Born 1957. Journalist and author and former press secretary to Tony Blair as Leader of the Opposition (1994-97) and as Prime minister (1997-2000). From 2000-2003, he was director of communications for the Labour Party (2000-03). Before 1994, he had been political editor of Today newspaper and the Daily Mirror. Campbell gave detailed testimony on the political media and what he saw as the decline of genuine investigative journalism and the increasing tendency of owners, editors and senior journalists to wish to be political players. Embellishment and pure invention were tolerated and encouraged by some editors and owners, he said.
Former senior police officer with extensive experience of and expertise in policing and public order. Received an OBE and the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished service throughout a career which included extensive liaison with press and journalist organisations on behalf of the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO).
A paediatrician working for the NHS since June 2000, Gilbert had published research widely in all areas of paediatric nephrology. His involvement in the Inquiry stemmed from his treatment of a young child with a fatal level of salt in her body, and the subsequent media coverage. He told the Inquiry that a campaigner with a grudge against paediatricians had sought to destroy his career and that some newspapers had been happy to assist.
