Examination of Witnesses (Questions 320
- 324)
WEDNESDAY 18 JULY 2007
Mr Robert Thomson
Q320 Baroness Thornton:
My question is really along the same sort of lines and is really
to do with who you would back in a General Election. Would you
talk to Mr Murdoch about that and how would you reach a decision
if you were going to decide to put your editorial weight being
a particular political party?
Mr Thomson: Again, that is my decision. I have
approved leader writers and other sector specialists to whom I
talk about various policies. At the Last Election, we had a series
of leader meetings but each of the sector specialists came in
and talked about their area. At the last Election, to put it crudely,
the Times voted Labour and the Sunday Times voted
Conservative. At the last Scottish Election, the Times
voted labour and the Sunday Times voted Scottish National
Party, for some reason. So, there is clearly diversity within
the group and we have that diversity because, in the end, it is
the editor's decision.
Q321 Baroness Thornton:
So, you would not discuss that with Mr Murdoch?
Mr Thomson: No. Ahead of the last Election,
I did not discuss the Times leader line with Rupert Murdoch.
Chairman: So, when Tony Blair goes across
the world to talk, it is all a complete waste of time!
Q322 Baroness Thornton:
He might have his eye on the Sun.
Mr Thomson: With the Times.
Q323 Chairman:
With the Times but not necessarily with the other Murdoch
newspapers?
Mr Thomson: It is on the record that there is
a different relationship between the proprietor of the Sun
and the proprietor of the Times. There is clearly a different
relationship.
Chairman: Hopefully we will be talking
to one or two others.
Q324 Bishop of Manchester:
A quick clarification going back to blogs. Ruth Gledhill's blog
is increasingly widely read; I think that she is a very good journalist.
The reason why people read the blog is because she is the Times
religion journalist. Am I right in having taken from what you
said that you would have no kind of editorial control over what
she puts on that blog even though it is being read because she
is the Times journalist?
Mr Thomson: If Ruth were using that blog in
some political way and not in a religious specialist way, then
clearly I would have a conversation with her, but I have known
Ruth long enough and seen her work for long enough to realise
that there is no better religious writer in the world.
Bishop of Manchester: She is very good
and I was not suggesting anything other than that, it was the
editorial influence that you may have over those who write blogs
who are on your staff.
Chairman: We have run out of time. I
would like to thank you very, very much, Mr Thomson, for a very
interesting session. We may have other questions and perhaps we
can put those in writing to you. Thank you very, very much for
coming today. I know that it was with some inconvenience. Thank
you.
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