RUPERT Murdoch’s UK newspapers are potentially leaning towards backing Labour at the next election if the party’s polling remains strong, it has been reported.
The i newspaper claims that the decision is not a “done deal” after speaking to sources close to Murdoch and his son Lachlan, who took over as chairman of News Corp in September last year.
It would mean The Times and The Sun could back Labour and help Keir Starmer win the keys to Downing Street.
The Sun’s support of Labour and Tony Blair ahead of the 1997 election, where the party won a landslide, has been widely credited for assisting the party to win power.
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The i reports that there are still concerns among the Murdoch camp that Labour can “hit the home run” under Starmer by the time the General Election comes round.
Two senior sources close to the Murdochs’ told the newspaper the pair are “inclined to back Labour” but there remains scepticism over whether Starmer can keep Labour in the lead in the polls.
One News Corp executive, pointing to polling that projects Labour winning 45% of the vote share and the Tories 25%, said: “If you look at the polls right now, then you’re looking at a landslide for Labour.
“In years gone by titles like The Times and The Sun would have already gotten behind Starmer, but there remains some doubts over his and Labour’s ability to hit the home run.
“If the UK election was in May, then there would not be as much scepticism in the boardroom around Labour’s ability to balls this up.
“The bosses are inclined to back Labour, but it’s not a done deal because, like most people, we don’t expect the election to take place until around November.”
It was also suggested that there was an underlying “bitterness” towards Starmer after he backed the prosecution of former News UK chief executive Rebekah Brooks.
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After leaving his role as director of public prosecutions and prior to becoming an MP, Starmer said in 2014 it was the right decision to charge Brooks and other News of the World executives over the phone hacking scandal.
Brooks was editor of the newspaper between 2000 and 2003 before it closed down due to the scandal. She was cleared of any wrongdoing.
“I doubt Rebekah will be too keen on backing Starmer at the election as there’s no love lost there,” the source added. “But she’s the ultimate professional and she will also know what the readers of papers will want to hear when the election is close.”
Over the past two decades, The Times has supported the party that ended up winning the most seats in each election.
And, before Blair’s 1997 win, The Sun backed the Tories in 1992, later declaring that “It’s the Sun wot won it”.
The tabloid backed Labour from 1997 until switching to David Cameron’s Tories in 2010.
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