PM defends stance on Hunt and BSkyB (From Thisisdorset)

PM defends stance on Hunt and BSkyB

9:18am Sunday 3rd June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

David Cameron has defended his refusal to launch an investigation into Jeremy Hunt - insisting the Culture Secretary acted "wisely and fairly" and had given "a good account of himself".

Mr Hunt held on to his job after Downing Street said his evidence to the Leveson Inquiry on Thursday showed he "acted properly" in his handling of the News Corporation bid for BSkyB.

But the Prime Minister is under pressure to launch an investigation into claims that his Cabinet colleague breached the ministerial code.

He also faces questions about his own judgment in appointing Mr Hunt to adjudicate on the proposed takeover despite knowing of his personal sympathies for the Murdoch media empire.

But despite the emergence, in evidence disclosed to Leveson, of pro-bid text messages sent by Mr Hunt on the day he was handed responsibility, Mr Cameron said he had acted entirely properly.

"The advice I was given was that what mattered was not what Jeremy Hunt had said publicly or privately but how he was going to conduct himself during the bid," he told BBC1's Andrew Marr Show.

"That's how I think we should judge him: did he adjudicate this bid wisely and fairly?

"And he did. He took legal advice at every stage, and he followed that legal advice and he did many things that were not in the interests of the Murdochs or BSkyB and that side of things.

"And I think he gave a good account of himself to the Leveson Inquiry, he's given a good account of himself to Parliament, and I think that's the key point."

Mr Cameron said he had "looked carefully" at pro-Murdoch public statements made by Mr Hunt and taken legal advice before transferring bid responsibility to him from Vince Cable.