Britain’s leader defends ties to Murdoch organization

Story from The Takeaway. Listen to audio above for full report.

“You don’t make decisions in hindsight, you make them in the present,” British Prime Minister David Cameron told an unruly special session of Parliament this morning. “You live and you learn, and believe you me, I have learnt.”

The day after News Corporation CEO Rupert Murdoch, arguably one of the most powerful men in Britain, defended himself and his company over charges of hacking and bribery at his newspapers, Britain’s leader faced Parliament to defend his ties to the Murdoch organization.

Cameron has faced intense scrutiny over his decision to hire Andy Coulson as his director of communications, as well as his personal ties to the Murdoch family and current and former News Corporation executives. Coulson, who resigned from Cameron’s government in January, was an editor at News of the World during the time when the hacking and bribery occurred. He has since been arrested.

Yesterday, Rubert Murdoch began his testimony before Parliament by saying it was his “humblest” moment. But he did not take responsibility for the phone hacking scandal.

Murdoch also said he has no plans to stop running News Corp. The stock markets agreed and News Corp. shares recovered nearly a third of their losses.

> More on David Cameron’s testimony before Parliament from the New York Times.
> More on Murdoch and News Corp. execs testimony from The Takeaway.
> Report on Murcdoch family drama from PRI’s The World.

————————————————————–

“The Takeaway” is a national morning news program, delivering the news and analysis you need to catch up, start your day, and prepare for what’s ahead. The show is a co-production of WNYC and PRI, in editorial collaboration with the BBC, The New York Times Radio, and WGBH.