Leveson Inquiry: as it happened November 23 - Telegraph Leveson Inquiry Leveson Inquiry: as it happened November 23 Rolling coverage of the second week of the Leveson Inquiry into media ethics and phone hacking after Kate and Gerry McCann and Sheryl Gascoigne were called to give evidence. • Kate McCann: 'I felt totally violated' when NotW published diary • McCanns: 'we were tried by media and unable to defend ourselves' • McCanns: photographers banged on windows and frightened kids • Sheryl Gascoigne: 'I crawled around house to avoid paparazzi' • Mark Lewis: NI lawyer told me I was 'negotiating with Murdoch' Latest 17.30 We're going to bring our live coverage of today's Leveson Inquiry to a close. Join us tomorrow from 10am when the court will hear from anonymous witness HJK, followed by Sienna Miller, JK Rowling, Max Mosley and Mark Thomson. For our full coverage and stories from today's proceedings, visit our Leveson Inquiry and phone hacking archives.

Harry Potter author JK Rowling will give oral evidence tomorrow 17.34 The Telegraph's Andrew Gilligan has published a transcript of his testimony to the House of Lords' Select Committee on the state of investigative journalism. Speaking at the Lords yesterday, he said he was concerned that the Leveson Inquiry is "not proportional to the problem" of press misbehaviour and phone hacking, which is done by a "comparative few". Here are his views more fully: Leveson’s principal task [in his terms of reference] is to recommend a “new, more effective…regulatory regime” on the press. The inquiry’s essentially decided, before it even starts work, that the current regime is not effective and needs replacing. In newspaper terms, it’s written the headline before it’s done the reporting. ...We’ve heard a lot at the inquiry already about the issue of proportionality. I’ve spoken about it, and I think it’s an important principle in deciding how far you do a practice that might be controversial. And my concern is that the Leveson inquiry is not proportional to the problem. I don’t believe that the problems it exposes – although hideous – were the work of more than a fairly small minority of journalists.

And I’m concerned that the whole of journalism is being tarnished, and may be subject to some kind of future, more onerous regulation, for the sake of the activities of a comparative few…. 17.20 Tomorrow we are due to hear evidence from: • An unnamed man referred to as HJK whose phone was allegedly hacked after he began a relationship with a well-known figure (the court will be closed when HJK gives evidence) • Actress Sienna Miller • Former Formula 1 chief Max Mosley • Harry Potter author JK Rowling • Lawyer Mark Thomson Actress Sienna Miller will appear before the Leveson Inquiry tomorrow 17.12 Sean Hoare, the News of the World whistleblower who was found dead at his home in Watford at the height of the phone hacking scandal in July, died of natural causes, a corner has found. Hertfordshire Coroner Edward Thomas said Mr Hoare, who suffered from alcoholic liver disease, used alcohol "as a crutch" to cope with the stress generated by the phone hacking scandal.

Despite abstaining for more than a year, Mr Hoare began drinking again in December as he was caught up in the phone-hacking scandal, the half-hour inquest at Hatfield Coroner's Court heard. Sean Hoare was the first NotW reporter to claim Andy Coulson knew about hacking 16.50 Our picture desk have put together this gallery of James Murdoch , the chairman of News International, who earlier resigned from the boards of the Sun, the Sunday Times and the Times newspapers. 16.25 The witness statements filed by Kate and Gerry McCann have now been put on the inquiry website. 16.11 Our video team have filed this clip of the McCanns describing being "hounded" by the press on their return to the UK: 16.09 The inquiry has ended for the day. Stay with us for analysis, reports and reaction from today's proceedings. 16.05 We learn that HJK is giving anonymous evidence because he fears that during the "anxiety" of speaking in court, he may say something he doesn't mean to. The court will be cleared of journalists and the press while HJK gives evidence, with no live stream at this time.

Leveson says: I do not intend to use HJK as a template; I don't think it's got any relevance at all in relation to the issues that are raised in relation to journalists. In a related matter, Robert Jay QC says that one "core participant" is complaining about another's media blog - but says they are expected to sort it out between themselves. 16.03 The inquiry moves on to hear about HJK, the anonymous witness who is due to give evidence first tomorrow. Lord Justice Leveson says: The position of HJK is very different to the position of journalists and others who wish to give evidence anonymously. This is a person whose privacy is currently protected. In other words, he's not seeking to say of any outlet 'they are about to do something outrageous or breach my privacy', because he is already protected. Leveson says HJK will discuss voicemail interception and a transcript of evidence will be published after he appears. Lord Justice Leveson will hear evidence from anonymous witness HJK tomorrow 16.02 Lord Justice Leveson urges the lawyers to come to an agreement soon so the inquiry is not disrupted. Redactions should be the exception rather than the rule.

Those who are preparing statements know that I do not wish to prejudice any continuing investigation or potential prosecution if there is to be one.. I will require some convincing that sensible lines have not been drawn. 15.59 Lord Justice Leveson and Robert Jay QC are discussing the redaction of Mark Lewis' evidence, which was earlier removed from the inquiry website over concerns that it made unfounded allegations. Jay says they need to reach a "pragmatic solution", which - according to Met Police lawyer Neil Garnham QC - should involve a redacted version of the evidence being put online later today. Objections can then be heard tomorrow, he says. It is not as if the public nature of the inquiry is to be disrupted, if only for a short time. 15.57 After nearly two hours of evidence, the McCanns leave the witness box. If you missed it earlier, here's a video of Kate McCann explaining how she felt "totally violated" when her private diary was published in the News of the World: 15.55 Robert Jay QC has finished questioning the McCanns.

David Sherborne, lawyer for the McCanns, stands up to ask Lord Justice Leveson to urge News International to investigate and explain itself on the subject of publishing Kate's diaries. He says what has been done to the family is "nothing short of a national scandal": It's not just the byline, with respect, because that's just the person who wrote the story. I think the McCanns would like to know who obtained, and how they obtained, the diary. That's at a higher level. 15.50 Gerry McCann is talking about the publication of photographs. "You should not be allowed to publish pictures of people going about their business without written consent," he says. He says the repeated reporting of sightings of Madeleins is of "grave concern". Lord Justice Leveson is going through a list of headings in Gerry McCann's witness statement, including his views on the PCC and press regulation. Mr McCann says journalists who break the rules should be stopped from doing their job. He adds that he has seen no individual journalist or editor brought to account for their stories.

15.47 Here's a screenshot of the article in the News of the World that serialised Kate McCann's diaries: The News of the World article was printed on September 13, 2008 The journalist bylined inside the paper is Daniel Sanderson. 15.46 Gerry McCann explains the problems the family has had in Spain and Holland with getting British legal rulings enforced overseas: Although we've worked incredibly ahrd to change this, the damage is more widespread The money, for me..is only a partial compensation. And once it's there, yes the apology goes part of the way, but as we've seen often the reporting is much more widespread than the original reporting outlet. If you go on the internet now which our six - nearly seven-year-old - twins are doing, most of the articles are still there. 15.43 In case you're not watching it live, here's a video clip of the McCanns lambasting the "sinister" reporting of Madeleine's disappearance: 15.41 Gerry McCann gives his views on the power of the pres: I think we can speak with experience about how powerful the media is and how much damage they can do.

..Information is being written and lives are being harmed by these stories and something has to change. A commercial imperative is not acceptable. 15.37 Robert Jay QC is asking the McCanns about their informal discussion with Sir Christopher Meyer, then chairman of the Press Complaints Commission, about press intrusion and libel. Gerry McCann says Meyer "agreed" that the best way forward for them was to take legal action and not make a formal complaint through the PCC: The general feeling was that the PCC was not equipped to deal with the accusations, the number of them and the severity. He adds that the PCC was "extremely helpful" in stopping press intrusion into their twins' lives. Sir Christopher Meyer, former chairman of the PCC, met the McCanns 15.33 Gerry McCann says when Kate wrote her book on Madeleine, it "tipped the balance" of their relationship. The decision to write the book was very difficult, but ultimately the couple were responsible for conducting and funding the search for their daughter, he says. News International were committed to backing the campaign to find Madeleine, so they signed a deal to serialise Kate McCann's book.

The inquiry moves on to discuss photographs and the PCC. Gerry McCann said he asked the media not to publish photographs of their other children, Sean and Amelie, which was adhered to until they returned to the UK, at which point it "went out the window". 15.30 Ben Fenton of the FT tweets: 'All newspapers' showed contempt for her safety by running things they shdn't have. [FT mentioned her name for first time in 2010] #leveson 15.26 Gerry McCann accuses the Daily Mail of putting the safety of his daughter at risk over a recent article, published in July this year, suggesting that Madeleine had been spotted in India. He says despite denials from the couple that it was her, the paper went ahead and printed the story. They printed a follow-up story the next day including the McCann's denial: 'It's not our Maddie': McCanns' hopes dashed after sighting in India .

15.25 The inquiry is hearing about a dispute with a freelance journalist over an unpublished photograph of the McCanns with Madeleine, as well as a false story in the People about IVF treatment, over which they had to get media lawyer Carter Ruck involved. Gerry says: There have been several occasions where we have gone behind the scenes at the eleventh hour. 15.21 Lord Justice Leveson asks if there is a reporter's byline on the News of the World story relating to Kate McCann's diaries. Robert Jay QC tells him there is. Gerry McCann says he would like an investigation into how the News of the World obtained the diaries - Leveson says the reporter may be a "first line of inquiry". We hear that the McCanns met with the then-deputy editor of the NotW, Ian Edmondson, who told them they had the diary but they would not be printed in its entirety. Gerry McCann says this is why the article was a "complete shock".

Kate McCann said she felt "totally violated" when the NotW published her diary 15.17 Kate McCann is telling the inquiry about finding out her private diary had been published in the News of the World. She said she received a text message from someone at her daughter's nursery asking if she was all right: I felt totally violated. I'd written these words at the most difficult time of my life, most people don't have to go through something like that. It was my only way of communicating with Madeleine. It made me feel very vulnerable and small. I just couldn't believe it. It didn't stop there. That whole week, every time I thought about it, I just couldn't believe the injustice. I have looked back at my diaries from that time and I talk about climbing into a hole and not climbing out, because I just felt so worthless because of all this. Kate McCann says the diary was taken from her by Portuguese police and later returned, but she believes a copy was taken by someone within the police who later sold or gave it to the press. There were slight differences between the original diary and what was printed, leading her to believe it had been translated into Portuguese first and then English.

Victims' lawyer David Sherborne told the inquiry earlier this week that Mrs McCann felt 'mentally raped' when her diary was published . 15.13 In May 2008, on the first anniversary of their daughter's disappearance, the McCanns decided to do an interview with Hello magazine to promote a campaign for lost and missing children. Gerry McCann said Colin Myler, editor of the News of the World, was "irate" when he found out they had done the interview: It would be fair to say that Mr Myler was irate when he learned of the publication, and was berating us for not doing an interview with the News of the World, and told us 'how supportive' the News of the World had been. It was a time of stress for us on the first anniversary when we were actually launching a new campaign, a new call number for people to come forward so that we could continue the search for our daughter, and we were interacting with the media to get that message out. He basically beat us into submission, verbally, and we agreed to do an interview the following day.

Colin Myler, former editor of the News of the World 15.09 Later in 2008, the McCanns complained about articles in the Evening Standard and the Daily Mail and launched libel actions against both. An apology was published in the Evening Standard, but the Mail did not print an apology, Gerry McCann says. He explains that the couple could only bring the legal claims through conditional fee arrangements. It was a last resort and at the time, given our circumstances, I do not believe we would have had the resources to go down that path if it wasn't for a CFA being in place. 15.06 The McCanns say that after March 2008, there was a "dramatic sea change" in press coverage - particularly from Express Newspapers - of Madeleine's disappearance. Gerry McCann says the couple wish they had taken action sooner. 15.01 The McCanns say they were told they couldn't make an official complaint to the Express because of their status as "arguidos", but were instead advised to sell thier story to OK! magazine, which they found "breathtaking".

The newspaper later paid £550,000 to the Find Madeleine fund and printed an apology to the couple. Here's the full text of the Daily Star's front-page apology: "We could only assume they were acting for profit," Gerry McCann says 14.58 Lord Justice Leveson takes the couple through an article in the Daily Star which claimed they sold Madeleine's body for money. Gerry McCann replies: That's nothing short of disgusting. You can understand why we felt we had to take proceedings, on the severity and the consistency of the allegations that have been made. 14.55 Gerry McCann addresses some of the offending headlines, which he brands "incredible". For example, he says the claim that Madeleine's DNA was found in a hire car, rented by the couple three weeks after her disappearance, is "absolutely not true". 14.50 The McCanns tell Lord Justice Leveson of their attempt to stop press intrusion into their lives. Their solicitor contacted editors, police urged restraint and there were two letters written by the Chief Constable of Leicester Police to the media.

Kate McCann says the headlines about their story were "incessant", with speculation presented as fact. The inquiry is now reading a series of headlines alleging the couple's guilt, including those published in the Daily Express. The Daily and Sunday Express' front-page apology to the McCann family 14.46 Kate McCann tells of the couple's battle against media speculation: These were desperate, desperate times. We were desperately shouting out internally 'please stop what you're doing'. We are trying to find our daughter and you're stopping us finding her. Gerry McCann says the couple were being "tried by the media and were unable to defend ourselves adequately". They were at risk of two years' imprisonment for breaking judicial secrecy if they tried to tell their side of the story. He says Peter Hill, former editor of the Daily Express, told a House of Commons Select Committee that stories about the McCanns were "commercially viable".

14.45 Martin Evans tweets: Gerry says when they decided to leave Portugal the journey to the airport was most of the most terrifying ever.#Leveson #hacking 14.42 The McCanns tell the inquiry about being hounded by the press outside their home on the return to the UK: When we got back to our home in Rothley there were tens of journalists camped outside the house, a helicopter hovering overhead, cameras. We were hemmed in to the house for two days before police moved them. Kate McCann says their twins were only two-and-a-half years old at the time and were "very fightened": There were several occasions where they would bang on the windows. Amelie [their daughter] said to me several times 'Mummy, I'm scared'. 14.38 Gerry McCann says their relationship with the press deteriorated in July 2007 and worsened further in September 2007. He says many of the articles were "offensive and objectionable", telling the inquiry how hurt he and his wife were when they read a piece entitled 'Pact of silence', suggesting that he and Kate had been involved in a cover-up over their daughter.

He says reading a headline suggesting that Madeleine was dead was the "most distressing moment" up to that point. A small quote in the Portuguese press would be picked up in the British press and turned into fact, he claims. This happened in relation to the term "arguido", which does not mean "suspect" - as it was interpreted in British press - but means "interested party" and gave them a legal right. Kate McCann says the family were told in August 2007 that it was being reported that there was blood in the family's apartment and they were involved in Madeleine's disappearance. A police image of what Madeleine McCann would look like aged 6 (right) 14.34 Martin Evans tweets: McCanns took media advice from Bell Pottinger and PR man Clarence Mitchell which they found invaluable 14.31 Robert Jay QC moves the McCanns' evidence on to July 2007: Gerry McCann says it was obvious there was "tremendous pressure" at newspapers to have daily reports from the Portuguese press on their family: The reporting quickly became highly speculative.

Often stories - for example there must have been 'McCann fury' on the front pages of so many national newspapers - that reported an unnamed source or friend. And unless our phones were hacked, which I don't think they were, they were absolutely made up. ..We've realised that if you're in the spotlight for everything then not everything that's written about you is either going to be sympathetic or supportive. 14.27 Gerry McCann continues. He says the British press had no way of verifying the information allegedly leaked by the Portuguese police, meaning reporting was "inaccurate, untruthful and sometimes made up". He adds that it was a "full time job" shielding his family from press inquiries: We fully expected around mid-June for the British media to leave.. It did surprise us that there was so much ongoing interest when there really wasn't that much happening. 14.25 Gerry McCann says there was a "ferocious appetite" for information about their family, but journalists soon turned on them with speculation. He says he believes information was leaked to the press by the Portuguese police: I cannot tell you for certain that it was the Portuguese police who were leaking information...

but I think it would be a perfectly reasonable assumption to make. ..It was exaggerated and then blown up into many tens, if not hundreds, of front page headlines. 14.19 After a brief introduction from their lawyer, David Sherborne, Robert Jay QC stands up. He asks them about press coverage immediately following Madeleine's disappearance. Gerry McCann replies, saying that it was "incredibly daunting": When we were driving back towards the apartment, we could literally see tens if not hundreds of journalists outside the apartment, and satellite vans, a large number of cameras. There were two things going through my head, what are they going to ask us and what stories are going to be published. I thought it was an opportunity to issue an appeal. I was given no guidance whatsoever on that. I knew that there could be a very heavy downside to interacting but I took that risk. Madeleine McCann disappeared on May 3, 2007, in Portugal 14.17 Gerry McCann explains why the couple have come forward: We feel that a system has to be put in place to protect ordinary people from the damage that the media can cause by behaviour which falls far below what I would call 'acceptable'.

The McCanns open by saying that it has not been helpful for information about Madeleine to be in the public eye constantly, as it has led to "misinformation" and "confusion". Kate McCann says there was one stage when their daughter was on the front page of every national newspaper every day. Gerry adds: We have acknowledged that the media have been very helpful on occasions, particularly when we have launched appeals. 14.13 Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of missing toddler Madeleine McCann, have been sworn in. Lord Justice Leveson thanks them for appearing today. He adds: Nobody could fail to appreciate the terrible impact of your daughter's disappearance on you and your family. Kate and Gerry McCann sit in the witness box at the Leveson Inquiry 14.11 A final comment from Tom Rowland to Lord Justice Leveson on "stolen" photographs which he alleges have been printed in national newspapers: That, in Mr Dacre's words, is outrageous and it's an abuse that should be stopped with a system of punitive fines. Tom Rowland leaves the witness box. 14.05 The inquiry has resumed. Tom Rowland continues in the witness stand.

He says he found the idea that someone had hacked into his voicemails "an appalling intrusion". He is telling the inquiry about the checks he believes journalists should undertake before writing or publishing a story: Everybody in a newspaper room thinks they know what a good story is. But there are very few regulatory measures there to ask is it fair, is it accurate, and has it been put to the person before you run it? 13.58 Simon Greenberg, director of corporate affairs at News International, has issued a statement rebutting claims in Mark Lewis's witness statement: 1) Mark Lewis' witness statement at paragraph 23 is totally incorrect about my working relationship with (name redacted). 2) At the time the tape recording was made I was working for Chelsea Football Club. I had left the Evening Standard to join Chelsea in July 2004, several months before the recorded conversation in question 3) Moreover I did not recruit (name redacted) for The Times. I worked for Chelsea from July 2004 until November 2009. I then worked for the England 2018 World Cup bid from December 2009 until December 2010.

During these periods (name redacted) moved to The Times. 4) In September 2010 (name redacted) identified himself to senior personnel on The Times and News International as the other voice on the tape after it was published by the New York Times and from that point went on sick leave. 5) I joined News International in January 2011. It was some time after joining that I was told about the recorded conversation, the identity of the person on it and the series of events that followed which I reference in paragraph 4 above.

13.49 Our video team have filed this clip of Sheryl Gascoigne's evidence that he crawled on her hands and feet around her home in Gleneagles to avoid photographers: 13.42 Here's a quick lunchtime summary of what we heard this morning: • Sheryl Gascoigne, ex wife of England footballer Paul, told how she had to "crawl on her hands and knees" around her home to avoid the paparazzi • Gascoigne dubbed the Press Complaints Commission "a waste of time", as she told how she had to put her house on the market to cope with rising legal fees in libel cases • Mark Lewis, lawyer for more than 80 phone hacking victims including the family of Milly Dowler, said phone hacking was "much more widespread" in journalism than just at the News of the World, comparing it to speeding • Lewis claimed that he heard a tape of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire teaching a junior journalist "how to hack" • Lewis said when he met News International lawyers over the settlement of the Gordon Taylor case, he was told he was "negotiating with Murdoch", which he now assumes to refer to James • The Guardian newspaper apologised to the Sun for an

 inaccurate report claiming that one of the inquiry's barristers had been doorstepped by the tabloid • Journalist Tom Rowland said he had been shown evidence suggesting somone tried to hack into his voicemails 100 times Gerry and Kate McCann arrive at the Royal Courts of Justice this morning 13.26 In case you missed it this morning, our video team have sent this clip of Mark Lewis's claim that "some journalists would have compared phone hacking to speeding": 13.05 James Murdoch has quit a string of directorships at News International, including the boards of the Times, the Sun and the Sunday Times, the Evening Standard reports .

The paper says Murdoch Jnr has stepped down from his position at News Group Newspapers Ltd and Times Newspapers Ltd, effective immediately. The news is based on filings at Companies House. Gideon Spanier writes that the move raises questions about parent company News Corp's commitment to the UK newspaper group: The departures come as James Murdoch also faces calls to quit as chairman of BSkyB at next week's annual general meeting. His decision means no member of the Murdoch family now sits on the boards of the flagship UK papers.. Tom Mockridge, former boss of Sky Italia who replaced Rebekah Brooks as NI chief executive in July, has taken over from him at NGN and TNL. NI insisted that James, who was promoted to News Corp deputy chief operating officer in New York in April, was not walking away from the UK newspaper arm. A spokesman said: "James Murdoch doesn't step back from NI. He remains chairman." James Murdoch giving evidence in the House of Commons earlier this month 13.01 The inquiry has stopped for lunch and will resume at 2pm. Stay with us in the meantime for comment and reaction. 13.00 Rowland says he could understand why people might have been interested in his phone calls.

In 2006, there was "enough bait for me to have been of interest", he says, adding that journalists may have been after information on celebrities' house purchases. Rowland says: It was worthwhile for a fisherman to fish, in a phone hacking sense. There was something to look for. 12.57 Lord Justice Leveson says Mr Rowland's claims are a matter for police, not the inquiry. Robert Jay QC returns to his evidence. We hear that the journalist worked for the Mail on Sunday and the Times around 2005, both of which "involved talking to a lot of quite well-known people". 12.51 Rowland says the calls were made from the same mobile number to his private voicemail. He makes the following claim about the call log he was shown: It's always exactly the same number. And I have no evidence for this but it's my strong, strong suspicion that this evidence has been tampered with. I don't believe that the call log as it is is what existed previously.

I do believe that my phone was hacked but I believe a number of those calls were made quite legitimately to extensions within News International because I was working for the Times newspaper at the time. What has happened is that someone has tampered with the evidence. He asks Lord Justice Leveson to take a closer look at the call log, which he says would tell him where exactly in News International the calls came from and who had access to the computer. News International's building in Wapping, east London 12.47 Rowland is telling the inquiry about when he was shown the redacted version of telephone logs from News International, which revealed a number of calls to his voicemail. There was a long series of telephone calls that started in mid-2005 and went through to 2006, that went through to my voicemail and got through to the code of listening to the calls. It was a very bizarre pattern. It was hard to understand how anyone could have made the calls with the regularity that they were made. There were nine in one day. 12.45 Rowland is a claimant in the voicemail interception litigation against News International.

He learnt in August that his mobile phone messages may have been hacked: I was informed by letter, first of all by the telephone company T-Mobile, and then subseqently by a letter from the Metropolitan Police. I was anxious to participate in this inquiry because I think I have some knowledge and insights that may help you. 12.40 Journalist Tom Rowland is now in the witness stand. He has been a journalist for 30 years, working for Electronics Times, the Daily Telegraph and later in television and as an author and freelance writer. Previous evidence suggested that Mr Rowland's phone had been hacked 60 times by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. Mr Rowland tells the inquiry that new evidence from the Metropolitan Police suggests it was actually hacked 100 times. Former Daily Telegraph journalist Tom Rowland at the Royal Courts of Justice 12.37 Gill Phillips, lawyer for Guardian News and Media, says the Guardian has received a "strongly worded" complaint from the Sun about Marina Hyde's sketch, which suggested that a Sun journalist had doorstepped Carnie Patry Hoskins. She says the paper accepts that the claim was incorrect and the Guardian will be publishing an apology online and in tomorrow's paper.

Lord Justice Leveson says it would have been better "if it hadn't been there in the first place". 12.37 Rhodri Davies QC is now speaking. He mentions the section of Mark Lewis' evidence in which he discusses a tape in which he allegedly heard Glenn Mulcaire "teaching" a journalist how to hack phones. Rhodri Davies QC says Mr Lewis' allegations relating to Simon Greenberg, director of corporate affairs at News International, are incorrect: Mr Greenberg left the Evening Standard in July 2004. We do not know when the alleged teaching happened but we believe it was after this date. Mr Greenberg did not work in the press but in the football industry from 2004 until earlier this year. He was not involved in the 'recruitment' of this journalist to News Internationanal. Simon Greenberg, director of corporate affairs at News International 12.32 Discussion returns to the conversation between Robert Jay QC and Rhodri Davies QC, acting for News International, over Mark Lewis' witness statement. Jay returns to the courtroom. 12.31 Gascoigne concludes: The deterrent has to be there. Costs should mean costs.

I don't understand why when you sue a paper and it's competely obvious that they don't have anything and they've completely fabricated a story, that you should still be out of pocket. She leaves the witness stand after an assurance from Lord Justice Leveson that he would like to hear from her if she is subject to any of the "repercussions" she mentions. 12.26 Lord Justice Leveson is asking Gascoigne about her views on libel law and press regulation. He raises three points: accuracy, privacy and remedy. Gascoigne says: I think if you're in the public eye, although I was attached to someone in the public eye, loss of privacy something you kind of have to deal with. I just would like, if things are going to be reported, for them to reported correctly. I know that if I've sold my wedding, I've written a book, I've gone on a programme like I'm A Celebrity, then I'm asking for people to make comments about me. But why can't they be accurate? By coming and sitting here today I'm probably still asking for it.

12.21 Gascoigne explains the impact of press intrusion on her life and her family: Wherever I go and I meet people for the first time, I try to be overly nice, I try to get across as quick as I can that maybe the interpretation they have of me is not true. It's difficult. And it's difficult for the children and for friends. You feel that you're constantly defending yourself; and for them as well, they feel that they have to do the same. ..It's not been easy to be here today. I am scared of repercussions. I'm scared of repercussions on my family because that has been my experience in all of this. Sheryl Gascoigne says press behaviour has adversely impacted on her daughter Bianca Ben Fenton of the FT tweets: She was accused of keeping son away from Gazza by changing phone number. My number never changed. How hurtful is that for my son? #leveson 12.20 She says she struck up a friendship with Rebekah Brooks, former editor of the Sun and the News of the World, who she met in 1992 at Heathrow airport: It was a friendship, a pure friendship.

It wasn't a situation where I sold stories. I considered her a very good friend.. I haven't seen her since 2000.. but I wouldn't have a bad word to say about her personally. 12.19 Gascoigne tells the inquiry that she was forced to put her family home on the market to cope with rising legal costs: I was told that I needed to come up with £200,000 to go into court. So where was I going to find that amount of money? All my money was in my home. I think the Sunday Mirror was hoping that a single parent with three children wouldn't have the backbone to pursue the claim and would be scared off by that kind of money. 12.13 We learn that Gascoigne sued for libel following the publication of her book, Stronger: My Life Surviving Gazza . Carine Patry Hoskins, junior counsel, asks her if she ever thought of going through the Press Complaints Commission. She replies: No, because of my experience previously.. and it's kind of common knowledge, if you're in the public eye, well what are the PCC going to do about it? Absolutely nothing.

The former footballer's wife says she wanted an apology read out in open court but was unhappy with the prominence given to it in newspapers. Sheryl Gascoigne arriving at the Leveson Inquiry this morning 12.08 Ms Gascoigne says despite being divorced for 11 years, press coverage of her continued in 2009. She sold her wedding pictures to Hello magazine, appeared in I'm A Celebrity Get Me Out of Here and was paid for doing press interviews, she admits. Gascoigne tells the inquiry about the impact of press intrusion on her children. I'd tell them 'Please don't go out, there's lots [of photographers] out there. She says her children encouraged her to write her book and take part in the television series. "I'm very much led by them," she adds. 12.03 Sheryl Gascoigne is telling the inquiry about press intrusion during her pregnancy: She says she was used to "crawling around on her hands and knees" in her home in Gleneagles to avoid photographers: I used to try and lose the photographers by driving round roundabouts several times or by driving into housing estates to lose them.

..I drove into the police station with one of them following me. And all the time I was thinking 'what am I doing', they're gonig to have a picture of me going into the police station, what story are they going to come up with to go with that? I was about to give birth at the time.. I think they were hoping I would just give birth on the pavement. Paul and Sheryl Gascoigne during their marriage, with Sheryl's daughter Bianca She tells the inquiry she made a complaint to the PCC but was later told that it was a "waste of time". 11.58 The full text of Mark Lewis' evidence has now been removed from the Leveson Inquiry website. 11.54 We learn that Sheryl Gascoigne now works with a number of domestic violence charities. She says as soon as she started her relationship with Paul in 1991, her and her children's lives have been "thrust into the public eye", and the press latched on to the idea that she was a "money-grabber" at the heart of Paul's problems: Maybe it's because I was a single mother; maybe I was an easy target..

I was very much in love with Paul. James Robinson of the Guardian tweets: Elle macpherson's ex advisor Mary-Ellen Field is in the gallery listening intently #leveson 11.51 Sheryl Gascoigne has been sworn in. Lord Justice Leveson thanks her for coming forward to discuss "matters which are personal to you". Sheryl met England footballer Paul Gascoigne in 1990, married him in 1996 and divorced in 1998. The pair have one son together. Sheryl Gascoigne gives evidence at the Leveson Inquiry 11.47 Rhodri Davies QC, lawyer for News International, has risen to ask Lord Justice Leveson about Mark Lewis' statement. He has concerns over redaction and the speed with which certain allegations are being uploaded to the internet. Lord Justice Leveson says the inquiry will proceed while Davies resolves the matter out of court. Mark Lewis leaves the witness stand. 11.44 The inquiry has resumed. Associated Newspapers has asked David Barr to query Mark Lewis over his claims that he was threatened by litigation if he linked the Daily Mail to phone hacking.

He is also being questioned over his apparent linking of Amanda Platell to the threat by Rebekah Brooks to "get him". 11.42 Josh Halliday of the Guardian tweets: Mark Lewis in written statement: "Acting in phone hacking litigation has been like being transported into a John Grisham novel" 11.30 There is a short interruption to Mark Lewis' evidence. Jonathan Caplan QC, lawyer for Associated Newspapers, wants to clarify that the journalist mentioned in Lewis' evidence who was "taught to hack" by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, was working for the Evening Standard - not Associated - at the time. Lord Justice Leveson says he can discuss this with Mr Lewis in the break. Mr Caplan has also asked to make a section 10 application on reputational matters concerning journalists Amanda Platell and Liz Hartley. Back in five minutes. Lawyers and witnesses leave Court 73 during this morning's break 11.27 News that the Metropolitan Police Commissioner has been on BBC Radio 5 this morning talking about the original phone hacking inquiry, which took place in 2005 and 2006.

He is understood to have said that the original investigation "could have been more thorough". More on this as we get it. 11.24 The FT's Ben Fenton tweets: When I was student, libel law was for the rich, now it's for the very rich, Lewis tells #leveson 11.20 Lord Justice Leveson asks Lewis about his views on an alternative to the Press Complaints Commission. The lawyer says the costs of libel and privacy cases are completely disproportionate to the damage caused: There is an oddity that reputation cases are always assigned to the multi-track. If a van that was delivering a newspaper ran you over and caused you £10,000 of damages, you might pursue that in Manchester County Court or wherever. If they defamed you or invaded your privacy in some way, I don't see why you should not pursue that in the county court too, because that would lower the costs. I think the court system needs to be more accessible.. SImply abolishing conditional fee agreements ultimately leads to people not being able to bring cases at all. 11.18 James Robinson of the Guardian tweets: I'd like to hear from Amanda Platell.

Grant and Lewis both said this week she is a weapon deployed by Mail against enemies #leveson 11.16 Lewis is talking about his views on press regulation. He says parts of the newspaper industry were "out of control", leading to the disappearance of the News of the World. Journalists talk about freedom of the press but it's not really freedom of the press they want; they want freedom to do what they'd like. Not all of us have freedom to do what we want.. and a certain sector of the press seem to think they can do whatever they like, almost as if they are above the law. What they do is characterise that any attack on that is an attack on the freedom of the press. 11.10 Lewis says his involvement with alleged hacking victims brought his private life into the spotlight: I acted for people who were the story and suddenly became part of the story myself. All of a sudden I got approached by newspapers who said they were running a story about this aspect of my private life, or that aspect of my private life. He claims he was warned by a source that Rebekah Brooks, former editor of the Sun and the News of the World, would "get him back" in a competitor newspaper.

There was no evidence linking the threat to Amanda Platell, he says. Rebekah Brooks, former editor of the now-defunct News of the World 11.07 Andy Davies of Channel 4 News tweets: Mark Lewis: in the beginning journalists considered hacking no worse than driving 35mph in 30mph zone, it was too easy. 11.05 Lewis claims he was warned that Paul Dacre, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail, would sue him if he suggested the paper was involved in phone hacking. He tells the inquiry he thinks the practice was much more widespread than just the News of the World, but says he doesn't have any 'hard evidence' of hacking. He tells Lord Justice Leveson: It depends what you mean by 'hard evidence'. People who provided information said 'these are the inferences'. He says he complained about a story written by Amanda Platell of the Daily Mail, saying he was "sanctimonious" and a "greedy lawyer", which was taken off the newspaper's website. Paul Dacre, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail 10.56 We move to 2009 when the Guardian broke the hacking story.

Lewis says the news brought him a lot more phone hacking clients, including Max Clifford, but this caused problems at work. A senior partner told him at the time: "This is a disaster". Lewis was eventually expelled from his solicitor partnership in Manchester. 10.54 Lewis tells the inquiry that he had lunch with Tom Crone after the case was settled. Over lunch, he says he told Crone he had two more phone hacking clients. Lewis says News International then challenged his right to act for others in phone hacking claims. The Telegraph's Martin Evans tweets: Lewis said News Group's friendly approach changed when he informed them he was acting for two other hacking victims. #Leveson #hacking 10.48 Mark Lewis has returned to the Gordon Taylor litigation, and is discussing legal wrangling over settlement figures with News International. He says Taylor eventually settled for £425,000 from News of the World, plus costs. Lewis claims Julian Pike, lawyer at News International-instructed Farrer & Co, told Lewis that he (Lewis) was "negotiating with Murdoch". Lewis said he did not know which Murdoch this referred to but was "100 per cent sure" Pike had used those words.

As Pike only used the surname, he assumed he meant Rupert Murdoch at the time. He says in his statement: "I now assume he was talking about James Murdoch given his role at the time. It was a memorable statement from Julian and I was flattered that the Murdoch family would have been involved in a negotiation with me." Mark Lewis was told he was "negotiating with Murdoch" in the Gordon Taylor case 10.41 The lawyer says the "For Neville" email, which purportedly proves the existence of phone hacking at the News of the World, was the proof his client needed to progress with his case. Lewis claims he received a compact disc of a telephone call between Glenn Mulcaire and another person, who is not named, in which Mulcaire was "teaching that person how to hack". He claims he later found out that the person was a sports journalist who was working for a title that belonged to Associated Newspapers. They went on to work for the Evening Standard and News International, he claims. Lewis is thought to be referring to Raoul Simons, who was arrested and bailed in September this year over phone hacking allegations . He worked for the Evening Standard before moving to the Times in 2009.

10.37 Lewis said he then learnt News International had served a defence to his client's claims: Our case was based on an inference that this was an unlawful activity. We didn't have the smoking gun that said 'this is what you've definitely done'. The starting point was that Clive Goodman was the royal correspondent, Gordon Taylor wasn't King Gordon; therefore somebody else at the News of the World had been instructing Glenn Mulcaire, if they had instructed him. Tom Crone, former legal manager at the News of the World, speaks in the Commons 10.34 Lewis continues, telling the court that Tom Crone, legal adviser at NotW, agreed to come and see him over the Taylor phone hacking allegations: The fact that he was coming to see me suggested that they had something to hide. He said he made a settlement offer of £250,000 on behalf of his client. "Crone just got up and left," he adds. 10.30 Lewis claims it became apparent to him that the News of the World had "hacked" Gordon Taylor's mobile phone when he saw the conviction of Glenn Mulcaire on television in 2006.

He claims there is no other way they could have got their hands on a message left by Ms Armstrong on Mr Taylor's telephone thanking him for being there for her when her father died. Lewis says the paper misinterpreted the message, which said "Thank you for last night, you were wonderful", as evidence of an affair. It was a eureka moment. That's how they got that story. If there was a modicum of truth in that story.. but it just wasn't true. Gordon Taylor, former chief executive of the PFA 10.27 Lewis says 40% of his work from 2001 was for the Professional Footballers' Association. He says he acted for a woman called Joanne Armstrong who was photographed having lunch with former PFA chief Gordon Taylor in 2005. Lewis says he wrote a letter to the News of the World asking them not to publish the photographs or print an accompanying story. 10.21 Mark Lewis jokes that he has become "almost too well-known" for acting for clients in phone hacking litigation. We learn that he has acted for former Blackburn footballer Garry Flitcroft, who gave evidence at the inquiry yesterday.

Lewis is telling the inquiry about the run-up to the alleged blackmail and anonymity injunction over Flitcroft's affair. He repeats Flitcroft's claim that it is a "curious coincidence" that the same paper - the People - was involved in the alleged requests for money from both girls the footballer was involved with. Here is his online profile at solicitors' firm Taylor Hampton . Mark Lewis in the witness stand at the Leveson Inquiry 10.17 Lord Justice Leveson tells News International lawyer Rhodri Davies that some of the new evidence "will come as a surprise". There are suggestions that it may contain significant allegations in the phone hacking scandal. Davies says he received the supplementary statement about 4.30pm yesterday, but without the full exhibit. Lord Justice Leveson will return to the document later. Mark Lewis has just taken to the witness stand. 10.11 Lord Justice Leveson says it may not be appropriate to hear this second limb of Mark Lewis' evidence, which is "very fresh indeed": I am concerned to the extent to which it's appropriate to develop this aspect of Mr Lewis' statement at this stage.

I appreciate that he may wish to get this off his chest, and I understand that, but there are other issues at play. Here's a reminder of those allegations that Mark Lewis and fellow lawyer Charlotte Harris were spied on by the News of the World . 10.07 Junior counsel David Barr is about to call Mark Lewis to the witness stand. We hear that Mr Lewis has submitted supplemental evidence about "more recent events", believed to be allegations that his family was put under surveillance by the press. Lord Justice Leveson says the inquiry will proceed "with a degree of caution". "These events are still happening," he adds. David Barr, junior counsel to the inquiry, addresses Lord Justice Leveson 10.04 News International lawyer Rhodri Davies QC has drawn attention to Marina Hyde's article on the front of today's Guardian newspaper, claiming that a Sun reporter doorstepped junior counsel Carine Patry Hoskins. He says Ms Hoskins has not been doorstepped by the tabloid, who did not send anyone to her house, adding that his clients are taking the accusations "extremely seriously". Gill Phillips, lawyer for the Guardian, say she has just become aware of the complaint.

Lord Justice Leveson has this rebuke: I would have thought there are enough issues in this inquiry without descending into the personnel who are trying their best and working extremely hard to ensure that everyone is treated fairly. 10.00 The inquiry has started for the day. Lord Justice Leveson opens with a comment on anonymous witnesses, noting that he has received submissions from one of the core participants and needs to consider it further. Here's a reminder of his ruling on anonymous witnesses: She writes : There does need to be a change in libel laws so newspapers can be sued for defaming a dead person. Extremely distressing for the recently bereaved to read lies about a deceased loved one but to have no recourse to justice #leveson 09.53 As witnesses arrive for the Leveson Inquiry, elsewhere the inquest into the death of former News of the World reporter Sean Hoare is due to be held today. Mr Hoare, who claimed phone hacking was "endemic" in the newspaper industry and his former editor Andy Coulson was "well aware" of it, was found dead at his home in Watford on July 18 after concerns were raised about his whereabouts .

Hertfordshire Police said in July that Mr Hoare's death was being treated as "unexplained, but not thought to be suspicious". The inquest of News of the World whistelblower Sean Hoare will be held today 09.44 Sky's Mark White tweets: Kate and Gerry McCann have now arrived at the Royal Courts of Justice, ahead of their evidence to the #leveson inquiry this afternoon Sheryl Gascoigne is also rumoured to be in the building. 09.35 John Kampfner, writing in The Guardian, criticises the tabloid press for their "churlishness" towards the Leveson Inquiry . He warns that their "Keep calm and carry on" attitude will not work in the long term: From everything I've seen of Leveson and those advising him, he gets it. Of course, caution is in order. Memories turn to the Hutton inquiry. The sharp questioning from the presiding judge then lulled everyone into a false sense of security. Hutton's report was a shocker, a whitewash for government that opened the door to the emasculation of the BBC. And Leveson knows his recent history.

Yet those who need him most – the tabloids – are not helping him. By hiding or lashing out against their critics, the editors, proprietors and their legal teams are playing into the hands of the many voices calling for strict controls. Kelvin MacKenzie, former editor of The Sun, arrives at the Leveson Inquiry last month Worth noting that, according to the Guardian's Marina Hyde, The Sun sent a reporter to doorstep Carine Patry Hoskins , the junior counsel who trended worldwide for her admiring glances at Hugh Grant during Tuesday's hearing as #womanontheleft. Junior counsel Carine Patry Hoskins, sitting to the left of Robert Jay QC 09.20 Here is a quick summary of the witnesses Lord Justice Leveson will hear from today: Mark Lewis is the solicitor for the Dowler family, whose daughter Milly was murdered in 2002. He also acted for Professional Footballers' Association chief executive Gordon Taylor in his 2008 case against News of the World. Lewis was allegedly placed under surveillance by the News of the World earlier this year and spied on by private eye Derek Webb.

Sheryl Gascoigne is the ex-wife of England footballer Paul. She is expected to tell the hearing about her experiences of the press during her marriage, as well as a series of costly defamation claims to protect her reputation. Tom Rowland is a journalist who was property editor at the Daily Telegraph between 1987 and 1997. He was allegedly targeted 60 times by the News of the World, under whose instructions Glenn Mulcaire hacked into his mobile phone to gain information about his property contacts. Kate and Gerry McCann are the parents of Madeleine, the toddler who disappeared during a family holiday to Portugal in May 2007. The couple are expected to tell the inquiry about press hostility following Madeleine's disappearance, as well as their libel claim against Express Newspapers for falsely accusing them of being involved in their daughter's death. Kate McCann has already said she felt "mentally raped" when the News of the World published her private diaries. Mark Lewis (right) arrives with the Dowler family on Monday 09.15 Joy Lo Dico, writing in the Evening Standard, has done an interview with Mark Lewis, the lawyer representing more than 80 alleged victims of phone hacking .

She says the lawyer, whose trademark orange coat has been the subject of much Twitter admiration during the hearings, has transformed himself from the "underdog" to a "confident lead player": The pugnacious 46-year-old Mancunian solicitor discovered back in 2008 the extent of the News International phone-hacking. And so began, in his eyes at least, a classic narrative of the underdog fighting the massed forces of the Establishment, as Lewis chipped away at News International, the police and his doubters. This summer the story turned and the orange-trenchcoat-wearing northerner (Zara, £149, incidentally) came out on top. The full list of witness statements from yesterday's hearing, including Steve Coogan's evidence, has now been posted online. Here's the text of Coogan's witness statement: Bianca Gascoigne, daughter of Sheryl, has tweeted to wish her mother luck in giving evidence . She writes: Let's hope after this the papers can't just print what they want which is lies and there has to be truth in stories..

Sheryl Gascoigne will give evidence at the Leveson Inquiry this morning 08.48 This morning's papers are full of revelations from yesterday's hearing, with most focusing on Steve Coogan. Martin Evans has also written pieces on the evidence given by Mary-Ellen Field, Elle Macpherson's former business adviser , and the claims of the parents of murdered schoolgirl Diane Watson that tabloid coverage of their daughter's death led to their son's suicide . Deputy fashion editor Luke Leitch has done an interview with supermodel Elle Macpherson , explaining her "utterly silent" reaction to news that her phone may have been hacked by private investigator Glenn Mulcaire. He writes: "I believe I've made the right choice," she says. "And I made that choice years ago, because I did not want to perpetuate stories. I did not want to be involved, I did not enter into the discussions whatsoever." This, she adds, was "absolutely" her immediate instinct, and she had no moment of rage upon discovering Mulcaire's intrusion. "I made a decision not to become embroiled.

Contrary to any suggestions, I categorically deny receiving any compensation whatsoever." She says hacking has "never come up" in conversation with Grant or any of her hacked celebrity peers. When it first emerged, she says, "I really didn't need to be jumping on a bandwagon or crusade." Although, she adds, "I don't think I was aware of the magnitude at the time." Supermodel Elle Macpherson said she did not want to be "embroiled" in hacking claims 08.45 Telegraph reporter Martin Evans will be in Court 73 at the RCJ again today with live updates and reaction from the Leveson Inquiry. Follow him on Twitter @evansma for rolling commentary from the courtroom. In the meantime, he has written this preview of Gerry McCann's evidence , which he says will be "one of the most moving the press standards inquiry will hear". He writes: He is expected to tell the inquiry press onslaught become unbearable in the wake of the abduction of his daughter Madeleine on a family holiday in Portugal. He will also say that the mounting suspicion surrounding himself and his wife Kate led to a barrage of highly personal media stories.

Madeleine McCann, who disappeared in Portugal in May 2007 08.42 Yesterday the inquiry heard from comedian Steve Coogan, Elle Macpherson's former adviser Mary-Ellen Field, footballer Garry Flitcroft and the parents of murdered schoolgirl Diane Watson, Jim and Margaret. Here's a round-up of yesterday's developments: • Comedian Steve Coogan claimed tabloid journalists camped outside his house and rifled through his bins.

He told the inquiry about a "sting" phonecall made by the News of the World under Andy Coulson's editorship and said Glenn MUlcaire's notebook contained his bank account details and transactions • Coogan insisted he was a private person who did not court media attention: "I have never entered into a Faustian pact with the press," he said • The comedian accused the Daily Mail of publishing "unflattering" articles about him after he criticised editor-in-chief Paul Dacre on Newsnight • David Sherborne, victims' lawyer, accused the Associated Newspapers of launching a "personal attack" on Hugh Grant after branding him a liar in press statements and a leader column • Lord Justice Leveson said individual journalists might be called to give evidence to the inquiry • James and Margaret Watson, whose daughter Diane was murdered in 1991, claim the inaccurate portrayal of their daughter contributed to their 15-year-old son's suicide • Former footballer Garry Flitcroft said the tabloid expose of his affair ultimately contributed to his father's suicide and blamed the "media frenzy" for breaking up his marriage and his family • Elle Macpherson's adviser Mary-Ellen Field said the supermodel accused her of being an alcoholic on the

 basis of suspicions she was leaking stories to the press Steve Coogan said former NotW editor Andy Coulson 'set him up' 08.35 Today is the third day of oral evidence at the Royal Courts of Justice.

Lord Justice Leveson will hear from: • Mark Lewis, media lawyer for more than 80 phone hacking victims • Sheryl Gascoigne, ex-wife of footballer Paul • Journalist Tom Rowland • Gerry McCann, father of missing toddler Madeleine, who is expected to appear with his wife Kate Kate and Gerry McCann, parents of missing toddler Madeleine, will attend the RCJ 08.30 Welcome to our rolling coverage of the second week of the Leveson Inquiry, live from the Royal Courts of Justice in London. The public inquiry into journalistic ethics was launched in the wake of the phone hacking scandal that engulfed News International in July and August. For full coverage of the events leading up to the inquiry, visit our Leveson Inquiry and phone hacking archives.

Press regulation: Leveson distances himself from royal charter | Media | The Guardian Press regulation: Leveson distances himself from royal charter Judge hopes his recommendations are not lost in a political row over setting up an industry watchdog Thursday 10 October 2013 10.24 EDT First published on Thursday 10 October 2013 10.24 EDT Close This article is 3 years old Lord Justice Leveson broke his silence over his controversial report into reforming press regulation, telling a committee of MPs that he hopes it is not regarded as "bonkers" and that he had not considered the idea that a body backed by a royal charter would act as auditor for a revamped system. However, Leveson's two-and-a-half hour interrogation by the Commons culture, media and sport select committee left the MPs frustrated as the judge refused to be drawn into the debate over the future of press regulation, repeatedly referring to the conclusions of his 2,000-page report, published in November 2012.

The court of appeal judge did distance himself from a new regulatory system underpinned by royal charter, saying that the idea, from Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin, was not his and had not even been considered by his inquiry. "You are right to say the concept of the royal charter was not mine. I did not think of it. What's more, nobody suggested it," Leveson said. "I received submissions from hundreds of people, dozens of bodies, and it wasn't a concept that came to me then or at any stage over the course of my deliberations." It was a sign of how limited Leveson's responses were that one of his most revealing remarks was a quip, in which he said that he hoped his report was "not bonkers". This was a reference to an earlier remark made by David Cameron, who had promised before the publication of the Leveson report that he would accept its recommendations so long as it did not propose "anything that is bonkers".

The judge, who presided over the public inquiry into the culture and practices of the press, was also asked about a tweet by Rupert Murdoch this month claiming that the UK's print media was about to be "gagged to protect toffs" by a new regulatory regime. "I certainly am very frustrated at representations of my report which are not accurate," he replied, adding that this included Murdoch's tweet. "The regime that I proposed does not in any way impact the freedom of the press to publish anything it wants," Leveson said. He voiced concern at how his report – which proposed that Ofcom or another statutory body acted as a recognition panel to certify the independence of the proposed press regulator – had been wrongly characterised as something that recommended statutory regulation or state regulation. "I'm certainly frustrated that people talk about statutory regulation of the press which I do not believe is what I recommended," he said.He went on to say the recognition panel he recommended be set up to do a regular health check of the new regulator was also being characterised as a route for some sort of political control of the press. "The recognition panel has absolutely nothing to do with the press.

It merely deals with the efficacy of the press regulator." Leveson was visibly unhappy when questioning turned to the so-called "Loverson affair" between the inquiry's junior counsel Carine Patry-Hoskins and David Sherborne, counsel for the phone-hacking victims at the inquiry. When Tory MP Philip Davies refused to relent, he turned his gaze away in disgust. Earlier Davies had raised laughter in the Grimond Room in Westminster's Portcullis House when he asked the judge, recently promoted to president of the Queen's Bench Division, whether he had any "regrets" about his report. "There are a few typos," he quipped before qualifying his answer, saying he did not mean to be flippant. The judge tried to defend his proposal that a revamped Press Complaints Commission could also provide an arbitration service to resolve serious complaints as an alternative to the courts. Owners of local newspapers have said it would be costly for them to support; but Leveson said that he thought their concerns were misplaced.

Adrian Jeakings, chief executive of Archant, one of the country's local newspaper groups and owner of four daily local papers and 60 weekly titles, has said he fears that the system could "open the floodgates to compensation payments" and "would place a crippling burden on the UK's 1,100 local newspapers, inhibiting freedom of speech and the freedom to publish". Leveson said that the arbitration system he recommended was "a wonderful carrot and stick" and would reduce the "horrifically expensive" costs of libel action for newspapers, as litigants who did not choose to go through the proposed new arbitration unit would not get their costs paid if they went straight to the high court. He added that arbitration should only deal with libel and privacy and said that vexatious or frivolous claims could be very easily weeded out by a relevant professional. "I wasn't proposing compensation for complaints about fact or accuracy. It [the arbitration service] was purely for breaches of the law," he said, reminding MPs that many press representatives had welcomed such an alternative to the high court during his inquiry.

He also hinted that he may not want to conduct the proposed second part of the judicial inquiry into the press if parliament decided to go ahead with it following the criminal trials which are about to start into alleged unlawful activity at newspapers. This second stage was intended to look in detail at the phone-hacking allegations that prompted Leveson's inquiry.• To contact the MediaGuardian news desk email media@guardian.co.uk or phone 020 3353 3857. For all other inquiries please call the main Guardian switchboard on 020 3353 2000. If you are writing a comment for publication, please mark clearly "for publication". • To get the latest media news to your desktop or mobile, follow MediaGuardian on Twitter and Facebook Deputy PM says royal charter will simply set up system checking independence of newspapers' self-regulation every three years Published: 10 Oct 2013 Publishers fear increased costs in libel and privacy actions if they do not back government's royal charter-backed regulator.

By Lisa O'Carroll Published: 10 Oct 2013 Cross-party talks likely to fail after owners of Sun and Daily Mail newspapers indicate they will reject government proposals Published: 8 Oct 2013 David Cameron to face Leveson Inquiry next week | The Independent David Cameron to face Leveson Inquiry next week Friday 8 June 2012 09:58 BST Click to follow The Independent Online David Cameron, George Osborne, Nick Clegg and Gordon Brown are among a string of major political figures due to appear before the Leveson Inquiry next week. The Prime Minister, Chancellor, Deputy Prime Minister and former Prime Minister will give evidence to the inquiry into press standards, along with Labour leader Ed Miliband and former Prime Minister Sir John Major. Deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman and Scottish National Party leader Alex Salmond will also give evidence at London's Royal Courts of Justice. Monday to Thursday will be devoted to the evidence of the eight current and former politicians, with the whole of Thursday set aside for Mr Cameron's. Mr Brown and Mr Osborne will appear on Monday, Sir John, Mr Miliband and Ms Harman on Tuesday and Mr Clegg and Mr Salmond on Wednesday.

Their evidence will come after a one-week break in Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry. At the last hearing before the adjournment, on May 31, Jeremy Hunt survived a six-hour grilling over his handling of the News Corporation bid for BSkyB. Mr Cameron judged afterwards that the Culture Secretary had acted "properly" throughout the period when he was responsible for the bid and decided not to order an investigation into whether he had breached the ministerial code of conduct. Mr Hunt also insisted there was no reason for him to quit - though he admitted in his evidence that he had considered resigning. He also accepted that chatty messages he exchanged with News Corp's James Murdoch while he was responsible for deciding on the BSkyB issue were, with hindsight, inappropriate. Fresh evidence also emerged of his personal involvement in the BSkyB issue shortly before he was handed quasi-judicial responsibility for it. Text messages handed over to the inquiry showed he texted Mr Osborne to express fears the Government was going to "screw up" the deal. He contacted the Chancellor after receiving a phone call from Mr Murdoch questioning the legitimacy of the process when secret recordings of Business Secretary Vince Cable "declaring war" on News Corp emerged.

Mr Cameron and Mr Brown will be asked about their meetings with News Corp boss Rupert Murdoch when they give evidence. Mr Cameron will also face questioning over his relationship with former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks. The close friendship between the pair was laid bare when Mrs Brooks appeared before the inquiry last month. There will be questions to Mr Cameron over the appointment of former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as Downing Street's communications chief and his relationship with News Corp in general. Mr Osborne will be asked about his role in the appointment after Mr Coulson told the inquiry last month that within two months of his resignation from the now defunct Sunday tabloid, Mr Osborne was courting him for the job. Mr Osborne could also be questioned over any role he had in the BSkyB saga after it emerged during Mr Hunt's evidence that, after expressing his concerns, the Culture Secretary had been texted by the Chancellor on the subject. Less than an hour before responsibility for the bid was transferred to Mr Hunt, Mr Osborne sent him a message saying: "I hope you like the solution." Mrs Brooks said she had a three-minute conversation about the bid with Mr Osborne at a dinner in December 2010. The bid was later dropped.

Mr Brown is likely to give his version of the incident in which he is said to have told Rupert Murdoch he had declared war on his media empire after The Sun switched its support to the Conservatives in September 2009. Mr Murdoch told the inquiry in April that Mr Brown had rung him in an "unbalanced" state of mind when the tabloid abandoned Labour following the then prime minister's conference speech. The billionaire businessman said his "warm personal relationship" with Mr Brown broke down after this. The former premier might also discuss The Sun's 2006 story about his son Fraser having cystic fibrosis. Mrs Brooks denied the story had been obtained through hacking into medical records and said the information came from a source connected to a charity for the condition. The inquiry has heard that Mr Brown was very close to Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre and, according to Labour's Lord Mandelson, had a "great friendship" with him. Asked if Mr Dacre had any influence on policy, Lord Mandelson said it may have affected Mr Brown's cooling on Europe and the single currency but suggested that was "by no means the only influence". The friendship is another topic on which Mr Brown could face questions.

The other figures entering the witness box in courtroom 73 next week are also set to face questions over their relations with the press. Previous evidence to the inquiry has indicated that Sir John's relations with the Murdoch papers were at times less friendly than those enjoyed by other premiers. Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie recalled one conversation with the then-prime minister, on the night the UK crashed out of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism in September 1992, which seemed to illustrate the point. Mr MacKenzie said he told Sir John: "I've got a bucket of s*** on my desk, prime minister, and I'm going to pour it all over you," when the then-leader asked how the story was going to be covered in the paper the next day. Mr Miliband and Ms Harman have both been critical of the Murdoch empire, with the Labour leader saying its size was unhealthy. He has also branded its influence on British politics "dangerous" and called for it to be broken up. Mr Clegg has joined calls for greater "plurality" too, and reportedly criticised politicians who competed to "bow and scrape" before Rupert Murdoch.

Ms Harman has accused the Murdoch empire of becoming too mighty for the Government and the police, and last January The Sun reported that the "po-faced" Labour deputy had asked "the girls in the House of Commons" to help her ban the tabloid's page 3 pictures of topless women. Scottish First Minister Mr Salmond faces questioning at the inquiry over a relationship with Rupert Murdoch that he has characterised as "good and business-like" despite Labour criticism of his links to the media magnate. Mr Miliband described Mr Salmond as an "undercover lobbyist" for Mr Murdoch after Lord Justice Leveson heard that News Corp thought the SNP leader would intervene on behalf of the company's BSkyB takeover bid. Mr Cameron set up the Leveson Inquiry last July in response to revelations that the News of the World hacked murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone after she disappeared in 2002. The first part of the inquiry is looking at the culture, practices and ethics of the press in general and is due to produce a report by October.

The second part, examining the extent of unlawful activities by journalists, will not begin until detectives have completed their investigation into alleged phone hacking and corrupt payments to police, and any prosecutions have been concluded. PA

Question: What surname appeared most in the UK Leveson Inquiry Report about media/press privacy and phone hacking?
Answer: Murdoch