Cameron reported over Rebekah Brooks meeting
By Ian Dunt Follow @IanDunt
David Cameron has been reported to the Cabinet secretary for meeting with Rebekah Brooks and James Murdoch just two days after taking away Vince Cable's responsibility for the BSkyB deal.
Labour MP John Mann wrote to Sir Gus O'Donnell accusing the rime minister of a conflict of interest and therefore a breaking of the ministerial code, although how the case would proceed is unclear given that it is the prime minister who must decide if there is a case to answer.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Mr Cameron and his wife had dinner with James Murdoch, his wife, Rebekah Brooks and her husband on December 23rd, just two days after business secretary Mr Cable lost control over the bid following his assertion that he was "at war" with Murdoch.
Many parliamentarians feel that Mr Cable has been largely vindicated by events since then, while Mr Cameron's hard-won reputation as a politician in touch with the man on the street has taken a battering as the details of his social engagements with senior media figures became public.
“I write to urge you to consider investigating whether David Cameron MP has breached section 1 of the Ministerial Code,” Mr Mann wrote.
“Section 1.2.f of the code states: ministers must ensure that no conflict arises, or appears to arise, between their public duties and their private interests.
“It is therefore incumbent on the prime minister to avoid both actual or the appearance of a conflict of interest between decisions he should make as prime minister and his close personal relationship with Rebekah Brooks and James Murdoch.
“A breach of the code appears to have arisen, please investigate.”
