Cameron 'met Murdoch on free trips' (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

Cameron 'met Murdoch on free trips'

10:18pm Thursday 23rd October 2008 in

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David Cameron accepted free flights so he could hold talks with media tycoon Rupert Murdoch on his luxury yacht off a Greek island, it was reported.

The Independent reported the Tory leader was flown by private jet to Santorini on August 16 where he joined Mr Murdoch for drinks on his 184ft yacht Rosehearty.

The Gulfstream IV belongs to public relations guru Matthew Freud who is married to Mr Murdoch's daughter, Elisabeth.

The Tories insisted Mr Cameron had done nothing wrong and the flights had been fully declared in the Register of Members' Interests.

A spokeswoman for Mr Cameron said: "Everything in connection to August 16 has been fully declared."

However the disclosure will add fresh fuel to the controversy surrounding shadow chancellor George Osborne's visit to the Russian billionaire Oleg Deripaska on his yacht off Corfu.

Mr Osborne has denied claims by the financier Nat Rothschild that he used the visit to try to solicit a £50,000 donation for Tory party funds, although he has admitted he was present when a possible donation was discussed.