Letter from Nick Clegg - Phone Hacking

I'm sure like me you have been shocked and appalled by the allegations of widespread phone hacking by the News of the World. As I made clear at Deputy Prime Minister's Question Time in the House of Commons yesterday the behaviour of those involved is grotesque and beneath contempt.

The PM and I have agreed, as he announced today at PMQs, that there will be inquiries into both the original police investigation and also the behaviour of the British press, their practices and ethics - and that the details of those inquiries will be agreed by the party leaders. On your behalf I will be making it clear that the inquiries must be independent, open, able to access all information and call witnesses, and that crucially the inquiry dealing with legal issues (eg relationship between police and media) must be presided over by a judge.

Given the seriousness of this issue, and its unprecedented nature, I am keen to hear your views on what should happen next. If you have views please do email me at
phonehackinginquiry@libdems.org.uk

Best wishes,

Nick Clegg

Leader of the Liberal Democrats.