Bradby was Political Editor for ITV News at time of giving evidence. He had set the phone-hacking scandal in motion by informing the Royal Family that their phones may have been hacked. He became suspicious when voicemails he left with the Royal Family in 2005 (as ITV's royal correspondent) appeared in the News of the World. He gave evidence to the Inquiry asserting that as Political Editor he was responsible for making sure that what he did was ethical and conformed with the ITN Compliance Manual, the Ofcom Code and the law. He further stated that he did not use private investigators or pay sources.