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| Rebekah Brooks charging decision and Leveson inquiry - live | Rebekah Brooks charging decision and Leveson inquiry - live |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| 10.57am: Changes to the PCC code proposed by Lord Wakeham following the death of Princess Diana came into force in 1998. | |
| Patry-Hoskins asks whether he believes those changes really made a difference. She refers to complaints by the actor Sienna Miller and the biography of Darryn Lyons, founder of Big Pictures. | |
| Wakeham says: "I think they did make a difference. The crux of what I tried to do was to say that the editor is responsible for what appears in his newspaper." | |
| "The respect of the PCC has gone down in recent years because they haven't had the high profile of complaints that we had … The system in my day was it was not right to do anything about it if the person didn't complain, and there was good reason for that." | |
| 10.52am: Wakeham is asked about the aftermath of the death of Princess Diana. He was chairman of the PCC at the time and launched an urgent review of the committee's code following accusations that chasing by paparazzi contributed to her death. | |
| About half of all complaints to the PCC at the time were about the local press, Wakeham says, pointing out how much the newspaper industry has changed since 1997. | |
| Wakeham says he had to "move carefully" to make sure editors were satisfied with any proposed changes to the PCC code. | |
| 10.48am: Wakeham recalls an incident where a picture of a member of the royal family, before she became a royal, was published in a Sunday paper. | |
| He says he ran Buckingham palace to say they had to make a complaint. Nothing happened. He wanted the prime minister to be able to say it was a matter before the PCC. He rang three times and still didn't get an answer so issued a statement saying he was "expecting a complaint" from the palace and he then got one. | |
| "It would not have been dealt with had I weighed in. I did it with various other people. It's to get the thing dealt with and not allow the continuous story how feeble they were and how difficult they were." | |
| This is presumably a reference to Sophie Rhys-Jones, although the picture was published in the Sun, not a Sunday paper. | |
| He also recalls a separate incident where a chief executive of a major company had divorced his wife, married someone else, divorced the second wife and went back to the first. He couldn't understand why the newspapers couldn't report it. "I told him there was no point complaining to me. That's life," said Wakeham. | |
| 10.47am: Patry Hoskins tells the inquiry that Wakeham in his evidence says that the PCC had lost credibility under his predecessor (Lord McGregor) especially in relation to the royal family, the "Camilla tapes" and pictures of Princess Diana. | |
| "Leaderless and didn't command widespread respect," is how he describes it. | |
| "It was important to get the Press Complaints Commission more highly respected," says Wakeham. | |
| 10.46am: Recalling his appointment, Wakeham says the newspaper industry accepted they needed a chairman "with a bit of clout to stop statutory control, to get standards up to an acceptable level". | |
| Leveson intervenes - but the point is the newspaper industry was doing the appointing for the newspaper industry, rather than "somebody who is going to be square about this". | |
| Wakeham says they were not necessarily after someone on the side of newspapers but "what they wanted was someone who could make self regulation work in a way that was satisfactory". | |
| 10.44am: Wakeham was appointed chairman of the PPC in January 1995. Patry Hoskins describes his appointment as a "tap on the shoulder" by the chairman of Pressbof, the Press Standards Board of Finance. Is that appropriate, she asks. | |
| Wakeham replies: "It was 18 years ago. It wouldn't be done like that today. Whether they get a better chairman by the new system..." | |
| 10.43am: Back at the Leveson inquiry, former PCC chairman Lord Wakeham is giving evidence. Carine Patry Hoskins, junior counsel to the inquiry, is doing the questioning. | |
| Wakeham on why he opposed a privacy law: | |
| It would not have been very easy to define the public interest, secondly I did not think that it would be at all easy to get the legislation through parliament, thirdly I did not think it would protect the people who read newspapers. The privacy law this would have created would have been very difficult for public unless they are rich and not quite as bad for newspapers as they pretend. | |
| 10.41am: The Daily Mail deputy political editor, Tim Shipman, has tweeted: | |
| Brooks announcement came 15 minutes into this morning's Cabinet meeting. I wonder if the PM had the telly on... | |
| — Tim Shipman (Mail) (@ShippersUnbound) May 15, 2012 | |
| 10.39am: Separately, the Metropolitan police has arrested two suspects in relation to its Operation Elveden investigation into allegations of illegal payments to public officials. | |
| A man, 50, who is employed by HM Revenue & Customs and a 43-year-old woman were arrested at their home address in northwest London early on Tuesday morning. | |
| The arrests followed material passed to the police by News Corporation's management and standards committee. | |
| Scotland Yard said in a statement: | |
| The 50-year-old man is an employee of HM Revenue and Customs. He was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in a public office (Elveden arrest '28'), contrary to common law and suspicion of corruption under the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906. | |
| A 43-year-old woman was also arrested at the address on suspicion of aiding and abetting misconduct in a public office and suspicion of money laundering offences under Section 328 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002. (Elveden arrest '29'). | |
| Both are being questioned at a central London police station. | |
| Today's arrests are the result of information provided to police by News Corporation's management standards committee. They relate to suspected payments to a public official and are not about seeking journalists to reveal confidential sources in relation to information that has been obtained legitimately. | |
| 10.31am: Cheryl Carter, 47, was Brooks's longstanding personal assistant and worked with her for 19 years. She was taken into custody in January in Essex on suspicion of attempting to pervert the course of justice and has been rebailed three times since. | |
| Carter worked with Brooks when she was editor of the News of the World and the Sun and latterly when Brooks was elevated to the chief executive's role. | |
| In 2003 Carter was given a beauty column in the Sun and co-founded her own makeup brand called Famous. | |
| On Thinkingslimmer.com she dished out tips on everything from how to get glossy lips to the nourishing and hydrating qualities of rosewater. | |
| As recently as July, she was listed as the Sun's beauty editor. | |
| 10.21am: Our full story on the decision to charge Brooks with perverting the course of justice is now live. Sandra Laville writes: | |
| Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, is to be charged with perverting the course of justice, the Crown Prosecution Service said on Tuesday. | |
| She faces three charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice including the alleged removal of seven cases of material from the archive of News International and the concealing of documents and computers from officers investigating phone hacking. | |
| Brooks, who was arrested in March by Scotland Yard police officers investigating phone hacking, is the first person to face charges in the major criminal investigation into hacking and allegations of bribing public officials. | |
| Her husband, Charlie Brooks, the racehorse trainer and friend of the prime minister, is also to be charged, the CPS announced. | |
| Four other people are also being charged with perverting the course of justice. One other person who was arrested will not face charges. | |
| You can read the full article here. | |
| 10.16am: Sky News reports that Rebekah Brooks is poised to make a statement to camera in response to the charges announced by the CPS. | 10.16am: Sky News reports that Rebekah Brooks is poised to make a statement to camera in response to the charges announced by the CPS. |
| Brooks and her husband, Charlie, described the charges as "weak and unjust" in a statement released to the Press Association shortly before the CPS announcement. | Brooks and her husband, Charlie, described the charges as "weak and unjust" in a statement released to the Press Association shortly before the CPS announcement. |
| 10.08am: Alison Levitt, the CPS's principal legal adviser to the director of public prosecutions, has made a short statement on the charges facing Brooks. | 10.08am: Alison Levitt, the CPS's principal legal adviser to the director of public prosecutions, has made a short statement on the charges facing Brooks. |
| Here is the statement read by Levitt: | Here is the statement read by Levitt: |
| This statement is made in the interests of transparency and accountability to explain the decisions reached in respect of allegations that Rebekah Brooks conspired with her husband, Charles Brooks, and others to pervert the course of justice. | This statement is made in the interests of transparency and accountability to explain the decisions reached in respect of allegations that Rebekah Brooks conspired with her husband, Charles Brooks, and others to pervert the course of justice. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service received a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police Service on 27 March 2012 in relation to seven suspects: | The Crown Prosecution Service received a file of evidence from the Metropolitan Police Service on 27 March 2012 in relation to seven suspects: |
| • Rebekah Brooks; • Charles Brooks; • Cheryl Carter - Mrs Brooks' personal assistant; • Mark Hanna - Head of Security at News International; • Paul Edwards - Mrs Brooks' chauffeur who was employed by News International; • Daryl Jorsling and a seventh suspect - both of whom provided security for Mrs Brooks supplied by News International. | • Rebekah Brooks; • Charles Brooks; • Cheryl Carter - Mrs Brooks' personal assistant; • Mark Hanna - Head of Security at News International; • Paul Edwards - Mrs Brooks' chauffeur who was employed by News International; • Daryl Jorsling and a seventh suspect - both of whom provided security for Mrs Brooks supplied by News International. |
| All the evidence has now carefully been considered. | All the evidence has now carefully been considered. |
| Applying the two-stage test in the code for crown prosecutors I have concluded that in relation to all suspects except the seventh, there is sufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction. | Applying the two-stage test in the code for crown prosecutors I have concluded that in relation to all suspects except the seventh, there is sufficient evidence for there to be a realistic prospect of conviction. |
| I then considered the second stage of the test, and I have concluded that a prosecution is required in the public interest in relation to each of the other six. | I then considered the second stage of the test, and I have concluded that a prosecution is required in the public interest in relation to each of the other six. |
| All seven suspects have this morning been informed of my decisions. | All seven suspects have this morning been informed of my decisions. |
| They are all due to answer their bail at police stations later today. When they do so, they will be charged as follows: | They are all due to answer their bail at police stations later today. When they do so, they will be charged as follows: |
| Charge 1 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice | Charge 1 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice |
| Rebekah Brooks between 6 July and 19 July 2011 conspired with Charles Brooks, Cheryl Carter, Mark Hanna, Paul Edwards, Daryl Jorsling and persons unknown to conceal material from officers of the Metropolitan Police Service. Charge 2 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice Rebekah Brooks and Cheryl Carter between 6 July and 9 July 2011 conspired together permanently to remove seven boxes of material from the archive of News International. | Rebekah Brooks between 6 July and 19 July 2011 conspired with Charles Brooks, Cheryl Carter, Mark Hanna, Paul Edwards, Daryl Jorsling and persons unknown to conceal material from officers of the Metropolitan Police Service. Charge 2 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice Rebekah Brooks and Cheryl Carter between 6 July and 9 July 2011 conspired together permanently to remove seven boxes of material from the archive of News International. |
| Charge 3 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice | Charge 3 - conspiracy to pervert the course of justice |
| Rebekah Brooks, Charles Brooks, Mark Hanna, Paul Edwards and Daryl Jorsling conspired together and with persons unknown, between 15 July and 19 July 2011, to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from officers of the Metropolitan Police Service. | |
| All these matters relate to the ongoing police investigation into allegations of phone hacking and corruption of public officials in relation to the News of the World and The Sun newspapers. | All these matters relate to the ongoing police investigation into allegations of phone hacking and corruption of public officials in relation to the News of the World and The Sun newspapers. |
| Following charge, these individuals will appear before Westminster magistrates' court on a date to be determined. | Following charge, these individuals will appear before Westminster magistrates' court on a date to be determined. |
| No further action will be taken against the seventh suspect. | No further action will be taken against the seventh suspect. |
| May I remind all concerned that these six individuals now will be charged with criminal offences and that each has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further. | May I remind all concerned that these six individuals now will be charged with criminal offences and that each has a right to a fair trial. It is very important that nothing is said, or reported, which could prejudice that trial. For these reasons it would be inappropriate for me to comment further. |
| 10.02am: Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie said they were to be charged with perverting the course of justice minutes before the official Crown Prosecution Service announcement. | 10.02am: Brooks and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie said they were to be charged with perverting the course of justice minutes before the official Crown Prosecution Service announcement. |
| Here is the full statement from the pair: | Here is the full statement from the pair: |
| We have this morning been informed by the Office of the Department of Public Prosecutions that we are to be charged with perverting the course of justice. | We have this morning been informed by the Office of the Department of Public Prosecutions that we are to be charged with perverting the course of justice. |
| We deplore this weak and unjust decision. | We deplore this weak and unjust decision. |
| After the further unprecedented posturing of the CPS we will respond later today after our return from the police station. | After the further unprecedented posturing of the CPS we will respond later today after our return from the police station. |
| 9.57am: Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie Brooks are to be charged with perverting the course of justice during the phone-hacking scandal, the pair have said in a statement. | 9.57am: Rebekah Brooks and her husband Charlie Brooks are to be charged with perverting the course of justice during the phone-hacking scandal, the pair have said in a statement. |
| The pair said: | The pair said: |
| We deplore this weak and unjust decision. After the further unprecedented posturing of the CPS we will respond later today after our return from the police station. | We deplore this weak and unjust decision. After the further unprecedented posturing of the CPS we will respond later today after our return from the police station. |
| 9.55am: Lord Wakeham, who is due to give evidence today at the Leveson inquiry, was the chairman of the PCC at the time of Princess Diana's death. | 9.55am: Lord Wakeham, who is due to give evidence today at the Leveson inquiry, was the chairman of the PCC at the time of Princess Diana's death. |
| Wakeham launched an urgent review of the PCC code following accusations that the chasing by paparazzi contributed to her death. | Wakeham launched an urgent review of the PCC code following accusations that the chasing by paparazzi contributed to her death. |
| 9.46am: Good morning and welcome to the Leveson inquiry live blog. | 9.46am: Good morning and welcome to the Leveson inquiry live blog. |
| This morning we will be focusing our coverage on Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive who will learn at 10am whether she is to face charges for perverting the course of justice. | This morning we will be focusing our coverage on Rebekah Brooks, the former News International chief executive who will learn at 10am whether she is to face charges for perverting the course of justice. |
| The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is to announce whether Brooks, her husband Charlie, and five other suspects will face charges for perverting the course of justice. | The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is to announce whether Brooks, her husband Charlie, and five other suspects will face charges for perverting the course of justice. |
| The decision on whether criminal charges will be brought or not has been made by Alison Levitt QC, who is the CPS's principal legal adviser to the director of public prosecutions. Levitt is in charge of the CPS's decision-making concerning the investigations into phone hacking and other related police inquiries. | The decision on whether criminal charges will be brought or not has been made by Alison Levitt QC, who is the CPS's principal legal adviser to the director of public prosecutions. Levitt is in charge of the CPS's decision-making concerning the investigations into phone hacking and other related police inquiries. |
| We will bring you coverage and reaction to the CPS announcement live from 10am. | We will bring you coverage and reaction to the CPS announcement live from 10am. |
| Later we will cover the Leveson inquiry, where the former PCC chairman Lord Wakeham and the Sky News political editor Adam Boulton will give evidence. | Later we will cover the Leveson inquiry, where the former PCC chairman Lord Wakeham and the Sky News political editor Adam Boulton will give evidence. |
| Please note that comments have been switched off for legal reasons. | Please note that comments have been switched off for legal reasons. |