Hacking inquiry – Hacked off

Rebekah Brooks and her husband have been charged alongside five other people today with perverting the course of justice. The former News International CEO and her husband Charlie Brooks, who was charged with the same offence, released a statement earlier today before an official announcement by the Crown Prosecution Service. It stated: “We deplore this [...]

“The Hacked Off campaign believes the CPS decision to charge Rebekah Brooks and others means a welcome opportunity to get to the bottom of accusations that have so far been the subject of intense speculation by the media. “We note Ms Brooks’ expression of concern about ‘posturing by the CPS’. Hacked Off wishes there had [...]

Alastair Campbell returned to the Leveson Inquiry today to deny an “express deal” between Tony Blair and Rupert Murdoch. The former Labour spin doctor said Murdoch turned his newspaper’s support to the party after it became obvious Blair would win the 1997 general election. He admitted the Sun was seen as a “significant player” in [...]

David Cameron was “too close” to senior media figures, a former cabinet secretary has told the Leveson Inquiry. Lord O’Donnell said he agreed with comments made by David Cameron on his relationships with editors and proprietors. In a BBC interview earlier this year, the prime minister admitted he had become too close to newspaper proprietors and executives, [...]

News International has today called the suggestion Rupert Murdoch struck a secret deal with Margaret Thatcher “a flight from reality”. Speaking at the Leveson Inquiry, Rhodri Davies QC, representing the company, said an opening statement to module 3 of the inquiry, examining the relationship between politicians and the press, unfairly represented the former prime minister’s [...]

The Leveson Inquiry resumed this week; with widely publicised evidence from former News of the World and Number 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks.  There were also a number of other important developments with the Metropolitan Police reporting their investigation into whether Milly Dowler’s voicemails were deleted.  Robert Jay QC officially began module three [...]