Tony Blair: media vendetta against Cherie forced her to consider legal action 30 times in five years "I thought and do think that the attacks on her and my children were unnecessary and wrong," Mr Blair said. I just don't think it is part of the political debate. He added: "What I think is wrong is where sections of the media - and again I emphasise it is sections - where powerful people say, 'right we are going to go for that person'. And then what happens is they go for you. And, as I say, it's full-on, full frontal. That's not journalism. In my view it's an abuse of power. It's not necessary to do it. I feel that some of the stuff crossed the line. Earlier in the hearing Mr Blair said he only became the godfather of Rupert Murdoch's daughter as their friendship became "easier and better" after he left Downing Street, the Leveson Inquiry has heard. The former Prime Minister spoke for the first time about becoming the godfather to Grace Murdoch in 2010, as he was asked about becoming too close to the media tycoon. Mr Blair insisted he only had a "working relationship" with the newspaper proprietor, rather than a "cosy" one, while he was in office. But he described how this developed into a friendship once there were no longer the "pressures" of needing support from Mr Murdoch's newspapers. "I would never have become a godfather of his child on the basis of my relationship in office," he said. After I left I got to know him and the relationship can be easier and better. Now "s different and it's not the same, I don't feel the same pressures." He said the "appalling things" that happened at Mr Murdoch's newspaper, the News of the World, during the phone-hacking scandal were not a barrier to a "frankly healthier" relationship now that he is no longer prime minister. Mr Blair also revealed that he has been in touch with Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of Mr Murdoch's newspaper business, who has been charged with perverting the course of justice in relation to phone-hacking. He said he was "no fair-weather friend" to Mrs Brooks and told her he was "sorry" to hear about her troubles over the scandal.