Time to Make Knee Jerk Reactions

When Jeremy Hunt dared to give his statement on his contact with News Corp during the bid process he looked like a man caught 'in flagrante' trying to calm down an irate husband.

He had already spoken at length with Cameron and they had decided between them they should hold the line of denying any wrong doing.

It won't wash. Cameron knows a quick resignation means accepting liability and consolidating the perception of collusion between Ministers and big business. The line Hunt will try to use is that he referred to Ofcom, sought independent advice, PR men will say anything and it was all the fault of my special adviser. It's pretty shakey but could be sustained for a day or two. His suggestion of clearing the air by an early appearance at Leveson is a dreadful strategy. It would mean Cameron suffering three weeks of damaging headlines before Hunt's cross examination.

And when it comes to it I expect a nasty experience in store. Ministers cannot obfuscate, gloss over and interupt in court as easily as at the dispatch box or TV studio. Neil Hamiltion found that in his libel case against the Guardian when George Carmen annihilated him in less than ten minutes.

Rupert Murdoch hits the stand this morning and it may be he has a little more to say on the matter. It would only take one small prod to knock Hunt flying off the political cliff.