Cameron “too close'' to Murdoch empire

Prime Minister David Cameron was on Saturday accused of being “too close'' to Rupert Murdoch's disgraced media group News International after the government released records showing he met 26 Murdoch executives since moving into Downing Street 15 months ago.

Mr. Murdoch's son James, chairman of News International, and its former chief executive Rebekah Brooks stayed at the Prime Minister's official weekend retreat, Chequers. He also met them socially — including at a Christmas dinner hosted by Ms. Brooks. Mr. James Murdoch was also a guest. While Mr. Cameron also met journalists and officials from other newspapers, he had a maximum number of meetings with those from the Murdoch group.

“The 26 meetings or events involving News International figures compares with nine involving Telegraph Media Group figures; four meetings involving Associated Newspapers, publisher of the Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday; four meetings involving the Evening Standard,'' the BBC pointed out.

Mr. Cameron was accused of showing “poor judgment'' but Foreign Secretary William Hague defended his boss saying it was “not surprising that in a democratic country there is some contact between leaders” and media owners.

“I'm not embarrassed by it in any way,'' he said.