David Cameron gets special status at Leveson Inquiry
David Cameron and Charlie Brooks attend the book launch for Brooks’ book “Citizen” in London on April 1, 2009
British prime minister David Cameron will be allowed to read the testimonies of two key witnesses before they appear before the Leveson Inquiry.
With the inquiry is set to look at relations between the press and politicians, Cameron is among eight government ministers granted "core participant" status by Lord Justice Leveson has granted — allowing them advance sight of witness statements, the BBC reported.
The witnesses include former Downing Street spin doctor Andy Coulson and ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks.
Cameron has previously been accused of being too close to the Brooks and to Rupert Murdoch's empire, which is the main focus of the inquiry.
According to the Guardian, Leveson conceded — after arguments by lawyers for the government — that Jeremy Hunt, the culture minister, had been disadvantaged by not having advanced knowledge of 163 pages of emails between his office and News Corporation, submitted to the inquiry last month as part of Murdoch's evidence.
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Hunt is now facing calls from the Labour party for his resignation as a result of the evidence.
The other ministers granted core participant status are Nick Clegg, Vince Cable, Jeremy Hunt, Michael Gove, Theresa May, Ken Clarke and George Osborne.
All are expected to give evidence in person to the inquiry apart from Osborne, who will submit a written statement.
According to Australia's ABC News, core participants not only have the right to see evidence before it is presented in court, but can ask for evidence to be redacted and can pose questions to witnesses.
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