UK: ‘Leveson 2’ scrapped as government accused of waiting for ‘fuss to die down’

Plans for another public inquiry into the conduct of the press have been abandoned by the UK government.

Culture Secretary Matt Hancock, told MPs that “Leveson 2”, which would have looked at the relationship between journalists and the police, had been scrapped.

“We do not believe that reopening this costly and time-consuming public inquiry is the right way forward,” the Commons heard.

Former Prime Minister, David Cameron, committed the government to a second inquiry in 2012, when Lord Justice Leveson’s first report was published.

But the Conservatives signalled their intention to scrap part two in their manifesto last year “given the comprehensive nature of the first stage of the Leveson inquiry”.

Labour’s Tom Watson, however, said the government had been waiting for a chance to “break their promises”.

“This announcement, conveniently timed to be buried under a flurry of snow, is a disappointment, a breach of trust and a bitter blow to the victims of press intrusion,” Mr Watson said.

“They didn’t really mean it – they were waiting for the wind to change, for the fuss to die down.”

Mr Hancock also confirmed that section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013 will not come into effect and that the government would seek repeal “at the earliest opportunity”.

The measure would have made media organisations pay legal costs in libel cases, irrespective of the outcome, unless they signed up to the recognised regulator.

Mr Hancock added: “Sir Brian agrees that the inquiry should not proceed on the current forms of reference.”