MP for Charnwood at the time of giving evidence, Dorrell had been responsible for media policy and regulation as heritage secretary in the 1990s, when the Conservative Government decided to do nothing with the Calcutt suggestions for press reforms. Dorrell told the Inquiry he thought "recent wrongdoing" such as phone hacking was a failure of management not of regulation and that a powerful ombudsman could work without intervention from the state. Lord Levenson suggested that a statute giving legal recognition to the Ombudsman's views would not amount to parliamentary control.
Broadcaster, journalist, writer and television presenter. Marr began his career as a political commentator, subsequently edited The Independent, and at time of giving evidence was working for the BBC. Marr told the Inquiry that rivalry between journalists was inevitable and that forming good contacts with Ministers was necessary and inevitable and that the Inquiry should not be too “fastidious”.
Academic expert in media and communications regulation, submitted evidence to the Inquiry on journalism and self-regulation. Has provided formal and informal policy advice and been frequently called to give evidence to parliamentary committees.
British Labour Party politician, Member of Parliament for Exeter since 1997 and Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport from 2009 to 2010. Before entering politics he worked as a BBC Radio reporter and journalist. Bradshaw gave evidence as the recently departed Culture Secretary and argued that self-regulation required some statutory underpinning. He commended the submission of the Media Standards Trust.
Organisation supporting governments, parliaments and any organisation that wants to involve citizens in decision making to be transparent, open and welcoming of participation.
Charitable trust founded in 1981, concerned with state-related deaths in England and Wales, including deaths in custody. INQUEST offers investigations and advice to bereaved people, lawyers, support agencies, the media and parliamentarians. Its cases have included investigations of the cases of Blair Peach, Jean Charles de Menezes, Ian Tomlinson and Mark Duggan.
British Labour Party politician who, as Member of Parliament for Leicester East since 1987, was at time of the Inquiry Parliament's longest-serving British Asian MP. He gave his opinion that broadcasting regulation worked well and could be a useful model for the press.
British Labour Party MP for Watford 1997-2010 and Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice from 2009 to 2010. Ward told Inquiry that within weeks of becoming an MP she was subject to intense media intrusion and threats, including from the News of the World, purporting to have compromising photographs of her.
Centre-left political party in the UK, including social-democratic, democratic-socialist and trade-unionist outlooks. Harriet Harman QC MP presented the party's written evidence for the future of the press, presenting comprehensive options. She identified two deep-rooted problems: lack of redress for complaints and concentration of ownership. Summarised three options and the party's views on their strengths and weaknesses: a contractual system under a new PCC, a voluntary system with incentives, and statutory arrangements (for which, she said, a YouGov poll found 62 per cent support).
Political journalists in the UK Houses of Parliament with special access to Members' Lobby. Paul Waugh, Chairman of the Lobby at the time of giving evidence, clarified how the Lobby worked, correcting what he thought to be misleading references to it in oral evidence from David Cameron and Gordon Brown.
Clive Soley, Labour Party MP from 1979 to 2005, first for Hammersmith North, then Hammersmith and finally Ealing, Acton and Shepherd's Bush. Chair of the Parliamentary Labour Party from 1997 to 2001. In 2005, he was made a life peer. Gave detailed recommendations on how the PCC could work and answered questions on his efforts in 1992 to put forward a Bill on the Freedom and Responsibility of the Press.