Incredulity greeted Rupert Murdoch’s claim at Lord Leveson’s press inquiry that he had never asked favours of politicians.
Throughout his long career, Mr Murdoch has often needed the forbearance (or active support) of governments to expand his media interests in the teeth of regulatory opposition. In Britain, there was the contentious acquisition of Times Newspapers in 1981, the launch of the Sky satellite broadcasting network in 1989 and, most recently, the attempt to take full control of BSkyB last year.
It may seem implausible that in his many meetings with ministers, Mr Murdoch never sought their support for these ventures, or to advance the interests of his large UK empire. But such is his character and the nature of British politics that what he said may not be as far-fetched as it sounds.