Burden has been a successful writer and entrepreneur for 20 years. His most recent book “News of the world? Fake Sheikhs & Royal Trappings” stirred up controversy by exposing the methods of those who make a living exposing others. He is a frequent commentator on matters concerning the right to privacy and blogs regularly on the subject.
Born 1957. Journalist and author and former press secretary to Tony Blair as Leader of the Opposition (1994-97) and as Prime minister (1997-2000). From 2000-2003, he was director of communications for the Labour Party (2000-03). Before 1994, he had been political editor of Today newspaper and the Daily Mirror. Campbell gave detailed testimony on the political media and what he saw as the decline of genuine investigative journalism and the increasing tendency of owners, editors and senior journalists to wish to be political players. Embellishment and pure invention were tolerated and encouraged by some editors and owners, he said.
British journalist and commentator who spent more than 10 years working as Royal Editor for The Sun. Larcombe also worked as the paper's Defence Editor, reporting from the front line with British and American troops in Afghanistan. Told the Inquiry he was unaware of phone-hacking. He was accused but acquitted of attempting to bribe members of the Royal Household for information.
Award-winning journalist working for the Daily Mirror at the time of the Inquiry. Was asked to give evidence on his coverage of the murder in 2010 of Jo Yeates in Bristol and the arrest and subsequent release without charge of Christopher Jefferies, specifically on the consideration given to issues of public interest.
Senior English criminal barrister. Gave evidence to the Inquiry explaining his role in the prosecution in 2006-07 of Glenn Mulcaire and Clive Goodman, who were subsequently sentenced for offences related to the interception of voice messages, including of members of the Royal Household. Perry also advised the Government on the “cash-for-honours” scandal.
British former senior police officer. From 2008 to 2009, Assistant Commissioner (Specialist Operations) of London's Metropolitan Police Service at New Scotland Yard, a key national security post with responsibility for counter-terrorism within the UK, protection of the Queen and senior members of the British Royal Family, and protection of the UK Prime Minister and Cabinet Ministers. Quick also oversaw the protection of visiting heads of state to the UK and the diplomatic community in London. Quick told the Inquiry of his belief from 2000 that some tabloid journalists were making corrupt payments to police officers.
Public relations consultant at time of giving evidence and a former editor of The Sun newspaper, which he left in 1998. Higgins had worked for The Sun from 1979 as their West Country reporter and acquired notoriety when he was arrested in 1982 after being found with a Sun photographer "testing security" at Highgrove House, the home of the Prince of Wales. In 1994, he became editor of the paper, quickly winning Scoop of the Year awards for a story about the Queen ordering the then Princess of Wales and the Prince of Wales to divorce.
