Leveson won’t comment on regulation

The judge who carried out the inquiry into press standards has insisted he has no authority to enter into the debate over the implementation of his report.
By The Newsroom
Published 11th Oct 2013, 01:01 BST
Sir Brian Leveson gives evidence to a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on press regulationSir Brian Leveson gives evidence to a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on press regulation
Sir Brian Leveson gives evidence to a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on press regulation

Appearing before the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, Sir Brian Leveson said yesterday that as a judge he could not comment on an issue of political controversy.

MPs on the committee expressed exasperation after he repeatedly refused to say whether rival proposals put forward by the Government and the newspaper industry complied with his recommendations. But Sir Brian said he could not go beyond what he had said in his report.

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“I don’t think I could do it because I would be entering into a political argument. I could legitimately be criticised for reaching conclusions about matters on which I had not heard evidence or listened to the contrary argument,” he said.

Sir Brian Leveson gives evidence to a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on press regulationSir Brian Leveson gives evidence to a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on press regulation
Sir Brian Leveson gives evidence to a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee on press regulation

Earlier this week, the Privy Council rejected the industry’s proposals for a royal charter establishing a new system of regulation.

It will meet again at the end of the month to consider possible changes to the Government’s proposed charter.

Related topics:GovernmentMPs