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Phone Hacking and BSkyB

Posted by Brandon Lewis, MP for Great Yarmouth, at 20:53, Mon 11 July 2011:

I have had a large number of emails from Great Yarmouth residents on the phone hacking issue. Phone hacking is to be condemned and I abhor the sort of invasion of anyone’s privacy that the recent claims indicate have occurred. With this in mind it is my own personal view that a proper police investigation should go where the evidence takes it and those responsible be held to account for their actions. I do also fully support the government decision to hold public enquiries as well, looking at what went wrong with the original police investigation and also with regard to the way the media works. I was pleased to see that our Prime Minister acted so quickly on this. Despite opposition claims, which are simply opportunistic, the PM acted within 24 hrs of his return from Afghanistan where we are fighting a war.

During the last government, a police investigation was undertaken, it was inadequate, not enough was done. There were unheeded reports from the Information Commissioner. There were select committee reports on phone hacking but there was no follow-up. Throughout all of this the government at the time did nothing, and neither did the opposition.

It will be interesting, in light of today's changes, to see how Labour alter, if at all, their motion for the opposition debate due on Wednesday.

For clarity I post below the trasncript of the Statement today by the Secretary of State:

Mr Speaker, the events of last week shocked the nation. Our proud tradition of journalism, which for centuries has bravely held those in positions of power to account, was shaken by the revelation of what we now know to have happened at the News of the World. The perpetrators of those acts not only broke the law, but preyed on the grief of families who had lost loved ones either as a result of foul murders or giving their life for their country. I hope that the law shows no mercy to those responsible and no mercy to any managers who condoned such appalling behaviour.

As a result of what happened, the Prime Minister last week announced two independent inquiries to examine what went wrong and recommend to the Government how we can make sure that it never happens again. The first will be a full, judge-led, public inquiry into the original police investigation. Witnesses will be questioned under oath and no stone will be left unturned. As the Prime Minister announced on Friday, that inquiry will need to answer the following questions. Why did the first police investigation fail? What exactly was going on at the News of the World , and what was going on at other newspapers? The bulk of the work of this inquiry can happen only after the police investigation has finished, but we will start what we can now.

The second will be a separate inquiry to look at the culture, practices and ethics of the British press. In particular, it will look at how our newspapers are regulated and make recommendations for the future. That inquiry should start as soon as possible, ideally this summer. As the Prime Minister said, a free press is an essential component of our democracy and our way of life, but press freedom does not mean that the press should be above the law and in announcing this inquiry the Prime Minister has invited views on the way the press should be regulated in the future.

I also have to make a decision about News Corporation’s plans to buy the shares it does not already own in BSkyB. I know that colleagues on both sides of the House and the public at home feel very concerned at the prospect of the organisation that allegedly allowed these terrible things to happen being allowed to take control of what would become Britain’s biggest media company.

I understand that in the last few minutes News Corporation has withdrawn its undertakings in lieu. On 25 January, I said I was minded to refer News Corporation’s proposed merger with BSkyB to the Competition Commission in the absence of any specific undertakings in lieu. As a result of News Corporation’s announcement this afternoon, I am now going to refer this to the Competition Commission with immediate effect and will be writing to it this afternoon—[ Interruption. ]

Mr Speaker: Order. Whatever opinion a Member has about this matter, it is a question of elementary courtesy that the Secretary of State should be heard.

Mr Hunt: Thank you, Mr Speaker. Today’s announcement will be an outcome that I am sure the whole House will welcome. It will mean that the Competition Commission will be able to give further full and exhaustive consideration of the merger, taking into account all relevant recent developments.

Protecting our tradition of a strong, free and independent media is the most sacred responsibility I have as Culture Secretary. Irresponsible, illegal and callous behaviour damages that freedom by weakening public support for the self-regulation on which it has thrived. By dealing decisively with the abuses of power we have seen, hopefully on a cross-party basis, the Government intend to strengthen and not diminish press freedom—[ Interruption. ]

Mr Speaker: Order. The Secretary of State must be heard.

Mr Hunt: The Government intend to strengthen and not diminish press freedom, making this country once again proud and not ashamed of the journalism that so shapes our democracy.