Ex-home secretary Reid denies being briefed

Former home secretary John Reid received two briefing papers about Scotland Yard’s phone-hacking investigation the day after News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman’s arrest, the Leveson Inquiry heard.

Police prepared one document for Dr Reid and the second was written by the private secretary to the Home Office’s permanent secretary.

Neil Garnham QC, counsel for the Metropolitan Police, said both briefing notes were dated 9 August 2006, the day after officers swooped on Goodman and investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

Former Scotland Yard anti-terror chief Peter Clarke – who oversaw the 2006 News of the World investigation – was asked whether his discussion with the then-home secretary made it clear that the range of phone-hacking victims was “far wider than the royal household” and that other journalists “might well” have been involved.

Mr Clarke replied: “I think it did. I know that a briefing paper went from the Metropolitan Police to the Home Office, and that Dr Reid was aware of it.”

But the former home secretary said last night: “Statements at the Leveson Inquiry may have created the misleading impression that in August 2006 I was in receipt of briefing well beyond that which had appeared in the public domain. That is not true.”

The first he knew of the arrests was via the television news, he said, prompting him to ask officials to brief him.