Brooks told Cameron: We're in this together The inquiry has focussed on the degree to which politicians have favoured the interests of media owners like Rupert Murdoch in exchange for the support of their newspapers. Mr Cameron told the inquiry that he had tried to persuade Mr Murdoch and other owners to back him, but said it was "absolute nonsense from start to finish" to suggest that he had offered for that support. "There was no covert deal, there was no nods and winks, there was a Conservative politician, me, trying to win over newspapers, trying to win over television, trying to win over proprietors, but not trading policies for that support," he said. Despite that assurance, the relationship Mr Cameron developed with the Murdochs and their senior staff came under intense scrutiny at the Royal Courts of Justice. Mrs Brooks sent the text message to Mr Cameron in October 2009, the night before his speech to the Conservative Party conference. Weeks earlier, News International's Sun had switched its support from Labour to the Conservatives. . Mrs Brooks wrote: "I am so rooting for you tomorrow not just as a proud friend but because professionally we're definitely in this together!" The text also thanked Mr Cameron and his wife for attending a News International party. "As always Sam was wonderful - (and I thought it was OE's that were charm personified!)," Mrs Brooks wrote, a reference to Mr Cameron as an Old Etonian. Mr Cameron's reply to the text has not been disclosed to the inquiry and No 10 sources said an initial search of records has failed to find any response. The inquiry has previously heard from Mrs Brooks that Mr Cameron would frequently send her texts ending "LOL," which he meant to indicate "Lots of love." Mrs Brooks is married to Charlie Brooks, a longstanding friend of Mr Cameron, and the couple have a house near the Prime Minister's constituency home in Oxfordshire. The Prime Minister faltered over suggestions that in the run-up to the 2010 election, he had seen Mrs Brooks every weekend in Oxfordshire. He later consulted his wife's diary and told the inquiry he had seen the former editor every six weeks or so. Written evidence submitted by the Prime Minister showed that in Opposition, he met Rupert Murdoch at least ten times and held a further 15 meetings with his son, James Murdoch. At one meeting, James Murdoch gave Mr Cameron advance notice that the Sun would declare its switch in allegiance during the Labour Party conference in 2009. Mr Cameron did he "did not recall" discussing broadcasting policy or the BBC with James Murdoch at that meeting, but said it was "unlikely." Mr Cameron also told the inquiry he will forever be "haunted" by his decision in 2007 to hire Andy Coulson as his communications chief, months after Mr Coulson resigned as editor of the News of the World over phone-hacking. Mr Coulson left No 10 last year and since been charged with perjury. The Prime Minister said that "with hindsight" he would not have hired him. Mr Cameron admitted discussing Mr Coulson's appointment with Mrs Brooks before offering him the job. He said he could not recall the details, but insisted there was no question he had hired Mr Coulson simply to curry favour with News International.