59% Brits say Hunt should resign after News Corp blunder; 14% say should remain in Culture post
Three fifths of the British public feel that Jeremy Hunt should resign from his position as Culture Secretary after new revelations from the Leveson Inquiry revealed alleged malpractice, our poll shows. Under one in five say that he should stay.
- 59% of Britons think Jeremy Hunt should resign from his post as Culture Secretary
- 14% say he should not resign
- 27% don’t know
Senior cabinet minister Hunt has faced allegations of unethical conduct after suspect emails to Murdoch-owned News Corporation regarding the proposed takeover of broadcasting firm BskyB emerged during the Leveson Inquiry into press and media standards.
In its coverage of the story, The Telegraph newspaper has suggested that as questions mount over Hunt's involvement with the Murdochs, Prime Minister David Cameron has opened the way for a Whitehall inquiry into Mr Hunt’s conduct and whether he breached the ministerial code.
Evidence of breach?
Adam Smith, former special adviser to Hunt and himself implicated in the emails concerned, has resigned over what he admitted was an inappropriately close relationship with News Corporation.
Hunt, on the other hand, denies knowing the extent of the contact between the media giant and Mr Smith.
Responding to criticism, the Culture Secretary has made 'all' his emails available to the Leveson Inquiry, stating he was 'confident they will vindicate' his position and that he handled the BSkyB merger process 'with total integrity'.
However, Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for an investigation over 'clear evidence of a breach' of the ministerial code, and has highlighted the fact that Hunt himself should be responsible for the actions of his special advisers. He emphasised, 'people need to know, in these difficult times… [that there is] probity and integrity in the way government is run'.
For his part, Prime Minister David Cameron has categorically denied any potential arrangement in which his government would help the business interests of News Corporation in return for Conservative party support.
