Press figures attack prime minister at inquiry

Former Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie issued a scathing criticism of David Cameron’s “obsessive a***-kissing” of the Murdochs and slammed the “ludicrous” inquiry into media ethics and phone hacking.

His comments came after Associated Newspapers editor-in-chief Paul Dacre accused Mr Cameron of a “cynical act of political expediency” by declaring the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) was a “failed” body.

At the latest Leveson Inquiry seminar, editors united in their support of self-regulation.

Mr Mackenzie said: “The only reason we are all here is due to one man’s action: Cameron’s obsessive a***-kissing over the years of Rupert Murdoch.”

He said Mr Cameron wanted Rupert Murdoch “onside at all costs”.

He said “There was never a party, a breakfast, a lunch, a cuppa or a quiet word or drink that Cameron and Co would not turn up to in force if The Great Man or his handmaiden Rebekah Brooks was there.

“It was gut-wrenching.”

He said final proof the prime minister had “clearly gone quite potty” was his hiring of Andy Coulson as his director of communications.

Mr Dacre said over-regulating the press would “put democracy itself in peril”, also hitting out at the prime minister.

He said: “Am I alone in detecting the rank smells of hypocrisy and revenge in the political class’s current moral indignation over a British press that dared to expose their greed and corruption?

“The same political class, that, until a few weeks ago, had spent years indulging in sickening genuflection to the Murdoch press.”

Launching a staunch defence of self-regulation, Mr Dacre added: “Self-regulation, I would argue, is at the very heart of a free press.”