'I stand by my words on Gordon': Murdoch maintains former PM 'declared war' on his media empire

The war of words between Rupert Murdoch and Gordon Brown intensified yesterday as the tycoon stood by his claim that the former Prime Minister had ‘declared war’ on his media empire.

On Wednesday, Mr Murdoch told the Leveson Inquiry that an ‘unbalanced’ Mr Brown made the threat in a 2009 phone call to him after the Sun switched its allegiance from Labour to the Tories.

Mr Brown then issued a terse statement accusing Mr Murdoch of misleading the inquiry, saying: ‘I did not phone Mr Murdoch or meet him, or write to him about his decision.’

Refusal: Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown says he never spoke to Murdoch over his decision to switch the Sun newspaper's allegiances to the Tories
Insistent: Rupert Murdoch has said he stands by every word of what he said about Gordon Brown

Difference of opinion: Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown and Rupert Murdoch have given different accounts of their relationship after the Sun newspaper switched allegiances from Labour to the Tories

Yesterday, when Mr Murdoch resumed his testimony, he was asked about Mr Brown’s contradiction of his evidence.

‘I said that very carefully under oath yesterday and I stand by every word of it,’ he declared.

He went on to claim their row had driven a vengeful Mr Brown to order his lieutenant Lord Mandelson to make up lies about a ‘secret deal’ between Mr Murdoch and David Cameron.

Lord Justice Leveson has heard some contradictory statements from former PM Gordon Brown and Rupert Murdoch this week

Lord Justice Leveson has heard some contradictory statements from former PM Gordon Brown and Rupert Murdoch this week

The mogul told Lord Justice Leveson: ‘Lord Mandelson, who was then the most senior member of the Cabinet, charged News International with having done a deal with Cameron.

‘He did this under order from Mr Brown, knowing it to be false. That’s in his own autobiography, that he reluctantly went out to do what he was told, and I think that just reflects on Mr Brown’s state of mind at the time.’

The feud between the two men, who were once so close that their wives held a ‘slumber party’ together at Chequers, raises the possibility of Mr Brown being called early to give his version of events to Lord Justice Leveson.

Mr Murdoch yesterday submitted to the inquiry an exchange of letters he had with Mr Brown in April 2010.

The then prime minister pleaded with him to stop the Sun accusing him of letting down British soldiers in Afghanistan with a lack of proper equipment.

Labour went on to lose the General Election.

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