Leveson Inquiry

Simon Kirby Excerpts

Wednesday 25th April 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Hunt]

All the roles in that process were agreed by the permanent secretary. I do not know what greater level of independence the hon. Gentleman wants for that decision, but let me tell him that we could not have been more transparent and more determined to make sure that the whole process was fair. We know from what happened yesterday that everything did not go right in the process. That is why, unfortunately, Adam Smith has chosen to resign—because some of his contacts were inappropriate. But the crucial question is whether any of that communication affected my decision, and it did not.

[Simon Kirby (Brighton, Kemptown) (Con)]

Should not the Opposition stop playing party politics and wait for the outcome of the inquiry?

[Mr Hunt]

Absolutely right.