Lords backs Leveson 2 ‘in vote against press freedom’

THE Government was defeated in the House of Lords last night by peers demanding the re-opening of a probe into the behaviour of the press.

Peers voted by 238 to 209 in favour of starting the second part of Lord Leveson’s inquiry, set up following the newspaper phone hacking scandal.

The probe had been put on the backburner but the vote, backing an opposition amendment to the Data Protection Bill, could force its revival.

Newly appointed culture secretary Matt Hancock last night promised to trigger a fresh Commons vote to overturn the Lords’ amendment.

He said: “The House of Lords has just voted to restrict press freedoms.

“This vote will undermine highquality journalism, fail to resolve challenges the media face and is a hammer blow to local press.”

Senior judge Lord Leveson oversaw the inquiry following revelations of phone hacking at the News Of The World and other newspapers.

His report in 2012 recommended a tough new regime of press regulation.

A second probe into links between the press, politicians and the police had been due once a series of criminal investigations were concluded.

A consultation to decide whether to scrap “Leveson 2” is ongoing. Critics have complained it is an unnecessary attempt to curb press freedom.