The NUJ is calling for Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt (top) to resign following the claims that he was a "cheerleader" for Rupert Murdoch's bid to take full control of BSkyB.
NUJ general secretary Michelle Stanistreet said: "The revelations at the Leveson Inquiry confirm what many of us have suspected all along – the contact between News International and the Minister tasked with deciding the fate of the BSkyB bid was totally inappropriate.
"Jeremy Hunt has utterly compromised his position and cannot remain in post – he should resign now and have the grace to admit that his contact with James Murdoch was a grave error of judgement and a violation of his quasi-judicial role during the BSkyB bid.
"James Murdoch may think it’s acceptable to indulge in such ‘small’ mobile call exchanges and emails but providing confidential information to the Murdoch camp is not the proper and fitting way for a minister to conduct business. These revelations should be Hunt’s swansong - at least he will have more time to go to the ballet.”
Hunt has told the Commons he acted with "scrupulous fairness" over the BSkyB bid. His special adviser Adam Smith resigned after saying the the “content and extent” of his contact with News Corp had not been authorised by Hunt and had given the impression that the government had “too close a relationship” with the company.
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