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Leveson frustrated over his press recommendations

Frustration piled upon frustration with an added layer of frustration. If there is one word that sums up everybody's view of what is happening to the much-delayed so-called Leveson reforms of the British press, it is, you guessed it, frustration.

We heard the word over and over again as the Commons' media committee attempted, and entirely failed, to get some answers from Sir Brian Leveson over what he thought had gone wrong in the wake of his report and offer some thoughts on a way forward.

Committee chairman John Whittingdale said, in the politest possible way, that he and his committee were frustrated that Sir Brian's response to their inquiry was: "Read my report, it's all in there."

"It would be enormously helpful if we could at least hear your view. It is extremely frustrating for us," he said.

Sir Brian could only sympathise saying, in effect, that was the problem with having chosen a judicial inquiry into the press. You don't see judges laying down their decisions in court then asking "are there any questions?" he said, to some exasperated laughter.

Needless to say, the campaigners on both sides of the issue, who were well represented in the committee room, were clearly frustrated that, after a 15-month-inquiry and a year since Leveson reported and made his recommendations, the whole issue appears to be disappearing over the horizon. Again.

Sir Brian himself was not immune from this outbreak, declaring: "I am extremely frustrated that people talk about statutory regulation of the press" . His report had absolutely not recommended any such thing, he said.

He also hinted at frustration with David Cameron, who had originally insisted he would implement Leveson's recommendations unless they were "bonkers."

In the closest he came to offering an opinion, let alone a conclusion, Sir Brian told one of his questioners: "The response and answer is in my report which, I hope, is not bonkers."

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Frustration As Leveson Offers No Way Forward For Press Regulation