Twitter: Murdoch suggests he may scrap Page 3 pictures

Media mogul Rupert Murdoch has hinted on Twitter that he might get rid of topless pictures on Page 3 of The Sun.

Mr Murdoch responded to fellow Twitter users who referred to Page 3 as out-of-date: “You maybe right, don’t know but considering. Perhaps halfway house with glamorous fashionistas.”

The practice of publishing pictures of half-naked women in The Sun newspaper has been going on since 1970.

Against

But many are against the photographs.

Actress Lucy-Anne Holmes started the campaign “No More Page 3”, which has gathered a petition of more than 66,000 signatures, calling for the editor of The Sun to remove the topless pictures.

The group tweeted: “We’re really pleased that @rupertmurdoch might b thinking about dropping pg 3 – It’s down to everyone who signed the petition & supported us.”

Protest

The campaigners have also held weekly protests outside the newspaper’s umbrella group News International.

Former Labour MP Claire Short tried and failed to introduce a private member’s bill to ban Page 3 in 1986.

A News International spokesperson said the company was making no comment about whether the Sun’s topless Page 3 is set to be scrapped.