"It has been over a year in the making, cost £5m, and runs to almost 2,000 pages. Yet, within hours of the publication of the Leveson report into the ethics of the press, David Cameron rejected its key finding." The Independent
"There have been too many times when, chasing the story, parts of the press have acted as if its own code, which it wrote, simply did not exist. This has caused real hardship and, on occasion, wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people whose rights and liberties have been disdained." Lord Justice Leveson
Among Lord Leveson’s main findings in his mammoth 1987 page report were:
Among Lord Leveson’s main findings in his mammoth 1987 page report were:
• Unethical practices by the press extended far beyond the News of the World and went on for many years. Editors at a number of newspapers “talked and joked” about phone hacking but did nothing to stop it while unwanted intrusion and surveillance of celebrities was common place.
• Newspaper “recklessly” prioritised sensational stories, irrespective of the harm that they could cause to those affected and “heedless” of the public interest.
• Newspaper “recklessly” prioritised sensational stories, irrespective of the harm that they could cause to those affected and “heedless” of the public interest.
• Meanwhile proprietors and in particular Rupert Murdoch paid scant attention to regulating the activities of their newspapers that often “intimidated” or took “retribution against complainants or critics”.
The report was, surprisingly, much kinder to politicians who courted the press, concluding that there was no evidence they were unduly influenced by need to gain press support. In particular Leveson cleared the Government of being unduly influenced by News International in its decision over the BSkyB takeover - a finding criticised by political opponents.
Leveson said there was “no credible evidence of actual bias” on the part of the former Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt in deciding on the takeover, but criticised the role given to his special advisor Adam Smith, which he said gave rise to a “perception of bias”.
Leveson report: Volume One
Leveson report: Volume Two
Leveson report: Volume Three
Leveson report: Volume Four
Leveson report: Executive summary
Leveson inquiry: The essential guide
The report was, surprisingly, much kinder to politicians who courted the press, concluding that there was no evidence they were unduly influenced by need to gain press support. In particular Leveson cleared the Government of being unduly influenced by News International in its decision over the BSkyB takeover - a finding criticised by political opponents.
Leveson said there was “no credible evidence of actual bias” on the part of the former Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt in deciding on the takeover, but criticised the role given to his special advisor Adam Smith, which he said gave rise to a “perception of bias”.
Leveson report: Volume One
Leveson report: Volume Two
Leveson report: Volume Three
Leveson report: Volume Four
Leveson report: Executive summary
Leveson inquiry: The essential guide
