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Sajid Javid: 'Media not to blame for Maria Miller's resignation' Sajid Javid: media not to blame for Maria Miller's resignation
(about 1 hour later)
The public was right to judge Maria Miller for getting her expenses wrong and her resignation cannot be blamed on the media, Sajid Javid, the new culture secretary, has said.The public was right to judge Maria Miller for getting her expenses wrong and her resignation cannot be blamed on the media, Sajid Javid, the new culture secretary, has said.
Javid, who stepped into Miller's role on Wednesday, gave a defence of media freedom and the right of the press to investigate wrongdoing by politicians and officials in his first appearance as culture secretary on BBC's Question Time. Javid, who stepped into Miller's role on Wednesday, defended media freedom and the right of the press to investigate wrongdoing by politicians and officials in his first appearance as culture secretary on BBC's Question Time.
"The public were right to judge her on how she responded, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that," he said. "And the media … I don't think you can blame this on Leveson or the media or something. I think the media are a cornerstone of our democracy, their freedom is very important and if they want to investigate wrongdoing by politicians or any other public official they should do that and nothing should stop them from doing that." "The public were right to judge her on how she responded, there's absolutely nothing wrong with that," he said. "And the media … I don't think you can blame this on Leveson or the media or something. The media are a cornerstone of our democracy, their freedom is very important and if they want to investigate wrongdoing by politicians or any other public official they should do that and nothing should stop them from doing that."
He said it was important Miller had "accepted she did wrong" and handed back the money, "like many other MPs did". He said it was important Miller had "accepted she did wrong" and handed back the money "like many other MPs did".
But he added: "I think the public again were rightly still outraged. There is still very raw anger, and I understand that. The other thing we must do is see what are the lessons we can learn from this and what more can be done to restore integrity because I think this shows that perhaps enough has not been done."But he added: "I think the public again were rightly still outraged. There is still very raw anger, and I understand that. The other thing we must do is see what are the lessons we can learn from this and what more can be done to restore integrity because I think this shows that perhaps enough has not been done."
David Cameron has already admitted that the MP ethics system needs more reform after a backlash against Miller's mortgage interest claims from before the expenses scandal. David Cameron has already admitted that the MPs' ethics system needs further reform after a backlash against Miller's mortgage interest claims from before the expenses scandal.
An independent commissioner found Miller should repay £45,000 and should reduce her claims because her parents were also living in the second home property, but a committee of MPs reduced the amount she had to pay back to £5,800. The culture secretary said sorry in parliament but colleagues criticised the short 34-second apology.An independent commissioner found Miller should repay £45,000 and should reduce her claims because her parents were also living in the second home property, but a committee of MPs reduced the amount she had to pay back to £5,800. The culture secretary said sorry in parliament but colleagues criticised the short 34-second apology.
After five days of growing discontent within the Tories, she said she would step down to avoid becoming a "distraction" although neither she nor Downing Street would deny there was pressure from the top for her to resign. After five days of growing discontent within the Tories, she said she would step down to avoid becoming a distraction although neither she nor Downing Street would deny there was pressure from the top for her to resign.
Her replacement, Javid, who has a background in finance, is the first male British-Asian cabinet minister in the coalition government and the son of a bus driver. Her replacement, Javid, who has a financial background, is the first male British-Asian cabinet minister in the coalition government and the son of a bus driver.
After his appointment, some in the arts world cast doubt on his qualifications for overseeing the culture brief.After his appointment, some in the arts world cast doubt on his qualifications for overseeing the culture brief.
Michael Rosen, the poet and former children's laureate, wrote on his blog in an open letter: "We've never met, but that's because I work in 'Culture' and you have spent most of your adult life so far in banking.Michael Rosen, the poet and former children's laureate, wrote on his blog in an open letter: "We've never met, but that's because I work in 'Culture' and you have spent most of your adult life so far in banking.
"It's very difficult to see from your Wikipedia entry or from the kind of information put before us by Huffington Post how you're qualified to do this new job at the Ministry of Culture.""It's very difficult to see from your Wikipedia entry or from the kind of information put before us by Huffington Post how you're qualified to do this new job at the Ministry of Culture."