Court: Cameron ‘said Leveson II would proceed’

A former detective and Crimewatch presenter says the Tories have broken a promise by former prime minister David Cameron to finish the Leveson Inquiry into media misconduct.

Jacqui Hames, who received apologies and damages from news groups over phone hacking and other illegal activity, says she has “no confidence” in the government.

Yesterday the High Court heard that victims of “serious media intrusion” were told by Mr Cameron that the second part of the inquiry would go ahead. Senior judges were told the then prime minister made a “clear and unambiguous commitment” at a meeting in November 2012 that Leveson II would proceed.

The meeting was with Bristol landlord Christopher Jefferies, Kate McCann, mother of missing Madeleine McCann, and Ms Hames, who are all bringing a legal challenge against the government’s decision to cancel part two of the inquiry, along with Gerry McCann.

Helen Mountfield QC, representing the four, told the court: “It is common ground that the claimants have been caused huge pain and harm by the misconduct of the media.”

Leveson II was due to look into unlawful conduct within media organisations as well as relations between police and the press.

But Culture Secretary Matt Hancock announced in March that reopening the “costly and timeconsuming” inquiry – which reported on press regulation and ethics in 2012 – was not “the right way forward”.

The decision was taken jointly by Mr Hancock and then Home Secretary Amber Rudd. Ms Mountfield said there “could hardly be matters of greater public importance” than the issues Leveson II was due to look into.

She argued the decision to cancel it was “unlawful” because the four had a “legitimate expectation” it would go ahead after the meeting with Mr Cameron.

Lawyers for the government argued that whatever Mr Cameron said at the meeting “cannot and does not give rise to a binding obligation” to proceed with the second part of the inquiry.

The hearing continues.