Had been editor of the Sunday Times for some 15 years at the time of giving evidence. Described a regime of self-policing. Gave specific details of sensitive stories such as reports of peers abusing expenses and the "cash for honours" scandal of 2006. Witherow confirmed the paper had "blagged" information from a bank as part of an investigation in 2000 into the purchase of a flat by then-chancellor Gordon Brown. He argued that such activities would be legal since clearly in the public interest. The Sunday Times sometimes used subterfuge for stories in the public interest, he said.
