21 May 2012

Leveson Inquiry - Module 3 - Day 8 - Mandelson and Jowell



Useful Links:
Leveson Inquiry Witness Statements HERE 
Leveson Inquiry Witness Lists HERE 
Video Recordings of each day's proceedings HERE
Live Feed From Leveson Inquiry Site HERE
BBC Democracy Live Feed HERE 
Guardian Live Blog HERE

Previous Hearing ( Thursday, 17th May )  HERE
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Links to latest articles, comment and information relevant to the Leveson Inquiry:
Monday 21st May:
Twitter, 12:10 p.m. :

@SkyNewsBreak:
Culture Secretary, Jeremy Hunt, is to be investigated by Parliamentary Standards Commissioner

More Details from Guardian Live Blog HERE
Mandelson says in his witness statement that he and members of his family were targeted by the private investigator Jonathan Rees.The extract from his witness statement says:
I am most familiar with the case relating to the work of Southern Investigations and Jonathan Rees. Last year I was made aware of work undertaken by Southern Investigations that were documented in a series of invoices that referred to invasions into the privacy of myself and my family. The exact nature of these actions were unclear from the paperwork that was reviewed, but I understood it to cover accessing (or trying to access) my bank account along with making inquiries about other member of my family, including I believe surveillance of my elderly mother. I understand this case was being pursued by the police officers working on the Operation Motorman inquiry. I understand that incidences of the type that I was subject to are not uncommon, as the information commissioner outlined in the report which he published in 2006.
@JoshHalliday:
House of Commons debate on culture committee #phonehacking report announced for tomorrow 
John Whittingdale, chair of CMS cttee, wants #phonehacking conclusions on NI execs to be considered by cttee on standards and privileges

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Lord Peter Mandelson   Witness Statement in Full

 
Guardian Live Blog HERE


From Guardian Live Blog:
Lord Justice Leveson greets Mandelson with the words, along with his traditional vote of thanks: "I also am fearful of a runaway train hurtling down the track towards me."
Mandelson replies: "To arrive at a point where you can make recommendations which will command the confidence of the public and the press can live with will be difficult. I don't think there's been a more important time to try to do it."
@rosschawkins:
Jay: you were effectively but not in law Mr Brown's number two... is that broadly right? Mandelson: Yes
Lord Mandelson begins his testimony..
@natalie[eck:
Mandelson: I don't think politicians + journalists would discuss the nature of their relationship as a trade, but it is fact that. 
Mandelson: I used to say "you can be friendly with journalists but journalists are never your friends".  

@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: a trade is in fact what pols/journos engaged in a lot of the time; journos want info, pols to be seen in good light
Mandelson: you can be friendly with journos but journos are never your friends; journos wd say same about politicians

@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: if you open FT, you don't expect to read manufactured news. Other papers more sensationalist, going for impact
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: journos wd say there are some politicians you always get a straight answer from and some you won't

@nataliepeck: Mandelson: There were times when relations were calmer and more trusting, and periods when significantly less trust and respect.
Mandelson: Margaret Thatcher cultivated, honoured and nurtured editors and journalists very successfully. 

@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: Blair rescued & made good Labour's relations with media after 92, got worse 2/3 years in then during Iraq War
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: politicians rely on media for their message. Public are the losers in this if relationship breaks down

Guardian Live Blog:
The relationship between journalists and politicians "has broken down, largely", says Mandelson, referring to being appointed director of communications at the Labour party in 1985 to the present day.
"It has been a bit of a rollercoaster ride. Were times when it was calmer and more trusting, other periods when less trust and respect," he says.
Tony Blair "rescued and made good" Labour's relations with the press, he adds, but says this was on a rollercoaster driven by "instant demands" and increased scepticism from the press.
"Their trust in what they're being told is the truth has deteriorated," Mandelson says.
Mr Jay asks Lord Mandelson about his use of the word 'debasing' in relation to the press/politician interaction..
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: I am not saying that every contact or relationship is debasing or demeaning but it can become so.
Mandelson ws: Conversations with ministers/PM might indirectly affect proprietors' interests should be held in appointed meetings.
Mandelson ws: Changing relationship also being driven by loss of deference in society, fact little of what happens in Parl covered.

@rosschawkins:
Inquiry hears Mandelson's views are on standard of manners dropping, politicians being regarded as for media to use and abuse
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson ws: Political world placed under intolerable pressure by growth of 24/7 news cycle and demand for instant information.
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: the media has to be challenging, it has to inquire into wrongdoing.
Mandelson: seems every journo wants to turn themselves into a Woodward or a Bernstein. But must accept not everyone has done wrong
Mandelson: it's about standards [he says standards of manners, courtesy have fallen]

@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: journos have to accept sometimes people haven't done wrong
Mandelson says there's been a tabloidisation of the media, barely any broadsheets left figuratively or literally

@nataliepeck:
Madelson ws: Reject that Faustian pact was forged between Labour government and Rupert Murdoch.

From Guardian Live Blog:
Mandelson is asked about his views on the "loss of deference in society" in which he says people are not prepared to listen to others' point of view, to give them respect.
"To give them the opportunity to have their day in court," says Mandelson, rather than "throwing them out of the highest window, ruining their reputation before anyone has had the chance to establish the facts. I don't think it's unfair or reasonable to expect the media to operate on that basis".
It doesn't mean, he says, that politicians must be assumed to be "untouchable".
The media has to be challenging but as others have said every journalist it seems wants to turn themselves into a Woodward or a Bernstein. They have to accept that sometimes people haven't done wrong ... the facts of the matter are different. It's about standards of journalism.
He adds:
I have a sense during the course of my adult life, sensationalism, going for what is salacious, particularly in relation to household names, or those that are not and are rapidly turned into them ... a newspaper's desire to create the maximum impact, it's almost the default place for newspapers to go if they are in fear of losing readers.
It could be described as the 'tabloidisation' of the media in which there are barely any broadsheets left, figuratively or literally.
@lisaocarroll:
Mandelson: the press was not regulated thru the PCC code. It was a system of non-regulation


Guardian Live Blog:
Jay says that Mandelson in his written evidence describes the time of the 1992 general election as "horrible and bloody".
Asked to expand, he says:
There has been a longstanding trend in the press to mix reporting with comment. What took this merging of comment and reporting to a higher level was the more lethal cocktail which I believed the Labour party was exposed to, of aggression and inaccuracy. I think the Labour party and Mr Kinnock in particular were victims of that. The press took their gloves off, there was a lack of scruple or restraint.
Mandelson is asked whether he cultivated journalists to put his policies across in the most favourable light.
"Yes, of course you identified opportunities and people and events," he says, adding: "It was my job to put the Labour party in a better light and receive favourable reporting."
Did this cultivation ever become a collusive relationship?
I don't know. I remember journalists in newspapers and broadcast media who felt the Labour party hadn't been treated fairly and thought this should change. I remember journalists who were more sympathetic to the Labour cause who ... wanted to help us. Not sure I could count them on the fingers of one hand, or possibly two. I wouldn't describe that as collusion however.
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: feelings around NI and Mr Murdoch reached fresh depth around '92 elex. We didn't want to make new enemies of NI
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: different dialogues were opened with News Int inc with proprietor, don't think that's unreasonable

@lisaocarroll:
Mandelson: labour party didn't want to make permanent enemies of News Internation #Leveson (in 1992)
@skymarkwhite:
Asked if he experienced distaste at Labour's wooing of Murdoch, Mandelson says I was fully paid up member of New Lab cause and strategy
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson #leveson: thought concessions we were making on rhetoric & tone on Europe (to News Int) was going a tad too far
Mandelson: of course i wasn't comfortable in policy areas like Europe; I was a notorious pro European

@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: If you were going to do something that was bad news for the Sun you would pave the way by talking to them.


LJ Leveson asks whether Rupert Murdoch's influence was more than that of other media proprietors..
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: I was a fully made-up and integral member of New Labour's strategy
 
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Didn't want Blair to do anything might appear weak or pandering, or lead people to infer under obligation to Murdoch.
@skymarkwhite:
Mandelson: I fully understood what needed to be done to bring the media with you, but sometimes it left you feeling a bit queasy
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: if you don't want media proprietors to go around feeling they're regal, then don't treat them regally
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson on govt handling press: like wrestling with a crocodile, before you knew where you were it wd snap your head off
Mandelson says there was touch of hyperbole in this article when he said Lab had been "cowed" by media
Mandelson: Press to all intents and purposes regarded themselves as above the law  

@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Would take real nerve as any PM to introduce legislation (on reg) because press regarded themselves as above the law.
Mandelson: After Calcutt reported,within 72 hrs,PM's press secretary let it be known Major would not embark on legislative change.

@rosschawkins:
Mandelson tells #leveson if you recommend s/thing that needs legislation you're putting govt of day in incredibly awkward position

Mandelson: some #leveson evidence has made my mouth drop open

@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Result of the inquiry - people describing what they've been through will be a revelation for 90% or more of population.
Mandelson: My mouth dropped open because you don't realise what has happened and what journalistic processes stories emerge from.

@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: press want to make selves untouchable, don't accept there are basic standards or ethics, or what's reasonable or fair

From Guardian Live Blog:
The discussion turns to the Leveson inquiry itself.
"No one would want to single themselves out as taking on the press," says Mandelson. "You would be putting the government of the day in an incredibly awkward position."
Leveson: "So they give it to a judge instead."
Mandelson: "In not so many words, yes."
@natlaiepeck:
Time for Southern Investigations and Jonathan Rees. Mandelson investigated on behalf of Daily Mirror, says police have told him so.
@JoshHalliday:
Mandelson: Police told me Daily Mirror commissioned PI Jonathan Rees to target me while Piers Morgan was editor

@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: police told him about work commissioned by Mirror when Piers Morgan was editor, relates to enquiries about brother and mother
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Elderly mother put under surveillance and inquiries made about brother, as well as attempted access to own bank account. 
Mandelson on Yates: [He was accusing me of] leaking to the inquiry? That would have been rich coming from him.
Yates letter to Madelson on suspected leaks to press: These are very serious allegations…entirely unwarranted. 
Mandelson: All of those close to investigation absolutely convinced that Mr Yates was briefing journalists. He wanted high profile. 
Mandelson accuses Yates of closing down phone hacking review "rather speedily".

@rosschawkins:
Mandelson speaks of people being absolutely convinced that Yates was briefing journalists re cash for honours
Mandelson: thought Yates letter was bullying, considered seeing him in court

@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: If I hadn't been so busy I might have told him to see my in court but I filed his letter instead.
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: Yates letter showed chutzpah, was bullying. If I hadn’t been so busy might’ve been a good idea to see him in court 
Mandeslon: regulation not only solution. Coporate governance, transparency both come into it

@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: I don't see why the press should be the last bastion left in this country that doesn't have some form of accountability.
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: don't see why press should be last bastion in this country that doesn't have body enforcing standards
Mandelson: just in case of banks, you need regulation, but for banks to uphold proper standards they need better ppl running them

@BBCPeterHunt:
Leveson: Mandelson on Murdoch's view of BBC -- too big, too expensive, too powerful and needed to be cut down.

@rosschawkins:
Some background on Mandelson and Rees here
 
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Dacre is the editor-in-chief and in that sense the Mail and MoS are forged in his image not in Lord Rothermere's.
Mandelson: Dacre liked a good argument but could only take the edges off his anger, he had real anger about New Labour and Blair.

@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: Paul Dacre was not president of my fan club


From Guardian Live Blog:
Here is a brief summary of Lord Mandelson's evidence so far:
• There was "no Faustian deal" between Rupert Murdoch and Labour government, Lord Mandelson said
• Taking on the press is "politically suicidal" for any prime minister
• Piers Morgan's Daily Mirror commissioner private investigator Jonathan Rees to target Mandelson, he told inquiry
• He claims he has never leaked anything to the press
The background to those Lord Mandelson allegations about Piers Morgan's Daily Mirror is here.
He first raised the claims in June last year. Trinity Mirror said at the time that its journalists had last used Jonathan Rees's firm Southern Investigations in 1999.
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Matthew Freud socialises, good networker, he gives reasonable parties, likes having people round to his home for dinner.
Mandelson: Matthew Freud was more a connecter than a conduit.

@rosschawkins:
Mandelson on Matthew Freud: I called him my foul weather friend; when things were going wrong he'd be there
@natalaiepeck:
Mandelson: Partly true Brooks' editorial view represented her own and her colleagues - including her proprietors' - prejudices.
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: perception is all in politics, but perception becomes reality
 
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson says gaining access to ministers and politicians isn't a crime


@BBCPeterHunt:
Leveson: Mandelson on Rebekah Brooks' characteristics -- persistence, charm, manipulative skills
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson says Brooks complained about - "or whoever it was" - asking if he cd be pulled off
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: If you were Home Sec you'd be well advised to watch your Ps and Qs as dar as the Sun and Daily Mail are concerned.
@lisaocarroll:
Mandelson confirms that Rebekah Brooks came to him to c if he could get murdoch critic MP Tom Watson 'pulled off' select committee
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson on R Brooks: had persistence, charm, manipulative skills. Adds "some might think that's rich coming from me" 
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Brooks' support for Blair very important in 2005-7 as had been weakened politically after Iraq war.
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: Brooks support for Blair in his final term was very important, he had been weakened politically
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: if you were Home Sec you'd be well advised to watch your Ps&Qs as far as Sun and Daily Mail were concerned
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Brown became, to our astonishment, incredibly close to Dacre. Gordon and Paul Dacre had a great friendship. 
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: Gordon and Paul Dacre had a great friendship. Even when GB as PM having tough time, always element of laying off Brown
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Mail and MoS would be laying into Labour gov left, right + centre, but there was always an element of laying off Brown. 
Mandelson: It was not hard to get Rebekah Brooks to wax eloquent about the inequities of Gordon Brown and Blair coup.

@rosschawkins:
Jay: you were involved in the Corfu leg of Elisabeth's Murdoch's 40th birthday party...
 
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Murdoch told Brooks "For goodness sake Rebekah, can't you let history be history" [over Brown tirade].
Mandelson: Sun was using war in Afghanistan as a way of undermining public confidence in Brown. Drip-feed of posionous reporting.
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: Regular drip-feed of poisonous reporting and comment that implied Brown was not a good leader 
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson holds he told Sun they were "chumps" for switch to Conservatives, suggestion has been "chumps" wasn't the word
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: To turn the Sun into some Tory fanzine on the flick of a coin-toss was insulting to its readers.
Mandelson: Of course the Murdochs will continue to make calculations in terms of commerical interests and position of the Sun.
@lisaocarroll:
Mandelson: Cameron speech in July 09 (3 months before Sun switch) correspendented exactly to News Int policy
@skymarkwhite:
Having earlier denied Labour entered into any express or implied deal with Murdoch, Mandelson suggests Tories did exactly that  
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: Brown shouldn't have taken Sun switch of support so personally
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: I wasn't on the Brown/Murdoch call. I seem to remember PM telling me Murdoch wasn't happy about timing of Sun switch.
Mandelson: I was asked to go to dinner with Murdoch, sometime in Spring 2010. I declined and agreed meeting at his flat. 
@skymarkwhite:
Mandelson reveals Brown did call Murdoch after Sun switched support, but wasn't privy to what Brown said, Murdoch claims he was threatened
@BBCPeterHunt:
Leveson: Mandelson -- Gordon (brown) did not hold back in talking to Rupert Murdoch.
 
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: When I saw Murdoch he was quite agitated that the government had declared war on his company. 
Mandelson: I've had no personal dealings with Fred Michel but linked through think-tank. He has texted me but had no contact.
Mandelson: Don't want to mislead you, I'm in difficult position. Would say he was better at networking than dealing with policies.
From Guardian Live Blog:
On to News International lobbyist Fred Michel, who once worked for the thinktank of which Mandelson is chairman. Mandelson he has not had any contact with Michel since 2003, although "he has messaged me".
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Should look at Michel correspondence with News Corp with scepticism.

@skymarkwhite:
Mandelson coming to Jeremy Hunt's rescue saying he'd treat communications between Fred Michel and Hunt's Department with some scepticism
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Early on in the government, there was at the centre a too media-centric mode of operation.
Mandelson: Spin became anything minister - or anyone working for minister - said. Became most overused word in English lanaguage.
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: comes a time for any gov't when honeymoon ends, press turns on them and decides to give them run for their money  
Mandelson: in the 1980s when I started out, no-one was doing us any favours. I stood up for my party and always will
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson #leveson: Favouritism? hardly a crime to talk to people who were going to give you a fair crack of a whip
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Started off in the 1980s as rough, tough, robust defender of my party. Lightening conductor for Blair, then picked over. 
Mandelson: "Do me a favour" (at suggestion press cynicism would be different without 'kings of spin' like him + Alastair Campbell)
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: I became a lightning conductor for Mr Blair, was then picked over by Mr Blair's neighbour
@benfenton:
Mandelson says he wished he could have been "Thoroughly Emollient Mandy", but he wasn't. He was tough. 
@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: I think press must also reflect on what's happened in their stable. Is not pretty. 

@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: The challenges we are going to face as digital content takes over will exceed anything we've had to deal with.
Mandelson: I thought Martin Clarke's (MailOnline) evidence fascinating + chilling. Internet creates much bigger challenge for you.  
Mandelson: Neither me or company given advice to News Corp, NI or senior staff there. Have talked to people about what's happened.
Mandelson: NI should embark on truth + rec process. Reply Dacre would take very dim view if started spraying industry with bullets.
Mandelson on regulation: We don't have anyone who's able to intervene, investigate, draw out unacceptable practice.
Mandelson: What we need is not self-regulation but independent regulation.  

@IndexLeveson:
Mandelson: we need indepedent regulation. Statutorily-based regulation by neither press nor government 
Mandelson: Ofcom undertakes a perfectly responsible and reputable role in regulating media in this country.

@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: I think Lord Hunt is very sincere in what he's proposing but essentially mediation under a different name.
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson opposes Lord Hunt PCC reform proposals, "essentially mediation under a different name" 
Mandelson on press standards: everyone has to be a mite less paranoid, a mite less cynical & frankly more generous to each other
 @IndexLeveson:
#Leveson points out the view that Parliamentary backing of regulatory body might infringe free speech. Mandelson responds: why?
Mandelson: I don't think there's any likelihood of a regulator standing in the way of real investigative journalism
Mandelson: v difficult indeed if bloggers don't accept reach of PCC in the way online versions of printed material do

Mandelson: it's like managing a tsunami. #Leveson repeats internet is the "elephant in the room"
Mandelson: heaven knows what we'll do when whole social media universe explodes
Mandelson: am not one of those who thinks the Internet can or should be regulated

@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Privacy is to an extent a nebulous concept. Very difficult if bloggers don't now accept the reach of the PCC.
#Leveson: Very conscious there is an enormous range out there - that seems at least difficult and needs to be thought about.
Mandelson: My practical and liberal sympathies lie on the side of freedom of the internet.

Mr Garnham refers to Lord Mandelson's assertion that John Yates leaked information and asks what evidence Lord Mandelson has for this accusation....
Lord Mandelson says he has a firm well-founded belief that John Yates leaked information and that journalists (wouldn't name them) told him this..

@rosschawkins:
Met cross examining Mandelson, say he has no evidence Yates leaked #leveson - Mandelson: "I have belief"
@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: I have a basis for belief that Mr Yates/Met leaked information about Cash for Honours [Garnham replies 'no evidence'].
@rosschawkins:
Mandelson: I do not find your line of questioning very plausible
Mandelson says his evidence is "solid belief" what journalists said, they were surprised to find selves on phone to Yates

@nataliepeck:
Mandelson: Not willing to name who the journalists are, but it remains a solid belief. I fully appreciate the job you have to do.

Lord Mandelson's evidence now complete.
 

Tessa Jowell MP   Witness Statement in Full

Guardian Live Blog HERE

@nataliepeck:
[DCS Surtees told inquiry in Feb Jowell one of several phone hacking victims informed 2006. Declined to assist with prosecution.
Jowell ws: Written to inquiry to clarify remarks made by DCS Surtees. Untrue unwilling to help, my further offers were declined.
Jowell ws: No evidence hacking of my phone for commercial motives, rather obsessive interest in troubled family circumstances.

Guardian Live Blog:
In her witness statement, Jowell responds to DCS Keith Surtees's claim to the inquiry in February that Jowell was one of several phone hacking victims informed in 2006, but she declined to sign a statement to be used in a prosecution. She writes:
I have also written to the inquiry clarifying remarks made by lnsp Keith Suttees in his evidence, in which he suggested that I had been unwilling to assist with the prosecution when first informed of the hacklng of my phone by the police in August 2006. This is untrue; in fact, as my then principaI private secretary's statement to the police confirms, my offers of further help were declined.
Jowell describes her phone-hacking claim as follows in her statement:
It is a matter of public record that my mobile phone was extensively hacked by News of the World during 2006. I took a civil action that was settled in December 2011. All details appear in the register of parliamentary interests. I continue to assist with the police enquiry, Operation Weeting, and have already given five witness statements. There is no evidence yet shown to me that the hacking of my phone was undertaken for commercial motives, but rather in pursuance of an obsessive interest in my troubled family circumstances at that time. In any event the Communications Act received royal assent in 2003, some time before it appears that my phone was hacked.
Rt Hon Tessa Jowell is sworn in
Tessa Jowell telling Mr Barr that not all of her documents were available from the Dept CMS
@rosschawkins:
Tessa Jowell begins saying there are no longer copies of her ministerial diaries & meeting notes

Mr Barr asks whether Tessa Jowell, upon her appointment as Minister for CMS, spoke to PM about whether a deal had been done with Rupert Murdoch...
@rosschawkins:
Blair gave Jowell absolute assurance there was no deal
#leveson picking up on fact Jowell didn't want Blair to see parties - ie inc Murdoch - while she hammered out media policy
Jowell: wanted to make sure proposals I developed weren't being undermined by representations direct to No10

Guardian Live Blog:
Jowell adds that she received a categorical confirmation from then-prime minister, Tony Blair, that "no deal had been reached" with Rupert Murdoch about new ownership rules.
I asked him whether any deal had been done with Rupert Murdoch on the reform of cross-media ownership rules. He gave me an absolute assurance there had been no prior agreement. I had no constraint on the conclusions I might reach … I said, 'In that case it is best that you don't see the parties and you let me take this policy and come back to you with proposals and we can reach agreement.'
Barr asks if Blair discussed with her how he wanted to deal with Murdoch.
"No, he didn't," says Jowell
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: My view with policy was always to proceed carefully and deliberately - you have to shut out a lot of the noise.
Jowell: De-regulation/simplification was seeking to equip the industry for the future, and also aimed to promote investment.

@rosschawkins:
Precis of Comms Act 2003 at centre of this evidence <>


From Guardian Live Blog:
Jowell says she wanted to "deregulate" the media without jeopardising the elements that the public valued most.
She wanted to make sure that her proposals "were not being undermined" by media owners going straight to No 10.
Jowell says this was not a concern specific to the media, but acknowledged the "combustible potential" of the act and wanted to limit the noise around her work.
There was always a temptation ... if parties to our policies didn't like the view that was being expressed by the relevant secretary of state they would try to go round the back door to No 10. I was trying to make sure I was the secretary of state solely responsible for bringing forward changes to media regulation.
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: We had more than 230 responses to the consultation. Went through a lengthy process.


Guardian Live Blog:
Jowell is asked about foreign ownership of terrestrial broadcasters.
She says she was concerned not to jeopardise quality or plurality of the media while opening up the possibility of US, Japanese or Australian investment in the sector.
News International and other big media groups made clear that competition law alone was sufficient to ensure plurality, Jowell says.
Barr suggests Rupert Murdoch would have been happy with the act's rules on foreign ownership of terrestrial broadcasters. 
@rosschawkins:
Briefing for Jowell on media ownership rules said: "we'll be accused of giving in to Murdoch" before explaining why they weren't doing so
@nataliepeck:
Barr reviewing proposal for scrapping foreign ownership rules."Package offers Sky/NI /News Corp some movement but also challenges".
Jowell: At time the big prize was ITV. C5 was + remains very small terrestrial company with limited public service broadcasting.
Jowell: Blair's instincts were more deregulatory than mine were.

@rosschawkins:
Jowell on Blair: his instincts were motivated not by any media company but were more de-regulatory than mine
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: We opened the doors [for lobbying] and sought meetings. Met with Les Hinton [NI] once in 2001 and again 2002.
Jowell: I don’t think there was more lobbying from NI than other media groups. I certainly talked a lot to the BBC throughout.

@rosschawkins:
Jowell: don't think there was more lobbying from News Int than other media groups; talked a lot to BBC
@dansabbagh:
Blair wanted Jowell to see if Murdoch cld be allowed to buy *ITV* or C5 at private meeting, March 2002. Jowell says Blair was "deregulatory"

V int point, Blair challenged Jowell on whether Murdochs could buy ITV as Comms Bill was being drafted.
Two weeks later, ie Apr 2002, Murdoch/ITV proposal was dropped, but PM did get his way re C5, ie Murdoch could have bought C5.

Guardian Live blog:
Barr turns to another briefing note, prepared by Jowell and Patricia Hewitt, for Tony Blair in March 2002 on the communications bill. It was followed by a meeting with Blair.
It said that News International and Sky – "not one company but linked in most people's minds" – could also expand into local press and local radio. However, it would be barred from owning ITV or Channel 5 because owned more than 20% of the national newspaper market.
Jowell says she has no specific recollection of the meeting. "The prime minister's instincts were more deregulatory than mine, he pushed me further than I would have gone myself in exploring deregulatory options," she adds.
Barr asks if there was any discussion special adviser level about how this issue might affect the Labour party's relationship with Murdoch.
"No, there was no discussion of that," she says.
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Neither Murdoch or Hinton expressed a precise interest in C5, wanted to get rid of all cross-media ownership rules.
Very detailed explanation of cross-media ownership consultation - being discussed now - in Jowell ws:
Jowell: When you're SoS + developing policy and PM has slightly different view from one you're advancing, you take that seriously.
Letter to Jowell/Hewitt in 2002: No 10 have agreed a method of attaining collective agreement in this policy area.
Letter: Suggestion letter you send to colleagues should include a summary without referring to the most sensitive issues.
Jowell: The process of policy-making tends to be rather lower in volume and more rational than a lot of the media coverage

@rosschawkins:
Jowell #leveson: Received memo from civil servant saying No10 suggested letter to cabinet colleagues shd omit most sensitive issues
Jowell was then to speak to Brown Blunkett Straw Cook, PM wd brief Prescott
(if that accurate reflection of Blair cabinet handling, approach was : square off most important members one on one, don't tell rest)

@nataliepeck:
Inquiry shown 'Media Ownership - defensive briefing on press stories from first week'. Inc. "It's a stitch-up with Murdoch".
Also: "Sky will buy C5 and use it as a tool to cross-promote Sky Digital and increase their dominance in the market for pay TV" (FT).

Guardian Live Blog:
Allowing Murdoch to buy Channel 5 was "a politically controversial development," says Barr.
Jowell responds: "There are those that would have strong views on either side".
She says she cannot remember whether she spoke to Gordon Brown or other ministers confidentially about sensitive cross-media ownership rules to be proposed by the Communications Act.
We had to see this as intensely politically sensitive, yes. The noise is more politically energising than the substance of the proposals. The important thing was to make sure everyone understood the substance.
Jowell adds that there was a lot of "noise" in the media about the potential for this act to open the door further for Murdoch, but that policy-making was a more rational process.
"I would have had these conversations with these four senior colleagues and taken them through all the proposals. They were more than just lifting the restriction on Channel 5."
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Big investment + growth of C5 would have resulted in new regulation + underpinning its status as pub service broadcaster. 
@IndexLeveson:
Jowell initially against public interest test, 1) felt there were sufficient safeguards for plurality
Jowell adds: 2) felt it was likely to deter investment by creating uncertainty
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Was against public interest test as advised we had sufficient safeguards against plurality and it would deter investment.

Guardian Live Blog:
Jowell does not accept that the act in relation to Channel 5 was a big development and maintains that it was "proprietor neutral".
She says that the media would have seen the development in one of two ways: pro-Murdoch or anti-Murdoch. "But the perception is less important than good policy," she adds.
Barr says that there was media speculation at the time that Murdoch was interested in Channel 5.
Jowell maintains that a whole range of potential owners could have been interested in buying Channel 5 at the time, which is what the act aimed to allow.
Barr turns to the "endgame" of the Communications Act, referring to the amendment proposed by Lord Puttnam.
It was proposed that a public interest test should be added as an "overarching longstop" to prevent any takeover that would damage plurality.
Jowell says she "didn't think it was necessary" because the act already had sufficient safeguards.
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Reaction was to contend for narrowest possible plurality test, consulted with Lord Puttnam (brokered pub int compromise).
Gov email: Puttnam "will only accept a pluariality test that makes absolutely sure News Corp can't buy Channel 5.
Tessa Jowell being asked about Lord Puttnam's interview in the Independent in which he made clear he thought he'd been duped..


IndexLeveson:
Jowell: Puttnam seeking to avoid videocracy. No one wanted videocracy in this country, as secretary of state I didn't either 
@nataliepeck:
Barr gives Jowell chance to respond to Independent report (2005) 'Lord Puttnam "I should have been smarter"'.
Article stated Puttnam said was misled over negotiations with newspaper groups. Jowell:I certainly don't believe that was the case.
#Leveson says wants chance to ask about response to consultation on payments to witnesses and part paid by PCC. Five minute break.
Barr now asking about Operation Motorman and ICO reports.
Jowell: I did not see the 2006/2009 ICO reports at the time they came out.


@rosschawkins:
... but she says that's because different dept dealt with recommendations
 
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Reports acted on by the IC, initially by two SoS as soon as the first was published.Consultation carried out by DCA on DPA.
Jowell: I think Jack Straw dealt with fully in his evidence the steps he took to place in legislation.
Jowell: Not aware of any time when IC sought to meet with me to discuss what the DCMS should do in relation to this.
Jowell: Wouldn't have been appropriate for my department to have such capability because we have a very clear system of self-reg.
Jowell: Had my dep established unit overseeing behaviour of press, that would have been fairly seen as a step towards press reg.

@IndexLeveson:
Jowell: wouldn't have been appropriate for my department to have such capability b/c we have a very clear system of self-regulation
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Press + public reaction highly reactive. Is no halfway house - either self-regulated or by statute. #Leveson "Not sure about that."
@IndexLeveson:
Jowell: had my dept set up unit overseeing press behaviour, would've been seen as step to undermine self-regulation
Jowell: there's no halfway house between regulation and self-regulation; either self-regulated or done by statute.

@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Aware of PCC time devoted to complaints (now 5,000 a yr). Their role not like statutory reg, but reg good + decent conduct.
Jowell: Had PCC have resources to exercise initiative they would have done more regulating - I'm not a PCC apologist.


@JoshHalliday:
Crucial quote that should end up in Leveson's final recommendations: Jowell: PCC was a body you had to have lunch with 2x a year.
@arusbridger:
#Leveson asks Jowell: was anyone overseeing PCC to see it was doing what it said on the tin? Jowell: not my job to do so
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: History of relationship between politicians + press been punctuated by those moments of eruption (death of Diana, Hutton).
Jowell: "Fair conclusion" that degree of confusion over whether PCC was a regulator.
Jowell: Has become clear that simply relying on the PCC to take major responsiblity to change practice is impossible.  
Barr confining questions on hacking to 2006. Jowell was informed by poilce that voicemail accessed.

rosschawkins:
Phone hacking Jowell suffered was "much more extensive" that 28 or 29 occasions of which she was originally told
Jowell on being hacked: there is no evidence that any info was being sought other than that relating to my family

@nataliepeck:
Barr asks about DCS Surtees claim Jowell resisted helping with hacking prosecutions in 2006. 

 
@dansabbagh:
Jowell has give 5 statements to Weeting. Says hacking all abt her "family" situation at the time...
Key aspect of the Jowell 'family' story was her husband's links to Berlusconi. So story was about money and power at the highest levels.

@IndexLeveson:
Jowell: sought clarification over what further I shld do, expressed willingness to help but was assured nothing further to do
Jowell: I want the Inquiry to be absolutely clear that had I been asked [in Aug 06] to provide witness statement, I would have
 
@rosschawkins:
Jowell #leveson: invasion of my privacy was total during that period
Jowell: police evidence that she wdn't help with 06 prosecution was untrue (bground here )
 
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Shocked by hacking but it answered a lot of questions as to why I was followed everywhere by journalists and photographers.
Jowell: I was deeply shocked when I read Keith Surtees’ evidence, because it is completely untrue.
Jowell: Want inquiry to be absolutely clear had I been asked at that time to provide a witness statement, I would have provided it.
Jowell: Made every effort to establish that there was no questions of commercial espionage or attempt to interfere with SoS duties. 

@IndexLeveson:
Jowell: there was obsessive curiosity about my family and private life. Family suffered
 
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: At time my family had been destroyed and my life was very difficult, so satisfied with explanation to obsessive curiosity.
Jowell: It's only in the last 18 months that I find myself not looking in cars to see if there's somebody waiting.
Jowell: Told close friends in the Cabinet. Their reaction was shock but also sympathy and concern for me. 

@rosschawkins:
Jowell argument is she thought hacking of her phone was about her personal life () not govt policy

@dansabbagh:
Jowell didn't raise fact of her hacking with editor of the NoW at the time. "I didn't because perpetrators had been sent to prison"..
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Didn't raise the matter with NoW editor because perpetrators had been sent to prison. 
Jowell: Repeated story - completely untrue - that my husband had received a bribe from Berlusconi and money used to pay mortgage.

@rosschawkins:
Press ran untrue story that Berlusconi had bribed husband and money used to pay off mortgage says Jowell

So why didn't you go to PCC asks #levson - much of that time I simply can't remember says Jowell

@nataliepeck:
Jowell: I did not pursue a formal complaint with the PCC, every time I was asked about, made it clear it was untrue. 
Jowell: , I never thought 'that’s very odd, that voice message has been listened to and I don’t think I've heard it'.

@rosschawkins:
Jowell: as seasoned politician you get zero expectations of fair treatment from the press, so never disappointed
Jowell: feral beasts is too blanket a description

@nataliepeck:
Jowell: I am a very tough and seasoned elected politician, you have zero expectations of fair treatment in in the press. 
Jowell: It's always important never to rest on a friendship with journalists more than their role as a journalist can bear.
Jowell: I know there were stories that could have only been derived from phone hacking.
Jowell: Kept reading stories + could not understand where they'd come from. Not just in NI papers but in range of other newspapers.
Jowell names Daily Mail, Evening Standard and Sunday Times. Says will provide more detailed note on press coverage at later date.

@IndexLeveson:
Jowell: we were paying enormous attention to a medium viewed with intrinsic scepticism by the public
@nataliepeck:
[Doesn't look like AN's Caplan QC is in court. Otherwise suspect he would be fiercely objecting implications of Jowell's evidence.
@IndexLeveson:
Jowell: cosy, close are not terms I'd personally use (in terms of press-politicians' relationship)
Jowell: there are rules of the game, those rules not altered by having lunch with journos.
Jowell: Important thing that those rules more transparent/explicit than they've been in past

@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Contact between journalists and politicians should be recorded on a more formal basis.
Jowell has gone through Filofax diaries from past eight years in absence of ministerial diaries.  
@IndexLeveson:
Jowell: all the rules in the world can be written but our gov't is served by good, decent people who uphold these standards
@nataliepeck:
Jowell: Saw Alan Rusbridger and his wife frequently as close personal friends, so not all meetings recorded.

Guardian Live Blog:
Barr asks if politicians thought these parties were important events to attend.
Jowell says government ministers are a "pretty serious lot" and lavish parties are "a great treat", but that politicians do not attend these occasions to get cosy with celebrities.
These parties work on the basis that all parties know the rules, accept the rules and observe the rules in practice.
Jowell is asked how often she met James Murdoch.
"I probably saw James Murdoch maybe twice a year," she says.
Jowell met Murdoch once about the Communications Act, the BBC charter review and the digital switchover. Separately, she met him in relation to the Olympics and whether Sky would be interested in the east London press and broadcast centre.
The counsel for the Metropolitan police is cross-examining Jowell.
Jowell says she is not sure whether she spoke to the same police officer on two occasions.
"My recollection was the purpose of the conversation was to inform me my voice had been hacked," she adds, denying that she was told the police were looking for representatives from different public groups.
She adds:
I was shocked as I have told the inquiry and I was quite upset by the information. But I also know, because this is in my character, I asked what I could do to help and what further steps I needed to take. I reported the conversation immediately to the friends I was with ... who confirmed my willingness to help.
 Tessa Jowell's testimony is complete.
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