Culture Secretary cancels second part of Leveson Inquiry

The second part of the Leveson Inquiry into the press has been scrapped, Culture Secretary Matt Hancock announced today.

Mr Hancock also revealed the Government would repeal laws that could force newspapers to pay all costs for libel cases whether they won or lost.

He told MPs that it was in the national interest to protect the free press by cancelling the long-awaited second part of the inquiry.

The second phase of the inquiry – which was due to look at specific phone hacking cases and links between the police and journalists – was postponed during a marathon series of criminal inquiries and court cases.

The first part of the inquiry was published in November 2012 following weeks of high profile hearings involving newspaper editors and politicians.

The second part of the Leveson Inquiry into the press has been scrapped and will not go ahead, Culture Secretary Matt Hancock (pictured in the Commons today) had announced 

Former Prime Minister David Cameron ordered the inquiry into the conduct of the press at the height of the phone hacking scandal.

Mr Hancock told the House of Commons: ‘We do not believe that reopening this costly and time-consuming public inquiry is the right way forward.’ 

The Cabinet minister told MPs that newspapers had improved the way they dealt with complaints since the first round of the inquiry ended six years ago.

He said that the independent press regulator, IPSO, largely met the demands for tighter rules from judge Sir Brian Leveson in his inquiry. 

Mr Hancock said that the independent press regulator, IPSO, largely met the demands for tighter rules from judge Sir Brian Leveson (file image) in his inquiry

Mr Hancock said that the independent press regulator, IPSO, largely met the demands for tighter rules from judge Sir Brian Leveson (file image) in his inquiry

Mr Hancock highlighted reforms to the police as well as the challenges faced by publishers, especially local newspapers.

He said: ‘The world has changed since the Leveson Inquiry was established in 2011.

WHAT WAS THE LEVESON INQUIRY AND WHAT WAS PART TWO DUE TO STUDY?

The Leveson Inquiry was a judge-led public inquiry announced by David Cameron in response to allegations of phone hacking in July 2011.

It was created as a two-part inquiry to allow a general study of the conduct of the press in Britain and a specific probe into alleged criminal wrong doing.

The first part of the inquiry, run by Lord Justice Brian Leveson, took evidence in public hearings from newspapers, politicians and victims of press wrongdoing.

It produced a report in November 2012, recommending a new regulator backed up by new laws.

Newspapers refused to cooperate with the Government-backed regulator and set up their own independent watchdog, IPSO, instead.

The second phase of the inquiry was postponed while criminal investigations and trials were concluded.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock announced today it would now not go ahead following a government consultation on whether it was still needed.  

‘Since then we’ve seen a seismic change in the media landscape.

‘The work of the inquiry and the reforms since have had a huge impact on public life.’  

Mr Hancock also announced that the Government will not put into effect a controversial measure, which would have required media organisations to sign up to a state-backed regulator or risk having to pay legal costs in both sides of a libel case, even if they won.

Ministers will seek to repeal the measure, contained in Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, ‘at the earliest opportunity’, he told MPs. 

Section 40 was written into law in 2013 but has never been implemented by ministers. 

Mr Hancock said his decision was fuelled by a change in the media landscape, insisting that falling newspaper circulations changed the need for an inquiry.

He said the rise of social media since the first Leveson report was published also changed the case for whether to go ahead.

The Culture Secretary said the changes meant much of what might have been achieved in Leveson part two was already in place.  

The decision was condemned by shadow culture secretary Tom Watson, who said the Government had been waiting for an opportunity to ‘break their promises’.

The decision was condemned by shadow culture secretary Tom Watson, who said the Government had been waiting for an opportunity to 'break their promises'

The decision was condemned by shadow culture secretary Tom Watson, who said the Government had been waiting for an opportunity to ‘break their promises’

‘This announcement, conveniently timed to be buried under a flurry of snow, is a disappointment, a breach of trust and a bitter blow to the victims of press intrusion,’ Mr Watson said.

‘They didn’t really mean it – they were waiting for the wind to change, for the fuss to die down.’

WHAT IS SECTION 40 AND WHY IS IT BEING SCRAPPED?

The first Leveson Inquiry report recommended new laws that would penalise newspapers for refusing to sign up to a state-backed press regulator.

The provision – which threatened to impose all costs for libel cases on newspapers whether they won or lost – was written into law in 2013.

Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act implemented the recommendation but was bitterly opposed by the press on the grounds it could chill free speech.

Despite it being made law, ministers have never implemented it meaning no newspaper has been hit by the higher costs.

The Government has promised to repeal the provision to take away the threat it could be implemented in future. 

The Government received 174,730 direct responses to its consultation into whether the Leveson Inquiry should be re-opened, along with petitions bearing 200,428 signatories.

Some 66 per cent of direct respondents thought that Part 2 of the inquiry should be terminated, compared to 12 per cent who thought it should continue, said the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.

An overwhelming 79 per cent favoured full repeal of Section 40, with many expressing concerns that it would have a ‘chilling effect’ on the freedom of the press. Just 7 per cent said the measure should be implemented in full.

Two petitions – one organised by 38 degrees and bearing 130,120 signatures, and the other from Avaaz with 70,308 signatures – both favoured going ahead with Part 2 of the Inquiry.

Senior judge Sir Brian Leveson told the consultation that Part 2 should not continue on the same terms, but should continue with amended terms of references in certain specific areas. He made clear he did not see himself chairing any future inquiry.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, who himself was a victim of phone hacking, told the Commons that Mr Hancock’s statement was like ‘another little knife’ to the heart.

He said: ‘Having spent many hours with the Dowler family and with Christopher Jefferies and with many others can I just say on behalf of all of the victims that many of us will feel that the Secretary State has just shoved another little knife in our heart.

‘In all honesty we had hoped that the promises were real promises, real promises that we would get to the truth.’

He added: ‘We should no longer cowed by press barons, we should be able to do what is right for society, so I simple ask if everything he has said today is true why on earth did the Government make all those promises in the past and why did he vote for the legislation?’

Mr Hancock, in reply, said that the ‘world had changed’ since the Leveson Inquiry.

 

 



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