View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

How Cameron flew out with Freud to meet Murdoch on his yacht

By PA Mediapoint

Tory leader David Cameron accepted free flights so he could hold talks with media tycoon Rupert Murdoch on his luxury yacht off a Greek island, it was disclosed today.

The Independent reported that the Tory leader was flown by private jet to Santorini on August 16 where he joined Murdoch for drinks on his 184ft yacht, Rosehearty.

The Gulfstream IV belongs to public relations guru Matthew Freud who is married to Murdoch’s daughter, Elisabeth.

The Tories insisted Cameron had done nothing wrong and that the flights had been fully declared in the Register of Members’ Interests.

A spokeswoman said: “Everything in connection to August 16 has been fully and properly declared.”

Although Cameron registered the flights last month, until now nothing had been made public about his visit to Murdoch’s yacht.

The disclosure is likely to add fresh fuel to the controversy surrounding shadow chancellor George Osborne’s visit to the Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska on his yacht off Corfu.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Osborne has denied claims by the financier, Nat Rothschild, that he used the visit to try to solicit a £50,000 donation for Tory party funds, although he has admitted he was present when a possible donation by Deripaska was discussed.

In the case of Cameron, it has emerged that his wife, Samantha, and two of their children were with Freud’s party on his jet when it left Farnborough for the Mediterranean.

The aircraft then stopped off in Istanbul to pick up the Tory leader – who was returning from a lightning visit to Georgia following the Russian military incursion – before flying on to Santorini.

Following drinks on the Rosehearty, Cameron and his family attended a dinner party hosted by Freud on his yacht, Elisabeth F.

Afterwards the Camerons were flown on the Gulfstream to Dalaman in Turkey where they joined Mrs Cameron’s family for a sailing holiday to mark the 60th birthday of her mother, Viscountess Astor.

Meanwhile, according to The Independent, the Rosehearty sailed on to Corfu where Murdoch held an on-board birthday party for his daughter, Elisabeth.

The guests were said to include Osborne, Deripaska, and Peter Mandelson, then still the EU trade commissioner.

Cameron’s latest entry in the Register of Members’ Interests declared: “16 August 2008, private plane from Farnborough to Istanbul for my wife and two children. Then from Istanbul to Santorini, and return to Dalaman, for myself, my wife and two children; provided by Matthew Freud, of London.”

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network