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Leveson Inquiry: Rolling news cycle a battle, says PM Leveson Inquiry: Rolling news cycle a battle, says PM
(40 minutes later)
  
Prime Minister David Cameron has said the 24-hour news agenda is "a permanent battle" and politicians should pull back from it or risk getting "buried".Prime Minister David Cameron has said the 24-hour news agenda is "a permanent battle" and politicians should pull back from it or risk getting "buried".
He also told the Leveson Inquiry the relationship between the press and politicians had gone "bad".He also told the Leveson Inquiry the relationship between the press and politicians had gone "bad".
The PM said ties were "too close and unhealthy" on the one hand, but there was also a lack of trust on both sides. He said ex-PM Gordon Brown had "cooked up" an "unjustified conspiracy theory" about a deal between the Tories and media group News International.
The inquiry was a "cathartic moment" and a chance to "reset" relations, he added. Any suggestion of a deal was "complete nonsense," he added.
The prime minister is being asked about his links to Rupert Murdoch's media empire, which includes News International.
'Take care'
Mr Cameron is a friend of ex-News International boss Rebekah Brooks, and hired ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson as his communications chief.Mr Cameron is a friend of ex-News International boss Rebekah Brooks, and hired ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson as his communications chief.
The Conservatives have been accused of having a biased view in favour of the bid by News International's parent company News Corp to take over BSkyB. 'Take care'
But Mr Cameron said he had "never traded a policy" in return for the support of a media outlet, adding: "I think the idea of overt deals is nonsense… I also don't believe in this theory there was a nod and a wink and some sort of agreement."But Mr Cameron said he had "never traded a policy" in return for the support of a media outlet, adding: "I think the idea of overt deals is nonsense… I also don't believe in this theory there was a nod and a wink and some sort of agreement."
He said politicians "have to take care when you have personal friendships [with individuals in the media] but that can be done and I have done that".He said politicians "have to take care when you have personal friendships [with individuals in the media] but that can be done and I have done that".
He said he did have some conversations with editors in which he told them "we'd love a bit more support from your paper", but "not very often".He said he did have some conversations with editors in which he told them "we'd love a bit more support from your paper", but "not very often".
The prime minister's witness statement reveals he had 1,404 meetings with "media figures" - 26 a month on average - while in opposition between 2005 and 2010. Once in government, that fell to an average of about 13 a month.The prime minister's witness statement reveals he had 1,404 meetings with "media figures" - 26 a month on average - while in opposition between 2005 and 2010. Once in government, that fell to an average of about 13 a month.
"Most of these meetings were about me trying to promote Conservative policy," he said."Most of these meetings were about me trying to promote Conservative policy," he said.
In 2008 he took a trip to the Greek island of Santorini for a dinner with Mr Murdoch because it was a chance to "build a relationship" with him. In 2008 he took a trip to the Greek island of Santorini for a dinner with News International boss Rupert Murdoch because it was a chance to "build a relationship" with him.
A text message sent by Mrs Brooks to Mr Cameron in October 2009 was read to the inquiry in which she said she was "rooting for him", both as "a personal friend" and because "professionally we're in this together".
The PM said that was a reflection of the fact that the Sun had the previous week switched its support to the Conservatives.
'Respect''Respect'
The prime minister's appearance at the Royal Courts of Justice in London is part of the inquiry's examination of the relationship between politicians and the media.The prime minister's appearance at the Royal Courts of Justice in London is part of the inquiry's examination of the relationship between politicians and the media.
Mr Cameron said that relationship had deteriorated, meaning "a lot of politicians think the press always get it wrong" and the press think politicians "are just out for themselves".Mr Cameron said that relationship had deteriorated, meaning "a lot of politicians think the press always get it wrong" and the press think politicians "are just out for themselves".
"It's become a bad relationship. How we get it to a better place, I think part of it will be about transparency, better regulation, having a bit more distance, that will be part of respect."It's become a bad relationship. How we get it to a better place, I think part of it will be about transparency, better regulation, having a bit more distance, that will be part of respect.
"But respect has to come from high standards in both places... respect has to be earned on both sides.""But respect has to come from high standards in both places... respect has to be earned on both sides."
He continued: "When I say distance, partly what I mean is that the politicians... have got to get out of the 24-hour news cycle, not try and fight every hourly battle, focus on long-term issues and be prepared to take a hit on a story they don't immediately respond to."He continued: "When I say distance, partly what I mean is that the politicians... have got to get out of the 24-hour news cycle, not try and fight every hourly battle, focus on long-term issues and be prepared to take a hit on a story they don't immediately respond to."
Mr Cameron said the rolling, 24-hour news agenda meant newspapers had been forced to "turn up the volume" on their coverage, and focus on "finding an angle" rather than reporting facts alone.Mr Cameron said the rolling, 24-hour news agenda meant newspapers had been forced to "turn up the volume" on their coverage, and focus on "finding an angle" rather than reporting facts alone.
"I think that newspaper reporting and coverage feels like you're being shouted at rather than spoken to.""I think that newspaper reporting and coverage feels like you're being shouted at rather than spoken to."
The prime minister did praise newspaper campaigns, such as the News of the World on Sarah's Law, saying they were important in a democratic system and drew attention to issues that mattered to the public. He said the inquiry was a "cathartic moment" and a chance to "reset" relations.
But he said he believed television was the "most important method" of communicating with the public.
Resignation callsResignation calls
The inquiry is also likely to ask Mr Cameron about Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's handling of News Corp's BSkyB bid, which was abandoned in July 2011 amid outrage over the phone-hacking scandal. The Conservatives have been accused of having a biased view in favour of the bid by News International's parent company News Corp to take over BSkyB.
The inquiry is likely to ask Mr Cameron about Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's handling of the BSkyB bid, which was abandoned in July 2011 amid outrage over the phone-hacking scandal.
The inquiry previously heard that Mr Hunt sent a memo to Mr Cameron voicing support for the bid before he was put in charge of overseeing it at the end of 2010.The inquiry previously heard that Mr Hunt sent a memo to Mr Cameron voicing support for the bid before he was put in charge of overseeing it at the end of 2010.
Labour accuse Mr Hunt of being too close to News Corp, but the prime minister has backed Mr Hunt amid calls for him to resign.Labour accuse Mr Hunt of being too close to News Corp, but the prime minister has backed Mr Hunt amid calls for him to resign.
In her evidence to the inquiry, Mrs Brooks said she had exchanged messages with Mr Cameron about once a week while he was opposition leader - though that increased to about two a week in the run-up to the 2010 general election.In her evidence to the inquiry, Mrs Brooks said she had exchanged messages with Mr Cameron about once a week while he was opposition leader - though that increased to about two a week in the run-up to the 2010 general election.
Mrs Brooks and her husband Charlie - who went to school with Mr Cameron - have both been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to the phone-hacking scandal. Both deny wrongdoing.Mrs Brooks and her husband Charlie - who went to school with Mr Cameron - have both been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in relation to the phone-hacking scandal. Both deny wrongdoing.
Shortly after the prime minister arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice, the Metropolitan Police announced that three people, including a former prison officer, had been arrested as part of a probe into alleged corrupt payments to public officials.Shortly after the prime minister arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice, the Metropolitan Police announced that three people, including a former prison officer, had been arrested as part of a probe into alleged corrupt payments to public officials.
The Crown Prosecution Service has also announced that Guardian journalist David Leigh, who admitted hacking an arms company executive's phone, will not face charges.The Crown Prosecution Service has also announced that Guardian journalist David Leigh, who admitted hacking an arms company executive's phone, will not face charges.