected for Government on a wave of public support after blasting the bankers. As Business Secretary what have you done to validate your electoral support ?
Nothing.
Have you considered resigning over that ?
- Jon, London, 15/07/2011 20:07
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Just before the scandal broke while Vince Cable was in charge with over 150,000 others I signed a petition demanding he be prevented from taking over B Sky B. A blind man could see Murdock had far to much power. Three of our last including Cameron bent the knee to ask for his media approval. In other words he was in effect appointing not only our PM's but our givernments. Clearly the B Sky B deal was the pay off.
When it was transferred to Hunt who seemed very minded to give it to him, we all signed further two petitions. The last ended up with Hunt on the Friday when the consultation period ended.
Fortunately the News of The World Hacking scandal broke and what remains of our Democracy was saved.
Now to get out of the most corrupt body on earth the EU. Where up to 95% of the budget has been unnacounted for according to the auditors for now 15 years in a row and over this time they have refused to sign off the books.
Lets send emails and letters to The RT Hon Cameron PM requesting he honours the undertaking given by the last three PM's including himself about giving the British people a Referendum on the EU maybe getting out of that corrupt body that costs us over 130 billion a year according to the Tax Payers Alliance . If we left we would NOT have to make all these cuts as the savings on membership fees, red tape extra food costs would more than pay for our deficit. Oh and trade We buy far more from them than they buy from us. Yahwehnews dot com
- Jas, Camberley UK, 15/07/2011 17:56
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My gist was that he wouldn't need a job with Murdoch, he could earn shedloads more going back to his old day job
- Matt, London, 15/07/2011 17:19
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"John Smith, I just wonder if you have Any idea what multi-millionaire Jeremy Hunt would need a job for?- Matt, London"
I guess for the same reason an Australian multi-billionaire is still working at 80. Certainly not for the money.
- John Smith, London, EUSSR, 15/07/2011 16:51
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John Smith, I just wonder if you have Any idea what multi-millionaire Jeremy Hunt would need a job for?
- Matt, London, 15/07/2011 16:37
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Its amazing how this entire thing with Murdoch is developing. Has anyone so far ever thought, of how big his global network is, of how many people work for him,what the wage bill is every month . I don't think so. When you control a financial empire as large as his ,you tread very carefully,as at the
end of the day ,Murdoch can say enough is enough and retire. closing down his News corp and other outlets and please tell me what the people who are now unemployed are going to do,that also includes staff from the UK . Where believe it or not we have a high amount of job less people who just havn't got a hope in hell of getting work. Think about that before you try to run this man into the ground.Please note I'm not conected with his network in any way . This is just economics .
- Hamilton Straker., Ealing West London., 15/07/2011 16:35
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Has anyone seen that obnoxious little lick-spittle boy Jeremy Hunt lately?
Now that his chances of getting a well paid job for licking Rupert Murdoch's a*se, have gone up in smoke, Hunt must be feeling as sick as a parrot now.
Well, every cloud has a silver lining...
- John Smith, London, EUSSR, 15/07/2011 16:25
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Most people agreed with his sentiments then. The problem was that he could not resist opening his big mouth to feed his ego and thereby giving Murdoch and his Tory cronies the excuse to push the matter into the long grass. His posturing set back the confrontation with Murdoch. It's just fortunate that events have brought the rotten edifice down despite Cable's cack-handed mishandling.
- corin, London, 15/07/2011 16:17
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It seems to me that Vince Cable's remarks were intemperate and, at the time they were uttered,unwise. The fact that subsequent developments have shown abhorrent practices within parts of News International does not vindicate his lack of restraint at an earlier time. Indeed even now I think MPs should stop grandstanding and treat Murdoch's forthcoming appearance before the Select Committee in a cold, but business-like way. All to often Select Committees give the appearance of Kangaroo Courts - think back to the treatment of the late Dr Kelly by a Select Committee. We need calm, forensic examination of what Murdoch has to say so that the truth is laid bare without the distraction of emotive, shouty aggression from MPs.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 15/07/2011 15:11
Spot on James, there was a very obnoxious Labour MP that gave Kelly a really tough time and in my view this could well have contributed to Kelly's decision to commit suicide.
MPs on Select Committees need to use the rapier and not th bludgeon in their questioning. I have already lost confidence in these Select Committees and their grandstanding and if the carry on like this the British public will as well. And it doesn't matter which party they belong to, they are all as bad as each other.
- Stephen C, LONDON, 15/07/2011 15:54
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Tempest in a teapot! So the Guardian and the BEEB, which have been losing eyes for years, FINALLY found something to hang around Rupert's neck. Make No mistake about it, this is nothing more than the Media Dinosaur's attempting to protect their ever diminishing turf. How about investigating where the Sun got the hacks from? Is the Met going to investigate the Met? Is Eric Holder going to return the money he got from Marc Rich? Yea Right?
- George, Bonsall, USA, 15/07/2011 15:18
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It seems to me that Vince Cable's remarks were intemperate and, at the time they were uttered,unwise. The fact that subsequent developments have shown abhorrent practices within parts of News International does not vindicate his lack of restraint at an earlier time. Indeed even now I think MPs should stop grandstanding and treat Murdoch's forthcoming appearance before the Select Committee in a cold, but business-like way. All to often Select Committees give the appearance of Kangaroo Courts - think back to the treatment of the late Dr Kelly by a Select Committee. We need calm, forensic examination of what Murdoch has to say so that the truth is laid bare without the distraction of emotive, shouty aggression from MPs.
- James Elliott, Eastbourne UK, 15/07/2011 15:11
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What are these politicians on? Do they really think Joe Public are as stupid as they hope we'd be?
Let's face it, political parties in the past have craved backing from NI & other such likes. Gordon Brown's ramblings the other day showed just how pathetic he is/was. When he was in power he & Blair loved having the backing of The Sun & News Of The World, however, when the tide turned, he turns into the spurned window!
Personally I'm hoping News International & Murdoch have juice on loads of politicians across the board & they spill the beans next week. At least that way they'll silence certain people in Parliament once & for all. Plus it could also mean that all political parties cannot expect backing from NI going forward.
Politicians (and Z-List celebs) are currently playing the "holier than thou" card, and to me that's more repulsing than any phone being hacked.
- Scott, Docklands, London, 15/07/2011 15:11
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I agree, antony- he should have expanded his comments thus: "everyone.. with a conscience agrees with me"- this would exclude NOTW and Sun readers, the happy, uncomplaining consumers of garbage.
- Inspector Cluebo, St John's Wood, 15/07/2011 15:00
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Not often that "everyone" agrees with Saint Vincent.
- Michael, Kensington, UK, 15/07/2011 14:51
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what utter claptrap from the people here. "Everyone agrees with me" - hardly when 2.7m bought the NoW and 2.8m buy the Sun and no matter how you distort the figures 100k writing to the Government through an orchestrated campaign and supinely copying the same e-mail doesn't prove that 60m hate Murdoch
- antony, london, 15/07/2011 14:41
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Well done Vince, an outstanding job you've done. I totally agreed with you at the time and I'm glad you've seen the funny side.
If only the Tories or the morons the other side had been bothered to do something about Rupert and News International but of course, they were too busy getting into bed with him just so that they can get his readers to vote for their respective parties.
- Steve, Labourland, 15/07/2011 14:30
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Having been born in Whitton (Near Twickenham)in 1937
I have always admired V.C for his forthright comments,
and there is a saying which is very relevant...''an old head is better than a bird brain",and well V.C must be congratulated for his stance.If only MPs/people of todays generation would listen to the ''older gents''then this Country would not be in the mess it is now in.The fighting spirit of the people today is lacking,we need people like VC to bring that spirit back into our life's,speaking out about what you believe in is missing
- EUROPEAN, LONDON, 15/07/2011 14:13
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Vince Cable was responsible for me bothering to vote at the last election. And although I was extremely disappointed at subsequent events, Coalition, my faith in this man's integrity remained. Good on you Vince. Continue to tell it as you see it.
- Franklin, Thornton Heath, 15/07/2011 14:06
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There are ways about going about Mr Cable and the way you did it was not the right way about it.
I'm sure at the time you could smell blood, but your a polictian and you know that these things need be done without the drama you had been showing.
- Mark, Central London, 15/07/2011 13:57
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Not sure why Cable should have resigned, Tojo- he was illegally approached by a reporter- evidence illegally obtained is inadmissible in a court of law so in effect it's as if he had said nothing about Murdoch. Cameron is free to resign for a) acting on that information in his pompous high-handed way and more importantly, b) employing a criminal like Coulson and thus debasing the office of Prime Minister.
- Inspector Cluebo, St John's Wood, 15/07/2011 13:56
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Quote:Vince Cable today says there is "a big case to answer" about whether Rupert Murdoch is fit and proper to keep his stake in broadcaster BSkyB.
Only an moron could need further proof that he is CLEARLY not!
- Fed Up, East Londonistan, 15/07/2011 13:46
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Not everyone.Cameron just agreed because he was out numbered 60 million to one.
- dave, london, 15/07/2011 13:46
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Well done Vince. Right again!
- COYS Switz, Switzerland, 15/07/2011 13:45
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Vince Cable was right. He managed to survive the vendetta against him. He truly deserves a greater role in British public and political life.
- RNOHF, London, 15/07/2011 13:45
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Perhaps if Cable had resigned at the time his gloating now would be completely justified.
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 15/07/2011 13:24
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I hope Vince Cable gets a large public apology from Cameron. Some hopes! Cameron is busy fending off the mud which is still coming his way for his "friendly" relationship with Coulson - I suspect there is more to that than we yet know.
- NMac, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire., 15/07/2011 13:24
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Vince Cable been proved right,he now must regain respect for being the only politician to actually say what most were thinking.This is the chance to rid themselves of Murdoch's protection racket.
- Honest John, London, 15/07/2011 12:58
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