Leveson Inquiry hears how to 'do nothing' in politics
The 1990s Conservative government wanted to avoid statutory regulation of the press and explored ways to "do nothing" about it, the Leveson Inquiry has heard.
Stephen Dorell MP oversaw media policy as heritage secretary between 1994 and 1995 and was responsible for the government's response to the second Calcutt Report into the media.
Mr Dorrell told the inquiry: "There was a phrase in the culture at the time that the press was 'in the last chance saloon'."
But he said the government at the time preferred to avoid statutory regulation and he explained how he was asked to dress up a "do nothing" approach to avoid criticism.
23 May 2012
- From the section UK Politics