Former UK prime minister John Major: Rupert Murdoch tried to influence Europe policy

LONDON – Former British Prime Minister John Major says Rupert Murdoch tried to influence his government’s dealings with the European Union.

Major — who was the Conservative Party premier from 1990 to 1997 — says Murdoch had made his views clear at a private dinner.

Major told Britain’s media ethics inquiry Tuesday that Murdoch emphasized he was unhappy with the government’s European policies and made it clear his media outlets would not support Major unless he changed direction.

The inquiry was set up after it emerged that reporters at Murdoch’s News of the World tabloid hacked into the voicemails of people in the news.

Both Murdoch’s News of the World and The Sun backed Tony Blair’s Labour party in the 1997 general election, which ended Major’s rule.