http://www.bbc.co.uk/

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch is flirting with the idea of backing David Cameron's Tories at the next election.

His UK papers include The Sun and The Times, and since 1997 he has been lending his support to Tony Blair.

But in an interview with his paper The Australian, Mr Murdoch was asked if he could see himself backing Mr Cameron next time. He replied: "Oh yes

Mr Murdoch also warned Gordon Brown if he succeeds Mr Blair not to "cheat" the British public with a snap election.

The mogul, who is a naturalised American after giving up his Australian citizenship, said British voters had the right to a chance to compare a Gordon Brown premiership with Mr Cameron's leadership of the Conservatives.

Mr Murdoch told The Australian: "We've been a very big supporter of Tony on big issues, he's been a very courageous world leader. We've also been critical of him on other things like Europe.

"But, for no reason other than the dynamics of British politics, we would like to see at least a year to 18 months stand-off between Gordon Brown and David Cameron so we can decide which of those most coincides with our views.

"Those two are going to decide the next election and I think the British public would be cheated if they only got a month or two's warning."

Both Mr Cameron and Mr Blair are expected to attend a global gathering of executives of Mr Murdoch's News Corporation in California next month.