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.
Independent voluntary organisation working in the field of immigration. Set up to help individuals and families affected by British immigration and nationality law and policy. The organisation gave evidence on the negative press suffered by asylum seekers and immigrants.
The Refugee Council's submission, made in 2011, focused on the preceding decade when refugees and asylum seekers were high on the media agenda, following a sharp rise in asylum applications from the start of 2000. The Council drew the Inquiry's attention to alarmist language such as "immigrants flooding in" that started to be used in the context of the closure of Sangatte refugee camp in Calais. Negative attitudes had persisted. The Council's evidence noted that publication of PCC guidelines had improved the situation. The charity undertakes research and policy work but noted that sections of the press did not use the service.
