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| Maria Miller should 'recuse herself' – Hacked Off spokesman | Maria Miller should 'recuse herself' – Hacked Off spokesman |
| (1 day later) | |
| A high-profile spokesman for a media reform pressure group this morning called on Maria Miller to step down from post-Leveson negotiations about the future of press regulation after it emerged her special adviser had warned the Daily Telegraph against running a story about the culture secretary's expenses. | A high-profile spokesman for a media reform pressure group this morning called on Maria Miller to step down from post-Leveson negotiations about the future of press regulation after it emerged her special adviser had warned the Daily Telegraph against running a story about the culture secretary's expenses. |
| Dr Evan Harris, the former Lib Dem MP and associate director of Hacked Off, which represents victims of press intrusion, indicated at a breakfast event this morning that he thought Miller should "recuse" herself in light of newspaper's story headlined "The minister and a warning to the Telegraph before expenses story". | Dr Evan Harris, the former Lib Dem MP and associate director of Hacked Off, which represents victims of press intrusion, indicated at a breakfast event this morning that he thought Miller should "recuse" herself in light of newspaper's story headlined "The minister and a warning to the Telegraph before expenses story". |
| Speaking at a seminar discussing press reform, in central London, Harris said: "I think this morning Hacked Off are calling for her to be recused. This Maria Miller story is astonishing." | Speaking at a seminar discussing press reform, in central London, Harris said: "I think this morning Hacked Off are calling for her to be recused. This Maria Miller story is astonishing." |
| However, by lunchtime, Hacked Off's position had modified – and no call for her to step aside was made from the Leveson talks. A more general statement released in the name of executive director Brian Cathcart said: "The direct involvement of ministers in these secret negotiations means no one can be confident that the public's interests are being served rather than the interests of the editors and proprietors, or of the politicians." | However, by lunchtime, Hacked Off's position had modified – and no call for her to step aside was made from the Leveson talks. A more general statement released in the name of executive director Brian Cathcart said: "The direct involvement of ministers in these secret negotiations means no one can be confident that the public's interests are being served rather than the interests of the editors and proprietors, or of the politicians." |
| The culture secretary is under fire after her special adviser Jo Hindley asked a Telegraph reporter to consider the fact her editor was having discussions about press reforms before running a story revealing her parents are living in her taxpayer-funded second home. | The culture secretary is under fire after her special adviser Jo Hindley asked a Telegraph reporter to consider the fact her editor was having discussions about press reforms before running a story revealing her parents are living in her taxpayer-funded second home. |
| "Maria has obviously been having quite a lot of editors' meetings around Leveson at the moment. So I am just going to kind of flag up that connection for you to think about," Hindley said to the Telegraph, as reported in Wednesday's newspaper. | "Maria has obviously been having quite a lot of editors' meetings around Leveson at the moment. So I am just going to kind of flag up that connection for you to think about," Hindley said to the Telegraph, as reported in Wednesday's newspaper. |
| The prime minister's official spokesman said: "My understanding is that she was raising legitimate concerns about the way in which the investigation had been handled. It was perfectly reasonable for her to do that. | The prime minister's official spokesman said: "My understanding is that she was raising legitimate concerns about the way in which the investigation had been handled. It was perfectly reasonable for her to do that. |
| "She made clear Maria Miller was in contact with the editor and would be raising those concerns directly and I understand that a letter was sent." | "She made clear Maria Miller was in contact with the editor and would be raising those concerns directly and I understand that a letter was sent." |
| He added: "It is reasonable for someone in the government to raise these kinds of concerns about the way a newspaper is conducting an investigation." | He added: "It is reasonable for someone in the government to raise these kinds of concerns about the way a newspaper is conducting an investigation." |
| The spokesman said the PM had confidence in Miller and they did not believe Hindley had broken the civil service code, which with the exception of the clause about party political views, special advisers are governed by. | |
| Harris later said that the Miller expenses story, which was carried on the bottom of the front page, should have been a splash, leading the front page of the Telegraph. | Harris later said that the Miller expenses story, which was carried on the bottom of the front page, should have been a splash, leading the front page of the Telegraph. |
| The former MP said: "The reason it wasn't a splash was because the editor of the Telegraph had laid himself open to this kind of pressure by agreeing to seek a deal with a portion of the Conservative party outside and separate to the Leveson report." He added: "You can see why Cameron, Miller and Letwin think they have power over the media now." | The former MP said: "The reason it wasn't a splash was because the editor of the Telegraph had laid himself open to this kind of pressure by agreeing to seek a deal with a portion of the Conservative party outside and separate to the Leveson report." He added: "You can see why Cameron, Miller and Letwin think they have power over the media now." |
| He accused editors of national newspapers who are now seizing upon the fact that her office tried to interfere with the content of the Telegraph as an argument against statutory control of the press. | He accused editors of national newspapers who are now seizing upon the fact that her office tried to interfere with the content of the Telegraph as an argument against statutory control of the press. |
| These, he said are the same editors, who are "running back obediently" to No 10 to show their latest proposals for a post-Leveson era watchdog to David Cameron and his policy adviser Oliver Letwin. | These, he said are the same editors, who are "running back obediently" to No 10 to show their latest proposals for a post-Leveson era watchdog to David Cameron and his policy adviser Oliver Letwin. |
| He said editors had behaved "disgracefully" accepting orders from Letwin and Cameron. "If I had been an editor I'd have said to No 10: 'Sod off, I'm not coming in to be told by you what to do'", he said at a breakfast conference on Leveson hosted by lawyers Finers Stephens Innocent on Wednesday. | He said editors had behaved "disgracefully" accepting orders from Letwin and Cameron. "If I had been an editor I'd have said to No 10: 'Sod off, I'm not coming in to be told by you what to do'", he said at a breakfast conference on Leveson hosted by lawyers Finers Stephens Innocent on Wednesday. |
| Miller hit back on Wednesday, saying there was no reason to stand aside. | Miller hit back on Wednesday, saying there was no reason to stand aside. |
| A spokesman for the culture secretary said: "There is no reason why the culture secretary would not continue to lead on the government's Leveson response. Mrs Miller has been absolutely clear about the government's position – that we want a tough independent self-regulator. Cross-party talks are on-going, but she has been clear that we expect industry to deliver, swiftly, a credible solution in line with Lord Justice Leveson's principles." | |
| The parliamentary sleaze watchdog was urged to investigate Miller's expenses claims after the original Daily Telegraph report. | The parliamentary sleaze watchdog was urged to investigate Miller's expenses claims after the original Daily Telegraph report. |
| Labour MP John Mann complained to John Lyon, parliamentary commissioner for standards, after it emerged Miller had allowed her parents to live at a property on which she claimed more than £90,000 in second home allowances during the last parliament. | Labour MP John Mann complained to John Lyon, parliamentary commissioner for standards, after it emerged Miller had allowed her parents to live at a property on which she claimed more than £90,000 in second home allowances during the last parliament. |
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