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Brown advice on a press inquiry advice to be released Gordon Brown was advised against press inquiry
(about 2 hours later)
The government will publish the advice given to Gordon Brown over launching an inquiry into News International, after the ex-prime minister claimed officials talked him out of taking action. Gordon Brown was advised by civil servants against launching an inquiry into press standards, a document released by the government reveals.
Mr Brown told MPs that Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell had warned him not to start a probe in 2010, as it was too close to a general election. A March 2010 memorandum from Cabinet Secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell raised concerns over costs and possible legal challenges.
He added that he had tried to stand up "for the public interest". It also mentioned "questions" over the timing of Mr Brown's request - coming shortly before a general election.
The ex-prime minister asked for the document to be released.
This followed revelations of phone hacking and payments to police by the News of the World, and dozens of accusations of wrongdoing by the newspaper and other News International titles.
Sir' Gus's memorandum notes that a previous report by the Commons culture committee provided "some arguments in favour of an inquiry", including a reference to a "culture" at the News of the World that had "at best turned a blind eye to illegal activity".
But it says: "From the limited information available, it is doubtful whether this case would merit the holding of a public inquiry under the terms of the 2005 [Inquiries] Act".
The committee had looked at "essentially... a localised issue involving the actions of a small number of people within the News of the World", it says.
The document adds: "Does that really amount to a matter of 'public concern' justifying a public inquiry?"
'Brown's decision'
It also says: "It is questionable whether a public inquiry would be likely to uncover more evidence than the police and the committee were able to do, bearing in mind that the events in question occurred in 2005-7."
He also advised Mr Brown that launching a probe just two months before the general election, which took place in May 2010, would "inevitably raise questions over the motivation and urgency of an inquiry".
Mr Brown told MPs on Wednesday that Sir Gus had warned him not to start an inquiry, adding that he had tried to stand up "for the public interest".
But Sir Gus has told the BBC that he had not prevented the inquiry, saying: "I advised him it is for the PM to decide."
A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "The advice, issued in March 2010, was based on the contents of the report of the culture, media and sport select committee into press standards and other information available at the time.
"This advice was requested by the prime minister. Decisions on whether or not to hold a public inquiry, and on its scope and nature, are always the decisions of a minister."
The coalition government has now set up a judge-led inquiry into the media.The coalition government has now set up a judge-led inquiry into the media.
It will look at the "culture, practices, and ethics of the press", following revelations of phone hacking and payments to police by the News of the World, and dozens of accusations of wrongdoing by it and other News International titles. It will look at the "culture, practices, and ethics of the press".
Following public uproar at reports of journalists' behaviour, it will also investigate the "extent of unlawful or improper conduct within News International and other newspaper organisations".Following public uproar at reports of journalists' behaviour, it will also investigate the "extent of unlawful or improper conduct within News International and other newspaper organisations".
'Motivation'
In his first major parliamentary speech since leaving Downing Street last year, Mr Brown launched an impassioned attack on News International, saying the firm had "descended from the gutter to the sewer".
He branded it "a criminal media nexus" which "claimed to be on the side of the law-abiding citizen" but in fact stood "side by side with criminals against our citizens".
He said he had tried to secure a judicial inquiry into the conduct of News International while in power, but had faced resistance from the police, Home Office and Cabinet Office.
He said he had asked Sir Gus to agree in an inquiry in February 2010, three months before the general election.
Mr Brown quoted advice he received, saying: "Targeting the News of the World would have been deemed to be politically motivated because it was too close to the general election and would inevitably have raised questions over the motivation and urgency of an inquiry."
'Abuse of power'
The former prime minister has allowed the Cabinet Office to publish the relevant documents, and they are expected to be released later on Thursday.
In his speech, Mr Brown told MPs: "Far from the so-called cosy relationship with News International that would have meant doing nothing, my answer to what appeared to be News International's abuse of press freedom was a full judge-led inquiry to meet growing public concern."
He accused the company of seeking to abuse its power for political gain over issues such as the future of the BBC and the "neutering" of broadcasting regulator Ofcom, but insisted that as prime minister he had resisted it.
Mr Brown added: "Of course, the abuse of their power for political gain is something that is going to have to be looked at. Any inquiry that is going to be set up is going to have to look at how News International attempted to abuse political power for political gain."
Labour MPs applauded Mr Brown after he completed his speech but some Conservative MPs jeered and several intervened to question why he had not done more to combat press power during his time in office.
For the government, Deputy Commons leader David Heath said Mr Brown had provided "serious evidence" and he hoped it would be considered by the public inquiry.
The Sun and the Sunday Times, both owned by News International, have refuted specific allegations made by Mr Brown about the methods they used to obtain stories about him and his family.
The Sunday Times has firmly rejected claims it used criminals to get access to his personal details. The Sun said a story it had run about Mr Brown's baby son having cystic fibrosis had been sourced legitimately.