Osborne denies BSkyB pact

George Osborne today denied attending a private meeting with the Murdochs in a Swiss ski resort months before the 2010 general…

George Osborne today denied attending a private meeting with the Murdochs in a Swiss ski resort months before the 2010 general election amid allegations that a deal had been done over the family’s plans to take full control of BSkyB.

Mr Osborne, the British chancellor, told the Leveson Inquiry he had met Rupert and James Murdoch, as well as Rebekah Brooks, in a chalet in Davos at the World Economic Forum but it had been the previous year.

It comes after newspaper reports suggesting a pact was made in January 2010 over News Corporation's plans for BSkyB.

Asked if he had attended a "private meeting" at Davos in January 2010, he replied: "No, it's not true."

Mr Osborne said he and David Cameron spent the 2009 meeting "gently" trying to turn the conversation to domestic politics and the looming general election but Rupert Murdoch was more interested in international economics.

He said: "There was a meeting in 2009 in a chalet with Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks.

"As part of the Davos conference people rent hotels and chalets. It was not particularly unusual it was in a chalet."

The lunch focused on the global financial crisis, he added.

"I remember David Cameron and I seeking to try to bring the conversation gently to domestic politics and what the Conservative Party was doing to put itself in a position to win a general election.

"But Rupert Murdoch was more keen to talk about the international economic situation.

"I don't think this was a crucial encounter."

PA