Murdoch Faces U.K. Media Ethics Panel

LONDON: Rupert Murdoch again faces questioning stemming from the phone-hacking scandal, this time testifying about his relationship with British politicians at the U.K.’s media ethics inquiry.

The new inquiry is in regards to claims that he used his British newspapers to influence politicians for the benefit of his business interests. Murdoch testified that he never sought favors from a prime minister to support News Corp.’s commercial interests. Murdoch said that News Corp. does not consider business needs when deciding which politicians to back in its newspapers. He was asked whether he had set a political agenda for any of his U.K. editors, and Murdoch denied it. "I’ve never given instructions to the Times or the Sunday Times," he said. He was also asked whether he’d ever used his media influence to boost his business, he again denied this. "We’ve never pushed our commercial interests in our newspapers," Murdoch said.

News Corp.’s closeness with U.K. Prime Minister David Cameron’s cabinet has come under scrutiny. James Murdoch testified earlier this week with details on the company’s relationship with lawmakers as it was seeking approval to buy the 61-percent share in BSkyB that it didn’t already own. The U.K. Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, the minister who had to approve the deal, has faced calls to resign, after emails were exposed that showed that Hunt, or his aides, may have leaked information to News Corp. during the deliberations. Hunt testified that the idea he was backing this bid "is laughable." Adam Smith, Hunt’s special adviser, did step down.