Campbell slams 'putrid media'

Journalistic integrity: Campbell in combative mood...

Channel 4 reports...

'As Alastair Campbell tells the Leveson inquiry elements of the press have become 'putrid', a former investigator claims data chiefs refused to take action against newspapers on illegal information.

Mr Campbell, a former journalist, submitted 55 pages of written evidence to the inquiry on press standards, saying that whilst the "good journalists are still in the majority", competitive pressure are having a severe impact on media ethics.'

55 pages, eh? Not a bad effort. How many pages were there in the 'sexed-up' Iraq dossier on WMDs, though?

Is it just me, or does anyone else get the feeling that the Leveson inquiry into the behaviour of the press is being used to justify a future assault on its freedom to investigate anything Government does at all? I expect some MPs are still reeling from having their expenses claims documented in The Telegraph. The News of the World's actions were abominable but I get the general feeling that it is going to be used to muzzle the 'fourth estate' big time.