Photograph by Marc Müller/MSC
Former prime minister Tony Blair allegedly offered to become an unofficial advisor to Rupert Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks during the phone hacking scandal according to an email shown to the jury at the Old Bailey.
The email from Rebekah Brooks to James Murdoch, dated from 11th July 2011, outlined an hour-long conversation between her and Blair in which he allegedly offered to unofficial help.
The email was sent at the height of the scandal in which the UK government were being accused of conspiring with Murdoch, and being too closely entwined with Murdoch’s business empire which included the News Of The World, The Sun, and The Times newspapers, as well as pay television platform Sky.
Blair allegedly told Brooks that an independent investigation in the style of the Hutton Inquiry could be set up, which could “clear” her name, and the scandal would blow over. The Hutton Report has been widely criticised as a “whitewash” in clearing the UK government of underhanded tactics in the build up to the Iraq war.
The email goes on to claim that Blair could be on hand to advise Rupert Murodch if needed, but the offer should remain secret, saying:
He is available for you, KRM [Rupert Murdoch] and me as an unofficial adviser but needs to be between us.
The message from Brooks to Murdoch was entered into evidence by the prosecution during the trial of Rebekkah Brooks at the Old Bailey, where she and six co-defendants are accused of conspiracy to hack mobile phones and make illegal payment to public officials.
