Leveson inquiry: Vince Cable confident in own judgement over BSkyB bid

• Vince Cable gives evidence to Leveson Inquiry

• Business Secretary defends actions over News Corp’s bid for BSkyB

• Nothing wrong with having ‘independent mind’ - Cable

The Business Secretary was responsible for deciding whether Rupert Murdoch’s proposed takeover of the broadcaster should go ahead before being stripped of his powers in December 2010 when he was recorded telling undercover journalists he would “declare war” on Murdoch while he was considering the £8 billion bid.

Mr Cable said today: “With an independent mind doesn’t mean with a blank mind.

“Most people in public life have views, opinions.

“Probably, if they are politicians, those views and opinions have been on the record and the requirement on me and people in this position is to set those on one side for the sake of making this decision, to consider representations, the evidence, the facts - and decide on that and only on that.”

The Cabinet Minister said he followed the maxim: “If you can’t ride two horses at once you shouldn’t be in the circus.”

And he defended the way he acted as he considered the bid, which has since been abandoned, which would have seen News Corp buy the remaining 61 per cent of BSkyB which it does not already own.