UK govt.’s Levenson core status slammed

Chris Hutchings, a specialist in media law and partner at the commercial law firm Hamlins LLP attacked the move, allowing the UK Prime Minister David Cameron and seven ministers to see documents and witness statements in Levenson inquiry in advance of them becoming public, because a deadline for witnesses to apply for core participant status for the next part of the inquiry expired over a month ago.

He also said that the decision means the ministers have a legal right to challenge witnesses’ evidence in advance and raise objections to potentially sensitive documents being made public “and apply for certain documents to be kept out of the public domain if they object to them.”

Following disclosures by Rupert and James Murdoch last week about their relationships with ministers, in particular Jeremy Hunt, the British Culture Secretary, Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks are expected to appear as witnesses next week at the Royal Courts of Justice as the Leveson inquiry’s investigation of News International moves closer to Downing Street.

Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive, is expected to hand over private texts and email messages between herself and The UK premier.

Andy Coulson, former communications chief of David Cameron, was the News of the World editor in the period when a “culture” of illegal voicemail interception was rife inside Sunday tabloid.

SSM/HE

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