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David Cameron 'tried to get Daily Mail editor sacked' over Brexit

David Cameron 'tried to get Daily Mail editor sacked' over Brexit

David Cameron has been accused of trying to get the editor of the Daily Mail sacked over the paper's strident backing for Brexit.

According to BBC Newsnight, the former Prime Minister lobbied to have Paul Dacre removed during a meeting with the paper's proprietor, Lord Rothermere.

It is thought Mr Cameron had grown increasingly frustrated with the Mail's vehement anti-EU stance and urged Lord Rothermere to temper the tone of his paper.

Mr Cameron is also reported to have met with Mr Dacre on 2 February over his "new settlement" with the EU - the deal Mr Cameron struck with the other 27 EU states in an attempt to change Britain's future in Europe – and asked him to "cut him some slack"..

Instead, the Mail savaged the PM over the deal, describing it as Mr Cameron's "Great Delusion".

The paper has also repeatedly attacked Mr Cameron's government over levels of immigration, which it has long claimed are too high.

The Mail came out staunchly in favour of Brexit on 21 June, two days before the referendum.

In a two-page editorial, tt said that "by any calculation" Britain would face higher tariff and economic uncertainty, saying it was "not the time to risk the peace and prosperity" of the UK.

The Mail's sister publication The Mail on Sunday - which is a separate publication with a different editorial team - urged its readers to vote Remain.

A spokesman for Lord Rothermere refused to confirm or deny the claims.

A spokesman for Mr Cameron said: "It is wrong to suggest that David Cameron believed he could determine who edits the Daily Mail.

"It is a matter of public record that he made the case that it was wrong for newspapers to argue that we give up our membership of the EU.

"He made this argument privately to the editor of the Daily Mail, Paul Dacre, and its proprietor, Lord Rothermere."

In March, the Daily Mail and The Sun were singled out in a report on “hate speech” and discrimination in the UK.

The European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI) took aim at some British media outlets, particularly tabloid newspapers, for “offensive, discriminatory and provocative terminology

The paper also drew widespread condemnation for describing High Court judges as "Enemies of the People".