Leveson publishes report on press

Nov 29 2012

Lord Justice Leveson's long-awaited report into press standards is set to be published amid fears its recommendations could throw the Government into turmoil.

The 2,000-page document is due to be unveiled at 1.30pm, with the judge widely expected to suggest a new newspaper regulator underpinned by law.

David Cameron set up the Leveson Inquiry in July last year in response to revelations that the News of the World commissioned a private detective to hack murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone after she disappeared in 2002.

The probe, set to cost around £6 million overall, heard months of dramatic evidence from celebrities, media figures, politicians and the police.

The Prime Minister yesterday pledged to seek cross-party consensus on a new regulatory system, but faces an uphill struggle to overcome deep divisions in the coalition and among his own MPs.

Mr Cameron is due to respond to the report in the Commons this afternoon - but the Liberal Democrats have already suggested Nick Clegg could make a separate statement.

The Deputy Prime Minister is reportedly ready to support the rapid creation of a regulator with statutory underpinning, a move that would be opposed by many Tories, and Mr Cameron is thought to be resisting.

The pair have been poring over the report trying to agree a joint approach since half-a-dozen advance copies were delivered to Downing Street yesterday morning.

Asked about press regulation as he took questions in the Commons, Mr Cameron said: "This Government set up Leveson because of unacceptable practices in parts of the media and because of a failed regulatory system.

"I think we should try and work across party lines on this issue, it is right to meet with other party leaders about this issue and I will do so."