Tom Watson accuses Government of capitulating to press barons over 'Leveson 2'
Tom Watson has accused the Government of a 'shameless capitulation to press barons' following a Commons vote against a second public inquiry into press misconduct.
The Government survived a small Tory revolt aimed at reversing the decision to abandon a 'Leveson part two' probe into 'unlawful or improper conduct' by media organisations by just nine votes.
Shadow culture secretary Mr Watson said: "The Tories’ shameless capitulation to press barons leaves the victims of phone hacking ever further from reaching the truth.
"No criminal investigation or trial has ever looked at the core questions that Leveson 2 posed: how the relationship between the press, police and politicians allowed the hacking scandal to happen and attempt to cover it up.
"Today was a chance for MPs to finally deliver on promises made to victims of hacking and press intrusion. That chance has been squandered and victims have been betrayed once again."
West Bromwich East MP Mr Watson earlier scrapped his own amendment to the Data Protection Bill, which would have forced media organisations to pay all legal costs in libel cases whether they win or lose, unless they signed up to a state-backed regulator.
The Section 40 proposal had been widely criticised for threatening press freedom, and met with opposition from Labour MPs and the SNP.
David Cameron committed the coalition government to a second inquiry into the press at the time of Lord Justice Leveson’s first report in November 2012.
But the promise was shelved earlier this year by Culture Secretary Matt Hancock, who said it was unnecessary because of 'significant changes to police practice and press regulation'.
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband had led calls for 'Leveson part two' to be revived.
He was backed by Ken Clarke, the former Tory Chancellor, who said the legislation was 'only suspended so that police operations should take place'.
“Why is he cancelling an inquiry previously promised and endorsed by Leveson? What on earth is the reason for stopping investigations into the kind of things we're all talking about?” he asked.
Five Conservatives voted with Labour – Mr Clarke, Crispin Blunt, Peter Bone, Dominic Grieve and Philip Hollobone.
Mr Hancock appeared to head off a threat by the DUP to side with Labour by promising a review of media standards in Northern Ireland.
