Born 1943. Secretary of State for Business Innovation and Skills (May 2010-May 2015), elected leader of the Liberal Democrats in 2017. Cable gave evidence to the Inquiry on representations made to him about the proposed acquisition of BSkyB by News Corporation from a variety of organisations, MPs and constituents. Cable told the Inquiry he decided that the acquisition raised concerns of public interest and should not proceed. His decision made him the subject of multiple attacks in some national newspapers.
Media analyst and founder of Enders Analysis, providing independent research on the media, entertainment, mobile and fixed telecommunications industries in Europe. Invited by Lord Leveson to comment on media plurality.
Conservative MP for Surrey Heath and Education Secretary at the time of the Inquiry. A former journalist at the Aberdeen Press and Journal, the Times, the BBC and the Spectator. Told the Inquiry that sometimes "individuals reach for regulation in order to deal with failures of character or morality, and sometimes that regulation is right and appropriate but some of us believe that before the case for regulation is made, the case for liberty needs to be asserted as well".
General Manager of News International at time of giving evidence. Lewis had been Editor of the Daily Telegraph from 2006 to 2010, having been appointed at the age of 37, making him the youngest Telegraph editor in its history. Credited with exposing the MPs expenses scandal, which he has said he had a duty to make public. Refused to answer questions at the Inquiry about a leak from the Telegraph to the BBC about Business Secretary Vince Cable's concerns over the acquisition of BSkyB by Rupert Murdoch.
Former Director of Public Affairs, Europe and later Senior Vice-President of Government Affairs and Public Policy, Europe of News Corp. Was asked by the Inquiry to comment on his communications with representatives of government departments in the period June 2010 to July 2011 and his communications with Jeremy Hunt and Adam Smith of DCMS relating to the BSkyB bid.
Australian-born American Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of News Corporation with an estimated net worth of $15.2 billion at the time of giving evidence. Gave a brief history of his organisation from the founding of the Adelaide News to date. Among other matters, was asked about the admission in the diaries of Woodrow Wyatt, a confidant of both Murdoch and Margaret Thatcher, that he "bent... all the rules" to enable acquisition of The Times and Sunday Times without the bid being referred to the Monopolies and Mergers Commission. Murdoch outlined his different understanding of the process. In lengthy evidence over several days, Murdoch admitted that the phone-hacking affair had left a serious blot on his reputation.
Former editor of the News of the World (2007-11) and in post when the paper ceased publication on 10 July 2011 following the phone-hacking investigation scandal. He gave evidence to the Inquiry that phone-hacking preceded his arrival but that he had felt “uneasy” about metaphorical “bombs under the newsroom floor”. In 2012, Myler became editor-in-chief of the New York City Daily News.
Chief Financial Officer of NI Group Limited, parent company of Times Newspapers Holdings Ltd (TNHL), at the time of giving evidence. NI was also the parent company of News Group Newspapers which owned The Sun and, before its closure in July 2011, News of the World. Panuccio was asked what systems were in place to ensure that newspaper funds were not used to pay bribes or fund illegal news-gathering. Outlining new systems, she noted that cash payments had dropped substantially in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.
Lawyer specialising in competition law in the UK broadcasting and telecommunications sector. Gave evidence of working for three UK companies who believed themselves negatively impacted by the power of BSkyB. Lord suggested that attempts to have the issues investigated were frustrated by a real or perceived threat that newspapers controlled by News Corporation could harm the individuals or businesses seeking intervention.
Sunday edition of The Times, published by Times Newspapers Ltd, a subsidiary of News UK, owned by News Corp. See also the evidence of John Witherow, editor at the time of the Inquiry (and subsequently editor of The Times since 2013); Jonathan Ungoed-Thomas, Chief Reporter at time of giving evidence; and Mazher Mahmood, former award-winning journalist jailed in 2015 for conspiring to pervert the course of justice.
Daily national newspaper based in London. First issued 1785 under the masthead The Daily Universal Register, adopting its current name on 1 January 1788. The Times and its sister paper, the Sunday Times (founded in 1821), are published by Times Newspapers, a subsidiary of News UK, wholly owned by News Corp. The Times and Sunday Times do not share editorial staff, were founded independently, and have only had common ownership since 1967. James Harding, editor at the time of the Inquiry, and Philip Webster, editor of The Times website and former political editor, gave evidence. Rupert Pennant-Rae gave evidence on behalf of the INDS, The Times's six Independent Directors.
