Campaign round-up: David Cameron met with Sony executives to discuss Outlander before the referendum

WIKILEAKS has published an email claiming that Prime Minister David Cameron met with the chief executive of Sony in June last year to discuss the referendum and the TV show Outlander.

Many fans last year had suspicions that the showing of the series, which features a World War II nurse who travels back to time to meet a dashing 18th century Highland warrior, had been purposefully delayed in the UK until after the vote.

The briefing email from Keith Weaver, Sony’s vice president, worldwide government affairs, to the Michael Lynton, the chief executive, and other senior staff members, said that their meeting will focus on “overall investment in the UK” and, “the importance of Outlander (particularly vis-à-vis the political issues in the UK as Scotland contemplates detachment this Fall)”.

A spokesperson for the Prime Minister said that 10 Downing Street does not comment on leaked documents. Sony did not respond to requests for a comment.

The email was one of the thousands released to the public last year when suspected North Korean hackers stole the data in retaliation for the controversial film The Interview.

The film, in which James Franco and Seth Rogen play two American interviewers instructed to assassinate Kim Jong-Un, was at the centre of an international incident, that ultimately led to Sony cancelling the distribution of the film.

Last week Wikileaks published all the information gathered from the hack.

The editor-in-chief of the site, Julian Assange said: “This archive shows the inner workings of an influential multinational corporation.

“It is newsworthy and at the centre of a geopolitical conflict. It belongs in the public domain. WikiLeaks will ensure it stays there.”

At the time a spokesperson for Sony said in a statement: “We vehemently disagree with WikiLeaks’ assertion that this material belongs in the public domain and will continue to fight for the safety, security, and privacy of our company and its more than 6,000 employees.”

Davidson warns voters of the dangers of Labour-SNP link-up 

RUTH Davidson has called for Labour voters to “wake up” to the “threat” caused by the SNP, claiming the parties are preparing to do a post-election deal. 

Speaking in Glasgow yesterday, the Scottish Conservative leader said “the reality of what Scotland is facing is beginning to sink in”. 

Davidson pounced on comments by Labour’s shadow leader of the House of Commons, Angela Eagle, who said the party would speak to any other to “try and build a majority”.

The Tory MSP said: “Of course Labour is trying to deny it – Ed Miliband has to while Scottish Labour MPs are fighting for their lives. The moment those Scottish Labour MPs are gone, Ed Miliband will be straight on the phone to Nicola Sturgeon asking for her opening bid. And a few months after we Scots decided to remain within Britain, we will see the future of our United Kingdom being bartered away in a back room.” 

Meanwhile in Westminster, Prime Minister David Cameron proposed the cheap sale of up to £4 billion worth of shares in Lloyds Bank to investors, claiming it will help the government reclaim billions needed to combat the national debt. 

Labour Chancellor Ed Balls did not dismiss the plans, saying he would be “happy to have a look” at the plan, as long as big businesses were not the sole profiteers. 

The current plan would see taxpayers receive a slight profit from the money invested to bail out the bank in ‘08 and ’09, but not as much as experts initially predicted. 

Queen in impartiality warning

BUCKINGHAM Palace has warned the Westminster parties that the Queen must not be used as a “prop” or to “legitimise” any Government after the General Election.

Palace sources have said that neither Labour nor Conservative representatives must come to the Queen looking to deliver the Queen’s Speech until certain they can command a majority in the chamber. 

The Queen was last year accused of meddling in British politics after urging Scottish voters to “think very carefully about the future” when casting their vote in the referendum. 

A source from the palace said that the Queen was aware that the longer it takes a coalition to be formed after next month’s vote, the more likely it is the media will attempt to draw her into the decision-making process, which they said the Queen wishes to “avoid at all costs”. 

Senior politicians and advisers are said to have met with the Queen’s senior staff to ensure that the monarch remains impartial in the process of forming the next government.

Problems may arise if both David Cameron and Ed Miliband claim enough support to hold a vote of confidence in the House of Commons. A civil servant said in this situation the palace and the service would leave it to the politicians to sort it out and would do their best not to intervene.