Paper accuses 'liberal Establishment' of putting
freedom of speech under threat
THE DAILY MAIL has today unleashed a ferocious broadside at the Leveson Inquiry into media
ethics, just days before Lord Justice Leveson is expected to reveal his findings.
ethics, just days before Lord Justice Leveson is expected to reveal his findings.
In a full-on 11-page assault on the inquiry process and the figures involved, the paper, whose editor
Paul Dacre (above) appeared twice before Leveson, presents the inquiry as a "coup by the Left's old boy
network" and a serious threat to free speech in Britain.
Paul Dacre (above) appeared twice before Leveson, presents the inquiry as a "coup by the Left's old boy
network" and a serious threat to free speech in Britain.
At the centre of the storm is Sir David Bell, one of a six-strong panel assisting Leveson on his report into how
best to regulate the British press. He, and other members of the panel, are painted as members of a left-wing
elite who heavily influenced the inquiry and who back state regulation of the press, something the Mail is
implacably opposed to.
best to regulate the British press. He, and other members of the panel, are painted as members of a left-wing
elite who heavily influenced the inquiry and who back state regulation of the press, something the Mail is
implacably opposed to.
The paper begins the takedown by linking Bell to the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, which is under
heavy fire over its involvement in the botched Newsnight report that falsely implicated Lord McAlpine in a
child sex scandal, and led to the resignation of BBC Director General George Entwistle. Bell is a trustee of
the now-tainted organisation.
heavy fire over its involvement in the botched Newsnight report that falsely implicated Lord McAlpine in a
child sex scandal, and led to the resignation of BBC Director General George Entwistle. Bell is a trustee of
the now-tainted organisation.
The Mail also implies that Bell has connections to the Hacked Off campaign, fronted by celebrities including
Charlotte Church and Hugh Grant, which has campaigned for strict press regulations. The paper says the group
was "spawned" from the Media Standards Trust, a lobby group co-founded by Bell.
Charlotte Church and Hugh Grant, which has campaigned for strict press regulations. The paper says the group
was "spawned" from the Media Standards Trust, a lobby group co-founded by Bell.
The paper boasts that its investigation into Bell "has uncovered evidence that questions both his suitability as an
adviser and the impact this may have had on the objectivity and neutrality of the Inquiry".
adviser and the impact this may have had on the objectivity and neutrality of the Inquiry".
In a series of articles, the paper links Bell and other members of the Leveson panel to two more of its betes noires,
Ofcom and Common Purpose, and attacks the liberal elite it feels is driving the agenda.
Ofcom and Common Purpose, and attacks the liberal elite it feels is driving the agenda.
Ofcom, the media watchdog, is described as "the classic New Labour quango... the apotheosis of the party's
obsession with controlling the media". While Common Purpose is painted as "the Left's answer to the old boys'
network".
obsession with controlling the media". While Common Purpose is painted as "the Left's answer to the old boys'
network".
"Like some giant octopus, Common Purpose's tentacles appear to reach into every cranny of the inner sanctums
of Westminster, Whitehall and academia — bodies that often view Britain's unruly, disruptive press with disdain
and distrust," rages the Mail.
of Westminster, Whitehall and academia — bodies that often view Britain's unruly, disruptive press with disdain
and distrust," rages the Mail.
But amid the sound and fury, the Mail still finds time to soft-soap Lord Leveson, the man who will present his
findings and could recommend statutory regulation of press. He is "a man of integrity who has conducted his
inquiry with impartiality," insists the Mail.
findings and could recommend statutory regulation of press. He is "a man of integrity who has conducted his
inquiry with impartiality," insists the Mail.
However it implies that the Leveson Inquiry became a trial of the British media and that many of the jurors
and witnesses have a "powerful shared antipathy" towards the “defendant”.
and witnesses have a "powerful shared antipathy" towards the “defendant”.
The Mail's explosive coverage linking Leveson to the crisis at the BBC and a shadowy "liberal Establishment"
will be catnip to its audience. However, as many media observers have pointed out, the Mail has a history with
Leveson, and has repeatedly fired pot-shots at the inquiry and those witnesses demanding state regulation of the
media.
will be catnip to its audience. However, as many media observers have pointed out, the Mail has a history with
Leveson, and has repeatedly fired pot-shots at the inquiry and those witnesses demanding state regulation of the
media.
Private Eye, for example, has been reporting for months that the Mail is aware that it will be singled out for
harsh criticism in Leveson's final report into journalistic standards. The paper's editor Paul Dacre was recalled
to the inquiry after he accused another witness, actor Hugh Grant, of "mendacious smears". There is no love l
ost between the Mail and Leveson. The paper is getting its revenge in first. ·
harsh criticism in Leveson's final report into journalistic standards. The paper's editor Paul Dacre was recalled
to the inquiry after he accused another witness, actor Hugh Grant, of "mendacious smears". There is no love l
ost between the Mail and Leveson. The paper is getting its revenge in first. ·
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