The Daily Telegraph criticised by Press Complaints Commission for secretly recording Liberal Democrat MPs
The Daily Telegraph has been criticised by the Press Complaints Commission for secretly taping Liberal Democrat MPs.
The newspaper was reported to the PCC after its reporters posed as constituents of business secretary Vince Cable, who was secretly taped ‘declaring war’ on News International owner Rupert Murdoch.
The resulting story led to Cable being replaced by culture minister Jeremy Hunt in overseeing the decision making process around the potential takeover of BSkyB by News International.
Around 200 complaints were received by the PCC after the story was published in December.
The Daily Telegraph defended itself, claiming that the journalists had done this in the ‘public interest’ although the PCC decided that not enough evidence had been provided, describing the exercise as a fishing exhibition’.
Other Liberal Democrat MPs were also recorded, including pensions minister Steve Webb, employment relations minister Ed Davey, transport minister Norman Baker and health minister Paul Burstow.
Clause 10 of the Editors' Code of Practice prevents material from being obtained or published having been "acquired by using hidden cameras or clandestine listening devices".