David Cameron Too Close to Rupert Murdoch According to his Witney Constituents

Prime Minister David Cameron is too close to the media tycoon Rupert Murdoch, according to a poll of his own constituents.

Cameron and his government have been facing scrutiny over connections with News Corporation and News International, fuelled by allegations over his friendship with former NI chief executive Rebekah Brooks.

The prime minister has admitted a friendship with Brooks and her horse trainer husband Charlie, who are also prominent members of the influential Chipping Norton in his constituency of Witney - set along with Cameron and his wife Samantha.

Now a ComRes poll, carried out in Witney, Oxfordshire, has shown half of the 500 respondents agree that they believe Cameron to be too close to Murdoch.

Cameron's relationships and therefore the extent that his image is tainted by the NotW phone hacking scandal, are set to come under the spotlight as Andy Coulson, a former editor of NotW and communications director for the prime minister, gives evidence at the Leveson inquiry into press ethics. Brooks will also give evidence the following day.

The poll may show a turn in the tide of public opinion for Cameron in his constituency, with 54 percent believing the coalition had failed to do enough to stop a double-dip recession. However 61 percent believe he still understands their needs.

Just over half of respondents believe he is doing a good job as prime minister, with 45 percent claiming that they are disappointed with his performance.

Recent revelations made in biography of Cameron that he sent repeated text messages to Brooks, highlighting a friendship which Labour leader Ed Miliband claimed as proof that the prime minister "sticks up for the wrong people".

At the last election, Cameron won Witney with a 22,740 majority. Of the poll respondents, only 29 percent said they would vote Conservative.