Alex Salmond denies wrongdoing over Rupert Murdoch dealings

First Minister Alex Salmond today denied any wrongdoing in his dealings with Rupert Murdoch.

Calls have been made by opposition leaders for Mr Salmond to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament to clarify his dealings with Murdoch.

• Labour, Tories, and Lib Dems say Salmond must answer questions over News International.

• Calls come after claims Salmond aimed to lobby UK culture secretary over proposed BkyB takeover.

• SNP leader says he would be “delighted” to appear before the Leveson inquiry.

Opposition leaders at Holyrood had called for Mr Salmond to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament on his dealings with the mogul’s media empire.

The calls came after an email from a senior figure at News Corporation suggesting Mr Salmond would call UK Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt “whenever we need him to”.

At the Leveson Inquiry yesterday, it emerged that News Corp’s director of public affairs Frederic Michel emailed James Murdoch and said: “I met with Alex Salmond’s adviser today. He will call Hunt whenever we need him to.”

A spokesman for the First Minister had already said that Mr Salmond “has never spoken to or corresponded with Jeremy Hunt on this issue”.

Mr Hunt has defended his conduct during News Corporation’s takeover bid for BSkyB in a statement to the House of Commons.

Scottish Labour leader Johann Lamont, along with Conservative leader Ruth Davidson and Liberal Democrat leader Willie Rennie, said the First Minister “must make a statement on his relationship with Rupert Murdoch, James Murdoch and News International”.

In a joint statement, the three said: “Alex Salmond must tell us whether or not he offered to lobby the UK Government on behalf of the Murdoch family and News International with regard to their proposed takeover of BskyB.

“It is an affront to Scottish democracy that while the Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt MP, is making a statement on the matter, the First Minister refuses to make a statement to the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood.”

They insisted that “in the interests of Scottish democracy and in the interests of the Scottish people”, Mr Salmond shold make a statement to MSPs today.

After Mr Hunt’s special adviser resigned, Labour also said Mr Salmond’s adviser must answer questions.

Adam Smith, who had been an adviser to the Culture Secretary, stood down, admitting: “I appreciate that my activities at times went too far.”

A letter from Mr Salmond to James Murdoch from January last year recalled that the two men had discussed “business opportunities for BSkyB in Scotland” over lunch in London.

The letter states: “I look forward to continuing our conversation on BSkyB’s presence in Scotland. I would also enjoy the opportunity to reciprocate your hospitality here in Scotland.

“Therefore, I very much hope that you would be able to join me for dinner at Bute House at some point in the next two months.”

Mr Salmond has accepted an invitation to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry and his spokesman said: “He looks forward to attending and to reiterating these key points to the inquiry.”