The research, carried out by the Bureau
of Investigative Journalism, is deeply embarrassing for Mr Cameron who
is accused of being too cosy with news international in the wake of the
phone hacking scandal.

Labour MP Paul Farrelly, who sits on the Culture, media and Sport select
committee, said yesterday: “These statistics reinforce concerns that
News International’s tentacles were everywhere just at the time when Rupert
Murdoch was trying to clinch the biggest deal of his life.

“At the same time, it was always on Murdoch’s agenda to cut the BBC down
and we can only suspect Murdoch and his advisers used these sport and
entertainment junkets as an opportunity to outline his agenda in this area.”