Phone hacking: Rupert Murdoch 'urged Gordon Brown' to halt Labour attacks

[babsbunny]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/apr/09/phone-hacking-rupert-murdoch-gordon-brown

Toby Helm and James Robinson

• Former PM was asked to 'defuse' NoW row, says ex-minister
• Ed Miliband calls for full details of 'criminal behaviour'

Rupert Murdoch used his political influence and contacts at the highest levels to try to get Labour MPs and peers to back away from investigations into phone hacking at the News of the World, a former minister in Gordon Brown's government has told the Observer.

The ex-minister, who does not want to be named, says he is aware of evidence that Murdoch, the chairman of News Corporation, relayed messages to Brown last year via a third party, urging him to help take the political heat out of the row, which he felt was in danger of damaging his company.

Brown, who stepped down as prime minister after last May's general election defeat for Labour, has refused to comment on the claim, but has not denied it. It is believed that contacts were made before he left No 10. The minister said: "What I know is that Murdoch got in touch with a good friend who then got in touch with Brown. The intention was to get him to cool things down. That is what I was told."

[crickets]

1. The plot thickens...

Getting really interesting now. Note the merger info casually tossed toward the end.