David Cameron this morning announced a judge-led inquiry into the News of the World phone hacking scandal as he admitted turning "a blind eye" to the crisis in the British press.
In his first public statements since yesterday's announcement that the Sunday tabloid is to close, the Prime Minister said he would appoint judge to investigate the phone hacking allegations and promised "no stone will be left unturned".
Mr Cameron announced a second inquiry, to begin immediately, into the "culture, practices, and ethics" of the press, and said that the Press Complaints Commission would be replaced with a "new system entirely."
He added for the first time that phone hacking may have taken place at other newspapers besides the News of the World.
The Prime Minister compared the scandal to MPs' expenses and said he and other party leaders "did not do enough" - but refused to apologise for his handling of the situation.
He said he took "full responsibility" for hiring Andy Coulson, the former News of the World editor, as director of communications. Mr Coulson was arrested this morning at a south London police station in connection with the hacking allegations.
Announcing the first investigation, which will look into illegal practices at newspapers as well as the subsequent police investigation, Mr Cameron said: "Everything that happened is going to be investigated. The witnesses will be questioned by a judge under oath. And no stone will be left unturned."
The inquiry will look into three questions, he said: "Why did the first police investigation fail so abysmally? What exactly was going on at the News of the World? And what was going on at other newspapers?"
He said a second inquiry could begin immediately, tasked with looking into the "culture, the practices and the ethics" of the British press.
Mr Cameron said the system of press self-regulation had failed and condemned the PCC as "ineffective and completely lacking in vigour".
He admitted that politicians had failed to confront a growing crisis in the British press but refused to apologise for his own handling of the News of the World scandal.
He said: "Party leaders were so keen to win the support of newspapers we turned a blind eye to the need to sort this issue, get on top of the bad practices, to change the way our newspapers are regulated."
The Prime Minister faced repeated questions over bringing Mr Coulson into Downing Street, a decision Ed Miliband criticised as an "appalling error of judgement".
Mr Cameron said: "I decided to give him a second chance – and no one has ever raised serious concerns about how he did his job for me.
"But the second chance didn’t work out and he had to resign all over again.
"The decision to hire him was mine – and mine alone – and I take full responsibility for it."
The inquiry will look into three questions, he said: "Why did the first police investigation fail so abysmally? What exactly was going on at the News of the World? And what was going on at other newspapers?"
He said a second inquiry could begin immediately, tasked with looking into the "culture, the practices and the ethics" of the British press.
Mr Cameron said the system of press self-regulation had failed and condemned the PCC as "ineffective and completely lacking in vigour".
He admitted that politicians had failed to confront a growing crisis in the British press but refused to apologise for his own handling of the News of the World scandal.
He said: "Party leaders were so keen to win the support of newspapers we turned a blind eye to the need to sort this issue, get on top of the bad practices, to change the way our newspapers are regulated."
The Prime Minister faced repeated questions over bringing Mr Coulson into Downing Street, a decision Ed Miliband criticised as an "appalling error of judgement".
Mr Cameron said: "I decided to give him a second chance – and no one has ever raised serious concerns about how he did his job for me.
"But the second chance didn’t work out and he had to resign all over again.
"The decision to hire him was mine – and mine alone – and I take full responsibility for it."
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