Editing Andrew Neil (section)

===End of the Murdoch connection===
According to Neil, he was replaced as ''Sunday Times'' editor in 1994 because Murdoch had become envious of his celebrity.<ref name="Summerskill" /><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4705343/The-Wapping-Kid.html|title=The Wapping Kid|work=The Daily Telegraph|date=28 October 1996|access-date=11 February 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226051020/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/4705343/The-Wapping-Kid.html|archive-date=26 February 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref> Many years later, in November 2017, former Conservative cabinet minister [[Kenneth Clarke]] said Neil had been removed because Neil's article about corruption in the Malaysian government of [[Mahathir Mohamad]] conflicted with Murdoch's desire to acquire a television franchise in the country. The Malaysian prime minister at the time told Clarke on a ministerial visit that he had achieved Neil's sacking after a telephone conversation with Murdoch.<ref>{{cite news|last=Ponsford|first=Dominic|url=http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/james-harding-was-sacked-as-times-editor-by-rupert-murdoch-because-he-backed-obama-cma-told/|title=James Harding was sacked as Times editor by Rupert Murdoch because he backed Obama, CMA told|work=Press Gazette|date=24 November 2017|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171222220136/http://www.pressgazette.co.uk/james-harding-was-sacked-as-times-editor-by-rupert-murdoch-because-he-backed-obama-cma-told/|archive-date=22 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The conflict between Neil and Mahathir did become public knowledge at the time.<ref>{{cite news|last=Davies|first=Patricia Wynn|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/neil-attacks-mahathir-lies-1429820.html|title=Neil attacks Mahathir 'lies'|work=The Independent|date=18 March 1994|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223044349/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/neil-attacks-mahathir-lies-1429820.html|archive-date=23 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="Murphy">{{cite news|last1=Murphy|first1=Paul|last2=Teather|first2=David|url=https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/feb/19/pressandpublishing.mondaymediasection|title=It'll cost you...|work=The Guardian|date=19 February 2001|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223042945/https://www.theguardian.com/media/2001/feb/19/pressandpublishing.mondaymediasection|archive-date=23 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> The British minister of state for trade [[Richard Needham]] criticised Neil and the newspaper for potentially putting thousands of jobs at risk.<ref>{{cite news|last=Davies|first=Patricia Wynn|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/newspaper-attacked-for-malaysian-trade-claims-1427679.html|title=Newspaper attacked for Malaysian trade claims|work=The Independent|date=8 March 1994|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223043455/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/newspaper-attacked-for-malaysian-trade-claims-1427679.html|archive-date=23 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref>

Neil's departure from his role as ''Sunday Times'' editor was officially reported in 1994 as being merely temporary, as he was to present and edit a current affairs programme for [[Fox Broadcasting Company|Fox]] in New York.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/profile-life-enters-yet-another-section-andrew-neil-an-editor-in-love-with-america-1434170.html|title=PROFILE: Life enters yet another section: Andrew Neil, an editor in love with America|work=The Independent|date=6 May 1994|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223042516/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/profile-life-enters-yet-another-section-andrew-neil-an-editor-in-love-with-america-1434170.html|archive-date=23 December 2017|url-status=live}}</ref> "During my time, the ''Sunday Times'' has been at the centre of every major controversy in Britain", he said at the time. "These are the kind of journalistic values I want to reproduce at Fox".<ref>{{cite news|title=''Times'' of London Editor Neil to Anchor New Fox Program|work=Los Angeles Times|date=4 May 1994}}</ref> Neil's new television programme did not make it to air. A pilot produced in September had a mixed internal response, and Murdoch cancelled the entire project in late October. Neil did not return to his job as ''Sunday Times'' editor.<ref>{{cite news|last=Heller|first=Zoë|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-show-that-didnt-go-on-1304767.html|title=The Show That Didn't Go On|work=The Independent on Sunday|date=13 April 1996|access-date=22 December 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171223044355/http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/the-show-that-didnt-go-on-1304767.html|archive-date=23 December 2017|url-status=live}} (reprinted from ''Granta'', April 1996)</ref>