At time of the Inquiry, Lord Black (Guy Black) was Chairman of Press Standards Board of Finance Limited and Director of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC). He had been responsible for tightening the PCC's Code of Practice in the wake of the death in 1997 of Princess Diana. The Lord Black proposals frequently referred to throughout the Inquiry were his proposals for a new system of independent press self-regulation and were put forward on behalf of the newspaper industry.
A police officer for 34 years, Ian Blair served as Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis, head of London's Metropolitan Police Service. He testified regarding his personal relationship with the media and as head of the police force. He gave detailed evidence of how relations between the media and police were conducted. Resigned in 2008 and became a peer in 2010. Lord Blair noted that the culture prevailing during his time as Commissioner was very different from the culture at the time of the Inquiry.
British Conservative Party politician, Member of Parliament for South West Surrey since 2005. At the time of the Inquiry, Hunt was Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport (2010-2012). He was questioned extensively on phone calls and discussions surrounding News Corporation's attempted takeover of BSkyB.
