Leveson Inquiry: Delays may force judge to axe inquiry into News of the World

The judge leading the Leveson Inquiry into media standards has suggested that the planned second part of his investigation – into specific allegations of wrongdoing at the News of the World – may not go ahead.

The lengthy delay caused by the need to await the conclusion of police investigations and possible trials means that it will be “very many months, if not longer” before the second part of the inquiry can begin, said Lord Justice Leveson.

Although he did not rule out pressing ahead as planned, he suggested that consideration should be given to the value of a second inquiry which would involve “enormous cost” to taxpayers and participants and would “trawl over” material which is many years out of date.

When Prime Minister David Cameron commissioned the inquiry he gave Lord Justice Leveson a remit to carry it out in two parts. The first would inquire into the “culture, practices, and ethics” of the media.

The second part would address “the extent of unlawful or improper conduct within News International, other newspaper organisations and, as appropriate, other organisations within the media”, as well as allegations of corrupt payments to police and complaints about the initial police response to phone-hacking claims. It is thought likely to be 18 months or longer before the second part of the inquiry can begin.

Labour MP Chris Bryant, whose phone was hacked, said: “All I ever wanted was an inquiry into what went on at the News of the World and why the cover-up was allowed to continue for so many years.

“All the rest of the flummery about relationships between different elements of the media, and how they practice and so on, was not part of what we were demanding at all.”