THE WITNESS: Former British Prime Minister John Major.WHAT HE SAID: Major testified that Rupert Murdoch tried to influence his government’s dealings with the European Union, even hinting that the politician could lose the support of Murdoch’s newspapers if he didn’t change direction.THE SETTING: Major was testifying before Britain’s inquiry into media ethics, which was set up after it emerged that reporters at a major Murdoch tabloid had hacked into the voicemails of people in the news.

THE ACCUSATION: Former British Prime Minister Gordon Brown says a Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid personally attacking him.WAR OF THE WORDS: Brown directly contradicted Murdoch’s claim that the then-prime minister had made an abusive phone call to the media mogul in 2009. Murdoch’s company says Murdoch stood by his testimony.THE BACKDROP: Brown is the first in a string of current and former political leaders to appear this week at a media ethics inquiry.