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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| Rupert Murdoch changes his mind - not his heart - about EU membership | Rupert Murdoch changes his mind - not his heart - about EU membership |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Has Rupert Murdoch changed his mind about Britain’s membership of the European Union? An article in the Mail on Sunday states with confidence that he has made “a spectacular U-turn” by abandoning “plans to campaign for Britain to withdraw from the EU”. | Has Rupert Murdoch changed his mind about Britain’s membership of the European Union? An article in the Mail on Sunday states with confidence that he has made “a spectacular U-turn” by abandoning “plans to campaign for Britain to withdraw from the EU”. |
| It cites “a well-placed source” as saying: “Mr Murdoch’s view of the EU has mellowed in recent years. He is no fan of bureaucratic blocs but if it comes down to a choice between Britain getting out of the EU or staying, he would stay in”. | It cites “a well-placed source” as saying: “Mr Murdoch’s view of the EU has mellowed in recent years. He is no fan of bureaucratic blocs but if it comes down to a choice between Britain getting out of the EU or staying, he would stay in”. |
| Evidently, Murdoch now believes that leaving the EU could well damage British industry. Given Murdoch’s long antagonism towards the EU, the use of the adjective “spectacular” is warranted. | |
| If this article strikes you as far-fetched then note that it was written by the Mail on Sunday’s political editor, Simon Walters, who has previously demonstrated that he has an inside track on Murdoch matters. | If this article strikes you as far-fetched then note that it was written by the Mail on Sunday’s political editor, Simon Walters, who has previously demonstrated that he has an inside track on Murdoch matters. |
| You might recall that in February 2014 it was Walters who broke the astonishing tale about the close relationship between Murdoch’s former wife, Wendi Deng, and Tony Blair based on a cache of emails between the pair. | You might recall that in February 2014 it was Walters who broke the astonishing tale about the close relationship between Murdoch’s former wife, Wendi Deng, and Tony Blair based on a cache of emails between the pair. |
| At the time I thought Walters could only have obtained information about those emails through Murdoch or someone acting for him. | At the time I thought Walters could only have obtained information about those emails through Murdoch or someone acting for him. |
| My suspicions have been confirmed by Stephen Glover in his media column in the latest (July) issue of The Oldie magazine. He writes: | My suspicions have been confirmed by Stephen Glover in his media column in the latest (July) issue of The Oldie magazine. He writes: |
| “I have been told that a cache of documents was passed by a senior columnist on the Murdoch-owned Sun to Simon Walters... on its proprietor’s instructions”. | “I have been told that a cache of documents was passed by a senior columnist on the Murdoch-owned Sun to Simon Walters... on its proprietor’s instructions”. |
| So I’m willing to believe that Walters is on the money with his new Murdoch story about his stance on the EU. As the article states, if Murdoch throws his weight behind the campaign to maintain Britain’s ties with Brussels it will be “a huge boost to David Cameron”. | So I’m willing to believe that Walters is on the money with his new Murdoch story about his stance on the EU. As the article states, if Murdoch throws his weight behind the campaign to maintain Britain’s ties with Brussels it will be “a huge boost to David Cameron”. |
| From the early 1980s onwards, Murdoch’s best-selling daily, the Sun, has been a persistent critic of the European Union and all its works. | From the early 1980s onwards, Murdoch’s best-selling daily, the Sun, has been a persistent critic of the European Union and all its works. |
| Walters cites “another figure with close links to Murdoch” who pointed to the media tycoon’s “similar change of heart before last year’s referendum on independence for Scotland.” The “insider” is quoted as saying: | Walters cites “another figure with close links to Murdoch” who pointed to the media tycoon’s “similar change of heart before last year’s referendum on independence for Scotland.” The “insider” is quoted as saying: |
| “His heart told him Scotland should be independent, but his head said the UK should stay together. His heart says the UK should get out of the EU, his head says we should stay in”. | “His heart told him Scotland should be independent, but his head said the UK should stay together. His heart says the UK should get out of the EU, his head says we should stay in”. |
| Clearly, his head and heart have been in continual dispute. In March 2013, after sharing dinner with the anti-EU leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, Murdoch tweeted that Ukip’s electoral support was “reflecting opinion”. | Clearly, his head and heart have been in continual dispute. In March 2013, after sharing dinner with the anti-EU leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, Murdoch tweeted that Ukip’s electoral support was “reflecting opinion”. |
| If so, can Murdoch change that opinion? Can the Sun really turn on its head to tell readers that they are better off inside the EU after all? | If so, can Murdoch change that opinion? Can the Sun really turn on its head to tell readers that they are better off inside the EU after all? |
| This was the paper that published a series of front page attacks in the early 1990s on the then European Commission president, Jacques Delors. | This was the paper that published a series of front page attacks in the early 1990s on the then European Commission president, Jacques Delors. |
| Remember “Up Yours Delors” in 1990 and the call by the Sun two years later for readers to burn Delors in effigy on Guy Fawkes night bonfires. The paper has campaigned relentlessly against the EU ever since. | Remember “Up Yours Delors” in 1990 and the call by the Sun two years later for readers to burn Delors in effigy on Guy Fawkes night bonfires. The paper has campaigned relentlessly against the EU ever since. |
| Moving on 20 years to December 2011, when Cameron used Britain’s veto to block an EU-wide treaty, the Sun greeted the news with a splash headlined “Up Eurs” with a photoshopped picture of “bulldog” Cameron giving a two-fingered salute. | Moving on 20 years to December 2011, when Cameron used Britain’s veto to block an EU-wide treaty, the Sun greeted the news with a splash headlined “Up Eurs” with a photoshopped picture of “bulldog” Cameron giving a two-fingered salute. |
| And the Sun has long raged against the EU’s open borders policy because it facilitates an influx of what it regards as economic refugees. | And the Sun has long raged against the EU’s open borders policy because it facilitates an influx of what it regards as economic refugees. |
| One certainty is that Cameron will not be able to change that particular policy during his negotiations to reform the terms of Britain’s EU membership ahead of an in-out referendum. | One certainty is that Cameron will not be able to change that particular policy during his negotiations to reform the terms of Britain’s EU membership ahead of an in-out referendum. |
| However, a close reading of the Sun’s leading articles about the EU in recent years suggests that Murdoch’s line has been evident before. For example, on 10 December 2011, its editorial said: | However, a close reading of the Sun’s leading articles about the EU in recent years suggests that Murdoch’s line has been evident before. For example, on 10 December 2011, its editorial said: |
| “Britain’s interest lies in being in Europe but not surrendering to Europe”. | “Britain’s interest lies in being in Europe but not surrendering to Europe”. |
| But will that nuanced view persuade Sun readers to vote “yes” in a referendum? Can the Sun change public opinion to accord with Murdoch’s change of mind (if not his heart)? | But will that nuanced view persuade Sun readers to vote “yes” in a referendum? Can the Sun change public opinion to accord with Murdoch’s change of mind (if not his heart)? |