"The old Establishment has always preserved its position by not being too exclusive - it has been wil..." — Andrew Neil

You know, Rupert Murdoch I've said is like an Italian when it comes to negotiations.

The Sun' and the 'News of the World' fell in line behind New Labour in the run up to the 1997 election, 'The Times' stayed broadly neutral and 'The Sunday Times' unenthusiastically Tory. After the election, 'The Times' quickly fell in line as the New Labour house journal.

That's the only time when newspapers have some influence, when they are pushing the British public in a direction they are already minded to go.

Well, one person whose company I enjoy is Charlie Whelan. He and I get on really well together.