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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
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| David Cameron meets Rebekah Brooks as party leaders mull Leveson proposals | David Cameron meets Rebekah Brooks as party leaders mull Leveson proposals |
| (8 days later) | |
| David Cameron held a lengthy conversation with the former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks at a party on Saturday night in Chipping Norton, Downing Street has confirmed. | David Cameron held a lengthy conversation with the former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks at a party on Saturday night in Chipping Norton, Downing Street has confirmed. |
| The conversation, described as intense by a surprised eyewitness, took place at a party thrown by Tom Astor, great-grandson of the American heiress Nancy Astor, at Merriscourt Farm in Chipping Norton, Cameron's constituency. | The conversation, described as intense by a surprised eyewitness, took place at a party thrown by Tom Astor, great-grandson of the American heiress Nancy Astor, at Merriscourt Farm in Chipping Norton, Cameron's constituency. |
| It will be argued that it is quite legitimate for Cameron and Brooks to meet at social gatherings as they are old friends and are neighbours. The content of the conversation is not known. | It will be argued that it is quite legitimate for Cameron and Brooks to meet at social gatherings as they are old friends and are neighbours. The content of the conversation is not known. |
| But some will question his judgment in being seen in conversation with her as he faces politically fraught decisions on how to regulate the media in the wake of the Leveson inquiry into the fallout from phone hacking and media intrusion. | But some will question his judgment in being seen in conversation with her as he faces politically fraught decisions on how to regulate the media in the wake of the Leveson inquiry into the fallout from phone hacking and media intrusion. |
| Cameron is expected to meet Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, and Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, to discuss how to settle the issue of media regulation, including any role for statute to ensure the regulation remains permanent. | Cameron is expected to meet Ed Miliband, the Labour leader, and Nick Clegg, the Liberal Democrat leader, to discuss how to settle the issue of media regulation, including any role for statute to ensure the regulation remains permanent. |
| Brooks has been charged over alleged payments to police and public officials, including a count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office between 1 January 2004 and 31 January 2012. She has also been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. She has insisted she is innocent. | Brooks has been charged over alleged payments to police and public officials, including a count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office between 1 January 2004 and 31 January 2012. She has also been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. She has insisted she is innocent. |
| During the Leveson inquiry Cameron was forced to reveal the scale of his exchanges with Brooks during her period as editor of News International newspapers. It was reported last week that Brooks received a compensation package worth £10.8m according to a public filing and a person familiar with the matter. | During the Leveson inquiry Cameron was forced to reveal the scale of his exchanges with Brooks during her period as editor of News International newspapers. It was reported last week that Brooks received a compensation package worth £10.8m according to a public filing and a person familiar with the matter. |
| Cameron is due to meet the other political leaders after a meeting on Tuesday between the culture secretary, Maria Miller, the shadow culture secretary, Harriet Harman, and the Liberal Democrat Scottish advocate general, Lord Wallace. | Cameron is due to meet the other political leaders after a meeting on Tuesday between the culture secretary, Maria Miller, the shadow culture secretary, Harriet Harman, and the Liberal Democrat Scottish advocate general, Lord Wallace. |
| At that meeting Miller presented two draft bills, one short and one longer, setting out how a verifier could oversee an independent press regulator. | At that meeting Miller presented two draft bills, one short and one longer, setting out how a verifier could oversee an independent press regulator. |
| Those at the meeting said the two bills showed it was possible to frame legislation that would oversee the media, and the issue is really one of whether legislation is right in principle. | Those at the meeting said the two bills showed it was possible to frame legislation that would oversee the media, and the issue is really one of whether legislation is right in principle. |
| Oliver Letwin, the cabinet office minister, also attended the opening of the talks to set out his alternative plan for a Royal Charter-endorsed verifier to oversee the press regulator. | Oliver Letwin, the cabinet office minister, also attended the opening of the talks to set out his alternative plan for a Royal Charter-endorsed verifier to oversee the press regulator. |
| Letwin has been asked by the Labour and Liberal Democrats to answer further questions about his proposals, especially over how the plan for a Royal Charter might not be amended in the future by the executive. There are also concerns about how the regulator might be funded. | Letwin has been asked by the Labour and Liberal Democrats to answer further questions about his proposals, especially over how the plan for a Royal Charter might not be amended in the future by the executive. There are also concerns about how the regulator might be funded. |
| Letwin is expected to come back with further answers, possibly before the talks between the party leaders. | Letwin is expected to come back with further answers, possibly before the talks between the party leaders. |
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