The former PM's relationship with Rubert Murdoch was part of the problem, though yesterday he portrayed himself as an avenging angel, writes MARK HENNESSY
GORDON BROWN is the son of a Church of Scotland minister, and he learned well at the knee of his father. In the Commons yesterday he gave a speech from the pulpit, with a clear enemy deserving the wrath of God: Rupert Murdoch.
Up to then the Commons had been relatively amicable, prime minister David Cameron seeking unity to repair some of the damage of the last week. Labour’s Ed Miliband, to a lesser extent, was of a similar mind, knowing Labour’s own sinful connections with Murdoch.
The co-operative air evaporated after Brown began his 32-minute speech. He does not believe in cross-party unity: the Conservatives have always been the enemy. They remain so still, followed closely by Murdoch and News International.
According to Brown, he fought valiantly while the Conservatives, “often using the same language”, took the same line as Murdoch on the BBC licence fee, its online operations (much hated by Murdoch’s son James), TV sporting rights and regulation.
His relationship with News International was "neither cosy nor comfortable", he said. Indeed, the Murdoch giant was frequently angry with him, eventually denying him the support of the Sunduring Labour's 2009 party conference.
News International should have been the public’s “greatest defence from power”, but, instead, it had morphed into “an intolerable abuser of power”.
Conservative MPs fumed, with some almost screaming “Sit down”, leaving Commons speaker John Bercow, who has played a not-insignificant role in the week’s events, hoarse as he tried to maintain order.
There is truth to what Brown says, but it is partial. New Labour wooed Murdoch. Lance Price, who served Tony Blair between 1997 and 2001, once wrote that he "seemed like the 24th member" of the cabinet. "His presence was always felt." Like others, Brown wanted to get along with News International. When he learnt that the Sunknew his son Fraser had cystic fibrosis, Brown and his key handlers worked with the tabloid to make sure the story would be presented sensitively.
Equally, he never disclosed, until Tuesday, that he had been told in 2003 that his bank account had been hacked; fearful, it can be assumed, that he would make his relationship with the powerful media group worse if he did.
Nor did he address questions about a "slumber party" in Chequers hosted by his wife Sarah for News International's chief executive Rebekah Brooks, Rupert Murdoch's wife Wendy and his daughter Elizabeth. The Browns also went to Brook's wedding when she was editing the News of the World's magazine.
Brown says he was blocked by civil servants from setting up a judicial inquiry in 2010 into the media because it was too close to the election.
Aside from frayed tempers during Brown’s speech, the mood in the Commons was good, particularly after news emerged that News Corporation had abandoned its bid to take over BSkyB. MPs had been set to call on Murdoch to do just that. For too long, said Brown’s successor Ed Miliband, MPs had been seen by the public as “timid, irrelevant, out-of-touch, but no longer”.
Cameron, on the other hand, has had a torrid week; but politicians always look better when announcing decisions, so he took full advantage when he unveiled plans for a judicial inquiry into the police and media.
Politicians, editors, police officers will face evidence under oath, he said. Emboldened, MPs are ready today to summons Rupert and James Murdoch and Brooks to appear next week before the House’s Culture, Media and Sport committee.
Its invitation was issued on Tuesday, but, so far, there has been no sign of the trio appearing. But they will face international embarrassment, if nothing else, should they refuse a call from the full House of Commons to appear.