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Leveson Inquiry: Gordon Brown gives evidence Leveson Inquiry: Gordon Brown gives evidence of row with Sun
(40 minutes later)
Prime Minister Gordon Brown is giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards. Ex-Prime Minister Gordon Brown says lessons cannot be learned about press standards unless there is honesty about how details of his son's cystic fibrosis were published by the Sun.
His appearances begins a big week for the inquiry, with Chancellor George Osborne giving evidence later. He said he and his wife Sarah were "presented with a fait accompli" by the paper, before it ran a story on their son Fraser's medical condition in 2006.
Mr Brown will be asked about his relations with News International while in office, and Mr Osborne will be asked about the Conservatives' hiring of ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson. He denied that he or his wife had given permission for the story to be run.
Prime Minister David Cameron will enter the witness box on Thursday. Mr Brown is giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.
In a key week for the inquiry, Chancellor George Osborne will be giving evidence later and Prime Minister David Cameron will enter the witness box on Thursday.
The inquiry, which is currently focusing on the relationship between the press and politicians, is resuming after a week-long adjournment.The inquiry, which is currently focusing on the relationship between the press and politicians, is resuming after a week-long adjournment.
'Unbalanced' The paper's then-editor Rebekah Brooks had previously told the Leveson Inquiry she had the express permission of the Browns to run the story about Fraser's medical condition, but the Browns have previously said that was "untrue".
Mr Brown told the inquiry he had been given an apology by the NHS in Fife because they think it "highly likely" unauthorised information was disclosed by NHS staff about Fraser Brown.
He again denied that consent had been given to the Sun to publish the story.
"I find it sad that even now, in 2012, members of the News International staff are coming to this inquiry and maintaining this fiction that a story that could only have been achieved or obtained through medical information or through me or my wife... was obtained in another way.
"We can't learn the lesson about what has happened with the media anything unless there is some honesty about what actually happened, whether payment was made and whether this is a practice which could continue."
'Dishonouring troops'
Shortly after he spoke about NHS Fife to the Leveson Inquiry, John Wilson, its chief executive said: "We now accept that it is highly likely that, sometime in 2006, a member of staff in NHS Fife spoke, without authorisation, about the medical condition of Mr Brown's son, Fraser.
"With the passage of time it has not been possible to identify all the circumstances.
"We believe, however, that there was no inappropriate access to the child's medical records. We are quite clear that conversations about patients are just as much a breach of confidentiality as looking into their medical records."
Mr Brown also criticised other examples of Sun journalism during his time in office, including a claim he fell asleep at a memorial service when, he explained, he had actually bowed his head to pray.
He explained: "There's a story you fell asleep but you were praying and the Sun decides this is an example of someone falling asleep and dishonouring the troops," he said.
Mr Brown mentioned how the Sun had portrayed him on a number of occasions in relation to Afghanistan.
Mr Brown began his testimony by saying he had had a "period of enforced reflection, courtesy of the British people" to think about the relationship between Westminster and Fleet Street.Mr Brown began his testimony by saying he had had a "period of enforced reflection, courtesy of the British people" to think about the relationship between Westminster and Fleet Street.
He went on to say that media in Britain, at its best, is the "best in the world" but said that one of the key problems of the press is the conflation of fact and opinion - mirroring the views stated by his predecessor Tony Blair when he appeared at the Leveson Inquiry two weeks ago.He went on to say that media in Britain, at its best, is the "best in the world" but said that one of the key problems of the press is the conflation of fact and opinion - mirroring the views stated by his predecessor Tony Blair when he appeared at the Leveson Inquiry two weeks ago.
Mr Brown is likely to be questioned about his relationship with Rupert Murdoch during his time in government with Labour. 'Unbalanced'
The former prime minister is likely to be questioned about his relationship with Rupert Murdoch during his time in government with Labour.
The News Corp boss told the inquiry in April that Mr Brown had phoned him in an "unbalanced" state of mind and declared war on his media empire after the Sun newspaper had switched its support from Labour to the Conservatives in 2009.The News Corp boss told the inquiry in April that Mr Brown had phoned him in an "unbalanced" state of mind and declared war on his media empire after the Sun newspaper had switched its support from Labour to the Conservatives in 2009.
It is no surprise to see the prime minister called before Lord Justice Leveson. An inquiry examining the relationship between the press and politicians was never going to overlook Downing Street.
But evidence presented here has already resulted in plenty of unintended consequences for ministers.
When he announced the inquiry just under a year ago, David Cameron could not have known a News Corporation lobbyist's texts and emails would be made public.
He could not have known they would leave Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt fighting for his job.
The PM and the chancellor might have anticipated detailed questions about Andy Coulson's appointment as Conservative director of communications, but possibly not the decision to give Mr Hunt responsibility for the BSkyB bid.
Plenty of politicians have already emerged from a Leveson grilling relatively unscathed, but the men from Downing Street will have to perform convincingly and hope there are no more surprise revelations in Court 73 of the Royal Courts of Justice.
The former PM later denied having made such a threat.The former PM later denied having made such a threat.
The Sun's 2006 story about Mr Brown's son Fraser having cystic fibrosis may also be discussed.
The paper's then editor Rebekah Brooks has told the Leveson Inquiry she had the express permission of the Browns to run the story, but they have said that was "untrue".
The chancellor, meanwhile, will be asked about the hiring of Mr Coulson in 2007 after he quit the News of the World in the wake of the conviction of the paper's royal editor for phone hacking.The chancellor, meanwhile, will be asked about the hiring of Mr Coulson in 2007 after he quit the News of the World in the wake of the conviction of the paper's royal editor for phone hacking.
Mr Coulson has told the inquiry Mr Osborne played a key role in his recruitment as Conservative communications chief, but rejected suggestions he was chosen solely for his ties to News International. Mr Osborne will also be asked about his communications with Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt on the day Mr Hunt was handed responsibility for the BSkyB bid.
The last witness to appear before Mr Brown was Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, who was quizzed for six hours about his handling of the bid by News Corp - the parent company of News International - to take full control of satellite broadcaster BSkyB.
Mr Osborne will also be asked about his communications with Mr Hunt on the day the culture secretary was handed responsibility for the BSkyB bid.
His closeness to Ms Brooks - he invited her to his official residence, Dorneywood, when News Corp's bid was active - is also likely to be raised.
Labour leader Ed Miliband, former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major and Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman will give evidence to the inquiry at London's Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday.Labour leader Ed Miliband, former Conservative Prime Minister Sir John Major and Deputy Labour Leader Harriet Harman will give evidence to the inquiry at London's Royal Courts of Justice on Tuesday.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond will appear on Wednesday, while Mr Cameron will be the sole witness on Thursday.Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond will appear on Wednesday, while Mr Cameron will be the sole witness on Thursday.