Jeremy Hunt: We've been too cosy with NI bosses
Relations between Government ministers and the media became "too cosy" before the phone hacking scandals, Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt admitted today.
His comment came after it was revealed that Cabinet ministers held 100 meetings with executives - including former chief executive Rebekah Brooks - from Rupert Murdoch's media empire since the Coalition was formed - an average of once every three days.
Among the disclosures was that No 10 chief of staff Ed Llewellyn attended a dinner with former News of the World deputy editor Neil Wallis, who has been arrested, and Met chief Sir Paul Stephenson who resigned last week.
Lists of meetings published last night showed that Chancellor George Osborne met News International representatives 16 times since the election. Labour leader Ed Miliband had 15 meetings or social engagements, while David Cameron had 26.
Education Secretary Michael Gove met Mr Murdoch six times since the election, more frequently than any other Cabinet minister, including two dinners last month when the scandal was reaching a climax. Aides pointed out that his wife is a Times columnist.
"I think the relationships between politicians and the media has got too cosy," said Mr Hunt. He said David Cameron's decision to publish a list of each meeting from now on was "the best way of making sure that we don't have an unhealthy relationship" in future.
