Michael Gove sparked complaint from angry Leveson

LORD Justice Leveson complained to Downing Street’s most powerful civil servant about claims made by a cabinet minister that his inquiry had created a “chilling atmosphere” towards freedom of the press.

The senior judge contacted cabinet secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood following comments made by Education Secretary Michael Gove that the debate around the hearings could erode freedom of speech.

In a telephone call to Sir Jeremy, Lord Justice Leveson is said to have called for the Tory to be “gagged” and warned the inquiry was being undermined.

Sir Jeremy is reported to have told Prime Minister David Cameron of the conversation.

Mr Gove, a former journalist at the News Corporation-owned Times, told a Parliamentary Press Gallery lunch in February that he saw “dangers” in the inquiry into press cultures, practices and ethics.

Lord Justice Leveson instructed his officials to compile a full report of the comments and he phoned Sir Jeremy within 24 hours, it was reported.

Giving evidence at the inquiry last month, the minister went on to make an even more robust assessment about the potential outcome of the probe, warning the judge that inquiry recommendations were often “applied in a way that the cure is worse than the disease”.

The pair then clashed when Mr Gove raised concerns about restraints on the “precious liberty” of freedom of speech.

In an apparent slap down, Lord Justice Leveson said: “I do not need to be told about the importance of freedom of speech, I really don’t.”

A Leveson Inquiry spokesman said: “Lord Justice Leveson is conducting a judicial inquiry and will not comment on press stories outside the formal proceedings.”

Downing Street, the Cabinet Office and Mr Gove’s spokesman all refused to comment.