Leveson Inquiry Debate

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Tom Harris

Main Page: Tom Harris (Labour - Glasgow South)

Leveson Inquiry

Tom Harris Excerpts
Wednesday 25th April 2012

(12 years, 8 months ago)

Commons Chamber
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Jeremy Hunt Portrait Mr Hunt
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The evidence would certainly suggest that that was also an exaggeration. That is why we must hear all the evidence submitted to the Leveson inquiry from all sides and allow Lord Justice Leveson, who is truly independent in this process and has no political bandwagon to jump on, to come to his considered conclusions.

Tom Harris Portrait Mr Tom Harris (Glasgow South) (Lab)
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In my experience, Secretaries of State speak more to their political advisers than they do to their Ministers or, indeed, to members of their own families. The House is being invited to believe either that the relationship between the Secretary of State and Adam Smith was so dysfunctional that the Secretary of State was unaware of the extent and nature of the communication between Adam Smith and News Corp or that it was a good relationship, in which case the Secretary of State must, as the code of conduct states, take full responsibility for the conduct of his political adviser.

Jeremy Hunt Portrait Mr Hunt
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I point the hon. Gentleman to what Adam Smith said this morning. He said that

“the content and extent of my contact was done without authorisation from the Secretary of State.”