David Cameron has defended Jeremy Hunt’s handling of Rupert Murdoch’s bid for BSkyB in the light of new evidence showing that Hunt was privately pushing for the takeover to be allowed before he was appointed to oversee the process.

In an interview on ITV Cameron said Hunt had acted “impartially” from the moment he took charge of handling the decision in December 2010 and that what he had said about it previously was not relevant. Cameron said he had no regrets about giving the task to Hunt, who is fighting to hang on as culture secretary following the revelation that he told Cameron in a memo in November 2010 that it would be “totally wrong” to cave in to those opposing the bid.

Hunt will explain his side of the story when he gives evidence next Thursday. Other witnesses next week include the former prime minster Tony Blair.

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