PCC to investigate ‘Cablegate’ affair
The Press Complaints Commission has announced that it is to investigate the Daily Telegraph’s use of undercover reporters to record Lib Dem minister’s private thoughts on the coalition government.
Business Secretary Vince Cable was the highest profile casualty of the sting, after he was secretly taped by a pair of female reporters declaring “war” on Rupert Murdoch.
The unguarded comments led to Cable being stripped of his powers to rule on Murdoch’s BSkyB bid.
Another of the targeted MPs, Tim Farron, complained that The Telegraph had been on a “fishing expedition” whilst Cable himself said that when "somebody who isn't a constituent falsifies their name and address and comes in with a hidden microphone – it completely undermines the whole basis on which you operate as a local MP".
A PCC spokesman said: "We have now received a letter from the Liberal Democrats asking us formally to investigate. We will do so under clause 10 (Clandestine devices and subterfuge) of the Editors' Code of Practice."
A Telegraph Media Group spokesman said there was a: "a strong public interest in our publishing this story", adding: "The Telegraph always abides by the terms of the Editors' Code and co-operates fully with the work of the PCC".