David Cameron and the P-word

Vince Cable.

One definition of perception: “the way in which something is regarded, understood, or interpreted”. (Oxford English Dictionary).

Fairly simple to understand, especially for a politician, you would have thought. It’s how the world sees you, through your words and actions.

So why does David Cameron appear to find it so hard to grasp this concept?

Showing loyalty to a colleague is admirable. Doing so at the cost of the P word is plain stupidity.

That’s what the Prime Minister seems intent on, however, as he keeps backing Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt over his handling of News Corporation’s bid for BSkyB.

Rupert Murdoch’s attempt to gain full control of the satellite broadcaster was handed to Mr Hunt in December 2010 to decide on. It came after Business Secretary Vince Cable rather recklessly told undercover reporters he had “declared war” on Murdoch’s empire.

Mr Cable’s duty had been to act in a quasi-judicial capacity. News Corp already owns 39% of BSkyB and wanted the remaining 61% at a cost of nearly £8 billion.

The Lib Dem veteran handed it to media regulator Ofcom to recommend whether it should be referred to the Competition Commission and Cable would have made the ultimate decision on the commission’s recommendations.

Quite rightly, he was stripped of that role. After all, how could someone who showed such enmity – even in private – be relied upon to reach a truly impartial decision?

He might well have carried out his duties and reached decisions without bias but in politics perception is everything.

Or is it?

The ball was handed to Jeremy Hunt. For those who may have forgotten, he signalled his approval for the News Corp bid on condition that Sky News would be separated from BSkyB and was expected to give it to the go-ahead, without referral to the Competition Commission, in July last year.

Then the News of the World phone hacking scandal broke and Murdoch dropped the bid, realising there was no realistic prospect of News Corp coming out victorious in that climate.

Mr Hunt was a supporter of the News Corp bid before succeeding Cable but that did not affect his judgment on the issue. We know this because David Cameron has told us so.

DC says he has no regrets about appointing Mr Hunt who has acted “impartially” since being handed this particular brief. The fact that Hunt had voiced his support for News Corp prior to taking over responsibility from Vince Cable had no bearing on how he did his job.

The prime minister said: “I hadn’t wanted to give anybody the job, I’d wanted Vince Cable, the existing Business Secretary, to go on doing the job, but that wasn’t possible.”

Ponder.

It wasn’t possible for Cable to do the job because of his feelings and views about Murdoch.

It was possible for Hunt to do the job despite his feelings and views about Murdoch.

Anti-Murdoch, couldn’t do it. Pro-Murdoch, could do it.

The P-word. Somebody give the Prime Minister a dictionary.