German leader ‘let VW edit dieselgate speech’

The head of one of Germany’s state governments has been accused of softening comments on the dieselgate scandal at Volkswagen’s request.

The newspaper Bild am Sonntag published allegations that Stephan Weil, the Social Democrat prime minister of Lower Saxony, edited a key speech at VW’S request in 2015. The carmaker is a major employer in the state. Mr Weil said he sent the text to VW in advance “to ensure that no legally or factually inaccurate statements were made”. Mr Weil rejected the newspaper’s claims.