Brooks 'pledged support by text' (From This Is Lancashire)

Brooks 'pledged support by text'

12:57pm Thursday 14th June 2012 in National News © Press Association 2013

Rebekah Brooks sent a text message to David Cameron telling him "professionally we are all in this together" it emerged in evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.

In the message from the former News International chief executive - among a batch ordered by the inquiry to be handed over by NI - she also said she was "rooting for him" ahead of a major speech.

The text was read out by the inquiry's counsel Robert Jay QC as he grilled Mr Cameron about his close friendship with former Sun editor Mrs Brooks - questioning which the previously assured premier appeared more uncomfortable dealing with.

Sent on the eve of Mr Cameron's speech to the Conservative Party conference in 2009, and just days after The Sun switched its support to his party from Labour, it said: "I'm so rooting for you tomorrow not just as a proud friend but because professionally we are in this together. Speech of your life? Yes he Cam!"

Asked to explain the message, Mr Cameron said: "The Sun had made this decision to back the Conservatives, to part company with Labour.

"The Sun wanted to make sure it was helping the Conservative Party put its best foot forward with the policies we were announcing, the speech I was making. That's what that means." He went on: "We were friends. But professionally, me as leader of the Conservative Party, her in newspapers, we were going to be pushing the same political agenda."

Mrs Brooks on Wednesday made her first appearance in court on charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice over the phone hacking scandal.

The text also showed something of the personal relationship the pair enjoyed, with Mrs Brooks saying: "But seriously, I understand the issue with The Times. Let's discuss over country supper soon.".

She also talked about Mr Cameron's failure to attend a conference party thrown by NI - for which he told the inquiry the message was a reply to his apology. She wrote: "On the party it was because I had asked a number of NI people to Manchester post endorsement and they were disappointed not to see you."

Referring to his wife, she went on: "But as always Sam was wonderful (and I thought it was OEs that were charm personified)." It is suggested that the abbreviation refers to Old Etonians. Mr Jay said the text message had been supplied as the result of a Section 21 request to NI - "requiring people to disclose material".