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Leveson inquiry: Nick Clegg, Alex Salmond - live Leveson inquiry: Nick Clegg, Alex Salmond - live
(40 minutes later)
10.53am: Clegg had dinner with Michel in September 2010.
The pair did not discuss the BSkyB bid, he says.
10.52am: Clegg confirms he has met the News Corp lobbyist Fred Michel when he was in opposition.
The pair first met "many many years ago, before I even thought about venturing into British politics," he says.
Clegg says his and Michel's children attend the same school in south-west London.
10.50am: Jay says that since summer 2011, when the phone-hacking scandal erupted, there have been "even fewer" meetings between Clegg and media executives.
Clegg points out he had a huge burst of meetings over electoral reform, so that would explain the sudden drop.
10.48am: Clegg met Paul Dacre, editor-in-chief of the Daily Mail, on 22 July 2010.
Clegg attempted to interest Dacre in electoral reform "and he explained to me his concerns about the BSkyB bid."
He adds: "I think we made as little impressions to each other on both points."
The Telegraph group also raised concerns with Clegg about the BSkyB bid.
10.44am: Clegg had a lunch with James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks on 22 April 2008 and another lunch with James Murdoch on 16 July 2009.
He met Rupert Murdoch for a dinner on 16 December 2009 with Brooks, Sunday Times editor John Witherow and others.
"I was at the very end of the table, where the children sit, so to speak," he says.
10.41am: The Guardian's Lisa O'Carroll has just tweeted:
Clegg met with James and Rupert murdoch three times between Feb 08 and march 2010
— lisa o'carroll (@lisaocarroll) June 13, 2012
10.39am: "If I now meet an editor or a proprietor on my own as a routine matter of course if something is raised that is official government business I will raise that with officials in my private office," Clegg says.
He adds that often these conversations are informal, featuring "humour and gossip".
10.39am: Clegg met Dominic Mohan, editor of the Sun, on 16 March 2010, followed by a 10-minute briefing with Rebekah Brooks and Rupert Murdoch, the inquiry hears.
10.38am: John Plunkett has sent us more from Clegg's witness statement:
It is important that consideration is given to the role of the media as lobbyists in their own interest ... Few other industries have something to offer that is of such value to politicians and which – because of its intangible quality as opinion and not, for example, cash, is not susceptible to prohibitions on corruption or graft.
The media is also unusual in having a direct route to influence public opinion on issues important to the sector ... the editorial line in many newspapers around the role of public service broadcasting often seems to reflect the commercial interests of media organisations rather than the public interest.
Fuelled by the cosy relationship that their editors and proprietors enjoyed with the most senior politicians in the country some newspaper employees appear to have developed a sense of impunity. This was left unchecked because of weak and ineffective corporate governance and politicians were nervous of the implications of taking action. It is reasonable to ask whether the unhealthy relationship between politicians and the media contributed to a culture of impunity.
10.36am: Clegg says his meetings with media owners were much more frequent in opposition than they are in government.
In government you are physically "considerably more cut off" than in opposition, he adds.
10.37am: The inquiry turns to Clegg's meetings with media proprietors before he entered government.
Jay says it is impossible to pick out any pattern from Clegg's meetings, and that they are with executives from across the spectrum.
10.34am: Clegg says if the Guardian had dropped its investigation into phone hacking "we wouldn't be here today". He also praises the Daily Mail for its campaign over two of the killers of Stephen Lawrence.
It is one of the great virtues of our press that we've got the campaigning zeal in our press – I think readers like it and it's something we should celebrate.
10.32am: John Plunkett, our media correspondent at the inquiry, has sent us this extract from Clegg's witness statement:
The media are not and never have been neutral observers of public life … this is entirely legitimate and adds to the public discourse. Newspapers often raise issues that politicians failed to engage with, for example the Guardian's investigation into phone hacking.
Sometimes, however, the influence of newspapers creates an environment where highly emotive and partisan coverage makes it almost impossible to have an evidence based discourse on a policy issue. In these areas, the newspapers tend to present their stance as grounded in public concern. In truth it is often difficult to determine whether newspapers are reflecting or driving opinion.
Pluralism in media ownership is critical … Media pressure must not tip over into media intimidation and newspapers need to tread a careful line between legitimate expression of forceful opinions and simply projecting propaganda. Politicians … should resist undue media pressure just as they should resist undue pressure from any source.
Politicians are always going to be under pressure to build relationships with the media. However, we need to get the balance right. Mutual interest will always exist but mutual dependence and political clientelism must be avoided.
10.31am: Jay refers to an article in the Sun in the runup to the 2010 election, which he describes as "vitriolic".
Clegg says the Sun put forward "one of the worst political predictions of modern times" when it warned readers to "Vote Clegg, Get Brown" in a move to support the Conservatives.
10.27am: Clegg is asked about an 18 April 2010 comment piece for the Guardian by David Yelland, ex-editor of the Sun, who wrote that the Lib Dems' sudden popularity could lock the Murdochs out of politics for some time to come. Yelland's article began:
I doubt if Rupert Murdoch watched the election debate last week. His focus is very firmly on the United States, especially his resurgent Wall Street Journal. But if he did, there would have been one man totally unknown to him. One man utterly beyond the tentacles of any of his family, his editors or his advisers. That man is Nick Clegg.
Make no mistake, if the Liberal Democrats actually won the election – or held the balance of power – it would be the first time in decades that Murdoch was locked out of British politics. In so many ways, a vote for the Lib Dems is a vote against Murdoch and the media elite.
I can say this with some authority because in my five years editing the Sun I did not once meet a Lib Dem leader, even though I met Tony Blair, William Hague and Iain Duncan Smith on countless occasions. (Full disclosure: I have since met Nick Clegg.)
I remember in my first year asking if we staffed the Liberal Democrat conference. I was interested because as a student I'd been a founder member of the SDP. I was told we did not. We did not send a single reporter for fear of encouraging them.
So while we sent a team of five, plus assorted senior staff, to both the Tory and Labour conferences, we sent nobody to the Lib Dems. And while successive News International chiefs have held parties at both those conferences, they have never to my knowledge even attended a Lib Dem conference.
It gets even worse. While it would be wrong to say the Lib Dems were banned from Murdoch's papers (indeed, the Times has a good record in this area), I would say from personal experience that they are often banned – except where the news is critical. They are the invisible party, purposely edged off the paper's pages and ignored. But it is worse than that, because it is not just the Murdoch press that is guilty of this. The fact is that much of the print press in this country is entirely partisan and always has been. All proprietors and editors are part of the "great game". The trick is to ally yourself with the winner and win influence or at least the ear of the prime minister.
The consequence of this has been that the middle party has been ignored, simply because it was assumed it would never win power. After all, why court a powerless party?
So, as the pendulum swings from red to blue and back to red, the newspapers, or many of them, swing with it – sometimes ahead of the game and sometimes behind.
Clegg says it was the case that Lib Dems were the subject of "indifference at best and derision at worst" from Murdoch's executives.
He suggests the Murdoch press were "going after the man not the ball" when they saw a new player in the field, "the yellow team".
10.25am: Jay asks Clegg for a "vignette" of his own experience of press attention in the general election.
Clegg responds: "Vignette? It's not how it felt!"
Jay asks about the pre-election TV debates in 2010 the spike in popularity that they brought.
Clegg says he was conscious that most people were not aware of he or what the Lib Dems stood for "so widely-watched TV debates were the new bit in that" and that had an effect.
"There was an appetite for something different, and so it was not with hindsight that surprising when an alternative was put forward people responded to that," he adds.
10.25am: The Guardian's Lisa O'Carroll has just tweeted:
Clegg WS: some journalists seem to have developed sense of impunity fuels by coat relationships with senior politicians #Leveson
— lisa o'carroll (@lisaocarroll) June 13, 2012
10.23am: Leveson says it is difficult to impose hard law to ensure corporate governance in newspapers, and a flexible approach is more desirable.
10.21am: The Guardian's Dan Sabbagh has just tweeted:
PCC is "pretty toothless" and model of "judge and jury" self regulation has failed says Clegg... will he back a 'leveson law' later?
— Dan Sabbagh (@dansabbagh) June 13, 2012
10.21am: The phone-hacking scandal has exposed a "failure of corporate governance on quite a significant scale", Clegg says.
He adds that it beggars belief that illegal activities appear to have taken place on an "almost industrial scale".
10.19am: The Guardian's Lisa O'Carroll has just tweeted:
Clegg WS: media pressure mustn't tip over into media intimidation. Press need to tread careful line between opinion and propaganda #Leveson
— lisa o'carroll (@lisaocarroll) June 13, 2012
and
Clegg WS: politicians have to be resolute in standing up to editors and proprietors #Leveson
— lisa o'carroll (@lisaocarroll) June 13, 2012
10.19am: Clegg describes the Press Complaints Commission as a "relatively toothless operation". He says self-regulation has been given a number of changes to succeed and each time as "come a cropper". He has not said yet how this should be bolstered.10.19am: Clegg describes the Press Complaints Commission as a "relatively toothless operation". He says self-regulation has been given a number of changes to succeed and each time as "come a cropper". He has not said yet how this should be bolstered.
10.17am: Clegg says he believes the Leveson inquiry will have "quite a dramatic and lasting effect" that will lead to greater distance and wariness between politicians and the press "that will lead to a healthier relationship".10.17am: Clegg says he believes the Leveson inquiry will have "quite a dramatic and lasting effect" that will lead to greater distance and wariness between politicians and the press "that will lead to a healthier relationship".
10.16am: Politicians must put this relationship in perspective, Clegg says, adding that the public now derive their opinion from such an array of soures that the influence of national newspapers is less than many have suggested.10.16am: Politicians must put this relationship in perspective, Clegg says, adding that the public now derive their opinion from such an array of soures that the influence of national newspapers is less than many have suggested.
10.13am: Patrick Wintour and Haroon Siddique have written a new analysis of the rifts between Clegg and Cameron over whether Jeremy Hunt should be referred to Sir Alex Allan, the adviser on the ministerial code. They write:10.13am: Patrick Wintour and Haroon Siddique have written a new analysis of the rifts between Clegg and Cameron over whether Jeremy Hunt should be referred to Sir Alex Allan, the adviser on the ministerial code. They write:
The rift between the Conservatives and Lib Dems over David Cameron's refusal to refer his culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to the adviser on the ministerial code has deepened as it emerged the prime minister and his deputy have been at loggerheads over the issue for weeks.The rift between the Conservatives and Lib Dems over David Cameron's refusal to refer his culture secretary, Jeremy Hunt, to the adviser on the ministerial code has deepened as it emerged the prime minister and his deputy have been at loggerheads over the issue for weeks.
Lib Dem sources said the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, had repeatedly told Cameron that the culture secretary might have to be referred to Sir Alex Allan, the adviser on the ministerial code.Lib Dem sources said the deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, had repeatedly told Cameron that the culture secretary might have to be referred to Sir Alex Allan, the adviser on the ministerial code.
The full extent of one of the most serious breaches in the unity of the coalition was revealed as Clegg ordered MPs not to defend Cameron's decision in a Labour-inspired Commons vote on Wednesday afternoon.The full extent of one of the most serious breaches in the unity of the coalition was revealed as Clegg ordered MPs not to defend Cameron's decision in a Labour-inspired Commons vote on Wednesday afternoon.
As the briefing and counter-briefing became more intense, Liberal Democrat sources said they did not recognise a BBC report that claimed Cameron had told Clegg: "Why are you bothering … nobody's interested."As the briefing and counter-briefing became more intense, Liberal Democrat sources said they did not recognise a BBC report that claimed Cameron had told Clegg: "Why are you bothering … nobody's interested."
The sources said Clegg was angry that Cameron had decided to clear Hunt within minutes of the culture secretary giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry a fortnight ago. Clegg believed Hunt's answers showed that questions over his handling of News Corp's bid for BSkyB had not been cleared up.The sources said Clegg was angry that Cameron had decided to clear Hunt within minutes of the culture secretary giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry a fortnight ago. Clegg believed Hunt's answers showed that questions over his handling of News Corp's bid for BSkyB had not been cleared up.
The sources said the unanswered questions included whether Hunt had given accurate answers to MPs over the extent of his lobbying for News Corp, and whether Hunt had adhered to the ministerial code by allowing his special adviser, Adam Smith, to have extensive contacts with News Corp lobbyists.The sources said the unanswered questions included whether Hunt had given accurate answers to MPs over the extent of his lobbying for News Corp, and whether Hunt had adhered to the ministerial code by allowing his special adviser, Adam Smith, to have extensive contacts with News Corp lobbyists.
The Leveson inquiry has said it is not in a position to judge whether the ministerial code has been breached.The Leveson inquiry has said it is not in a position to judge whether the ministerial code has been breached.
Lib Dem sources said their MPs would abstain on a Labour motion in the Commons on Wednesday calling for Hunt to be referred to Allan. Clegg, who is giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry on Wednesday, wants to show that his party did not develop cosy relations with News Corp.Lib Dem sources said their MPs would abstain on a Labour motion in the Commons on Wednesday calling for Hunt to be referred to Allan. Clegg, who is giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry on Wednesday, wants to show that his party did not develop cosy relations with News Corp.
The Lib Dems said they would not be backing the Labour motion because it was for Cameron alone to decide whether to refer someone to Allan.The Lib Dems said they would not be backing the Labour motion because it was for Cameron alone to decide whether to refer someone to Allan.

You can read the full article here.
You can read the full article here.
10.12am: The deputy prime minister is onto relations between politicians and journalists or media groups.10.12am: The deputy prime minister is onto relations between politicians and journalists or media groups.
He advises a "healthy degree of scepticism" and "certain amount of distance" between the two to avoid what he calls "political clientilism".He advises a "healthy degree of scepticism" and "certain amount of distance" between the two to avoid what he calls "political clientilism".
10.10am: Clegg says a "greater respect" from the press for the editors' code of conduct would be a good thing, if that were to be the outcome of the Leveson inquiry.10.10am: Clegg says a "greater respect" from the press for the editors' code of conduct would be a good thing, if that were to be the outcome of the Leveson inquiry.
It would be a "cul de sac" to intervene with regulation, he adds.It would be a "cul de sac" to intervene with regulation, he adds.
10.07am: Clegg says he would be "very wary of going down a slippery slope" and attempting to legislate to separate fact and comment in newspapers, taking a similar position to Labour leader Ed Miliband yesterday.10.07am: Clegg says he would be "very wary of going down a slippery slope" and attempting to legislate to separate fact and comment in newspapers, taking a similar position to Labour leader Ed Miliband yesterday.
That would be "very dangerous," he adds.That would be "very dangerous," he adds.
Both George Osborne and Michael Gove also warned against intervening too heavily to separate fact and comment, in what has become a recurring theme since politicians began giving evidence to the inquiry.Both George Osborne and Michael Gove also warned against intervening too heavily to separate fact and comment, in what has become a recurring theme since politicians began giving evidence to the inquiry.
10.07am: Clegg begins by outlining the rightful role of the media to influence politics. He says, in sum: "Pressure is one thing, intimidation is another."10.07am: Clegg begins by outlining the rightful role of the media to influence politics. He says, in sum: "Pressure is one thing, intimidation is another."
10.06am: Channel 4 News political correspondent Michael Crick has just tweeted:10.06am: Channel 4 News political correspondent Michael Crick has just tweeted:
Nick Clegg's challenge at Leveson today will be to string it out until 12.15, so he doesn't have to go back + sit next to Cameron at PMQsNick Clegg's challenge at Leveson today will be to string it out until 12.15, so he doesn't have to go back + sit next to Cameron at PMQs
— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) June 13, 2012— Michael Crick (@MichaelLCrick) June 13, 2012
10.04am: A live video stream of today's hearing is available on the Leveson inquiry website here.10.04am: A live video stream of today's hearing is available on the Leveson inquiry website here.
10.03am: Nick Clegg takes the witness stand.10.03am: Nick Clegg takes the witness stand.
Robert Jay QC, counsel to the inquiry, is leading the questioning.Robert Jay QC, counsel to the inquiry, is leading the questioning.
9.52am: The Guardian's Severin Carrell has put together a list of questions for Scottish first minister Alex Salmond ahead of his evidence to the inquiry. Carrell asks:9.52am: The Guardian's Severin Carrell has put together a list of questions for Scottish first minister Alex Salmond ahead of his evidence to the inquiry. Carrell asks:
• What independent evidence did the first minister have to support his position that allowing News Corporation to take over BSkyB would be better for the Scottish economy and increase the number of jobs and investments in Scottish facilities?• What independent evidence did the first minister have to support his position that allowing News Corporation to take over BSkyB would be better for the Scottish economy and increase the number of jobs and investments in Scottish facilities?
• Did the first minister ask Scottish Enterprise, the government's investment agency, for its views on whether News Corp's takeover would benefit Scotland more than allowing it to remain owned by numerous shareholders?• Did the first minister ask Scottish Enterprise, the government's investment agency, for its views on whether News Corp's takeover would benefit Scotland more than allowing it to remain owned by numerous shareholders?
• Did the first minister consult John Swinney, his finance secretary, or Scottish government civil servants on whether they believed that the takeover was good for Scottish jobs?• Did the first minister consult John Swinney, his finance secretary, or Scottish government civil servants on whether they believed that the takeover was good for Scottish jobs?
• If BSkyB's investments in Scotland were so essential, why did Salmond not issue any public statements in favour of the Murdoch takeover bid or write to Vince Cable, the business secretary, or Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, to formally support the takeover in his role as first minister?• If BSkyB's investments in Scotland were so essential, why did Salmond not issue any public statements in favour of the Murdoch takeover bid or write to Vince Cable, the business secretary, or Jeremy Hunt, the culture secretary, to formally support the takeover in his role as first minister?
• If there was no linkage between BSkyB and the Sun, why did he discuss the BSkyB bid with the Murdochs and Michel in the same conversations where the Scottish Sun's political support for the Scottish National party was also discussed?• If there was no linkage between BSkyB and the Sun, why did he discuss the BSkyB bid with the Murdochs and Michel in the same conversations where the Scottish Sun's political support for the Scottish National party was also discussed?
• Did he or the Murdochs directly link or imply any linkage between those two issues in any conversation?• Did he or the Murdochs directly link or imply any linkage between those two issues in any conversation?
• Has he at any time discussed the Scottish National party's proposals to cut corporation tax with Rupert Murdoch?• Has he at any time discussed the Scottish National party's proposals to cut corporation tax with Rupert Murdoch?
• Did Murdoch indicate in response that he would consider moving News Corps or News International's headquarters if Scotland became independent and cut corporation tax and if so, when?• Did Murdoch indicate in response that he would consider moving News Corps or News International's headquarters if Scotland became independent and cut corporation tax and if so, when?
• Did Salmond or any Scottish government minister or official gave a briefing to the media on the economic importance of BSkyB investments in Scotland, as he promised Michel? If so, when and by and with whom?• Did Salmond or any Scottish government minister or official gave a briefing to the media on the economic importance of BSkyB investments in Scotland, as he promised Michel? If so, when and by and with whom?
• When did Salmond first become aware that his parliamentary aide and speech-writer, Joan McAlpine, who conducted and wrote the Connery pre-election interviews for the Sun for free, had been a possible hacking victim of the News of the World? Did he raise that issue with the Murdochs or any other executive in News International? If so, when and with whom?• When did Salmond first become aware that his parliamentary aide and speech-writer, Joan McAlpine, who conducted and wrote the Connery pre-election interviews for the Sun for free, had been a possible hacking victim of the News of the World? Did he raise that issue with the Murdochs or any other executive in News International? If so, when and with whom?
• Which members of his private office or his team of special advisers dealt with Michel or the Murdochs? Did his chief spokesman, Kevin Pringle, take part in any conversations, meetings or exchanges of emails with News Corp or the Murdochs? If so, when and how?• Which members of his private office or his team of special advisers dealt with Michel or the Murdochs? Did his chief spokesman, Kevin Pringle, take part in any conversations, meetings or exchanges of emails with News Corp or the Murdochs? If so, when and how?
You can read the full article here.You can read the full article here.
9.49am: Good morning and welcome to the Leveson inquiry live blog.9.49am: Good morning and welcome to the Leveson inquiry live blog.
The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg will give evidence to the inquiry into press ethics, amid deep coalition tension over the David Cameron's refusal to refer culture secretary Jeremy Hunt to the adviser of the ministerial code.The deputy prime minister Nick Clegg will give evidence to the inquiry into press ethics, amid deep coalition tension over the David Cameron's refusal to refer culture secretary Jeremy Hunt to the adviser of the ministerial code.
Clegg's appearance before Lord Justice Leveson is likely to expose further fault lines in the coalition, and comes as he ordered Lib Dem MPs not to defend Cameron's decision on Hunt in a Commons vote later today.Clegg's appearance before Lord Justice Leveson is likely to expose further fault lines in the coalition, and comes as he ordered Lib Dem MPs not to defend Cameron's decision on Hunt in a Commons vote later today.
Lib Dem sources have said Clegg has been at loggerheads with the prime minister over his handling of Hunt for weeks and had repeatedly told Cameron that the culture secretary may have to be referred to Sir Alex Allan, the adviser on the ministerial code.Lib Dem sources have said Clegg has been at loggerheads with the prime minister over his handling of Hunt for weeks and had repeatedly told Cameron that the culture secretary may have to be referred to Sir Alex Allan, the adviser on the ministerial code.
Sources who spoke to the Guardian said Clegg was angry that Cameron decided to clear Hunt within minutes of the culture secretary giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry a fortnight ago. Clegg believed Hunt's answers showed that questions over his handling of News Corp's bid for BSkyB had not been cleared up.Sources who spoke to the Guardian said Clegg was angry that Cameron decided to clear Hunt within minutes of the culture secretary giving evidence to the Leveson inquiry a fortnight ago. Clegg believed Hunt's answers showed that questions over his handling of News Corp's bid for BSkyB had not been cleared up.
Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister, will also give evidence on Wednesday.Alex Salmond, the Scottish first minister, will also give evidence on Wednesday.
Salmond was dragged into the inquiry's probe into relations with politicians and the press after he was praised as one of Rupert Murdoch's favourite politicians.Salmond was dragged into the inquiry's probe into relations with politicians and the press after he was praised as one of Rupert Murdoch's favourite politicians.
The inquiry heard in April that Salmond offered to lobby the UK government to help News Corp win overall control of BSkyB, while also having successful talks with the Sun to win its political backing at the Holyrood elections in May 2011.The inquiry heard in April that Salmond offered to lobby the UK government to help News Corp win overall control of BSkyB, while also having successful talks with the Sun to win its political backing at the Holyrood elections in May 2011.
The inquiry begins at 10am.The inquiry begins at 10am.
Please note that comments have been switched off for legal reasons.Please note that comments have been switched off for legal reasons.