Rupert Murdoch has decided that he just can’t take it any more, writing a letter to The Guardian in the UK claiming to be misquoted. Murdoch writes:
“On a number of occasions now your paper has quoted me as saying: ‘When I go into Downing Street, they do as I say; when I go to Brussels, they take no notice.’
“There is much fake news published about me, but let me make clear that I have never uttered those words. I have made it a principle all my life never to ask for anything from any prime minister.”
So where does the quote come from? Journalist for the Evening Standard Anthony Hilton claims Murdoch said it to him as an explanation for why Murdoch was opposed to the European Union. In a piece published in February Hilton says Murdoch made the claim “some years ago”, so maybe Murdoch has forgotten?
“I have never had to ask for anything from any PM” – there, fixed the headline for you.
The editor/s working for Rupert don’t have to say a word, nor does Rupert Murdoch have to murmur a thing. Self censorship is the iron-clad order of the day. Nothing must be allowed to upset the marmalade.
Same goes for Prime Ministers. Why does anyone suppose Malcolm Turnbull hasn’t had the frighteners explained to him?