Heather Mills, Paul McCartney's ex-wife, is due to give evidence today at the Leveson Inquiry, along with Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail, PR guru Max Clifford, and Darren Lyons owner of paparazzi agency Big Pictures.
Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail:
Dacre is giving evidence for the second time this afternoon.
His evidence begins by questioning from phonehacking victims' lawyer, David Sherbourne. Sherbourne asks about a 2007 Mail on Sunday story referring to late night calls Hugh Grant was allegedly having with a "plummy voiced" Warner studios executive. Grant has asserted that this could only have been found out by listening to Grant's voicemails.
Dacre admits that there was no woman at Warner studios, but a woman was leaving voicemails on Mr Grant's phone. Dacre denies that the information was obtained through phone hacking.
In reply to a statement made by Sherbourne, Dacre says "I deeply resent your comparison [of the Sun] to my paper".
Dacre becomes increasingly agitated as Sherbourne's questioning continues: "I cannot be any more unequivocal – our group did not hack phones and I rather resent your continued insinuations that we did … I am not going to speculate. I am not going to be drawn by your innuendo."
Dacres continues saying that Grant's comments alleging hacking at the Daily Mail were "toxic" and "explosive" and "he knew the damage it would cause".
Leveson ends Dacre's evidence saying "we shall be returning to the question of how the press should be reformed...it may be that some of those ideas will require, or would benefit from your input and I hope that you will be prepared to provide it."
Dacre says that many American websites sites carry stories about Mr Grant and other celebrities. If mainstream media in Britain is unable to address stories that are available else where, Dacre warns that British journalism will become out-of-touch especially with young people if unable to report certain stories.
Max Clifford, PR veteran:
Clifford describes falling out with Andy Coulson during the time when his phone was hacked. Says that he refused to deal with NOTW while Andy Coulson was editor.
Max Clifford is a victim of phone hacking himself. He settled his case personally with Rebekah Brooks, receiving £220,000 a year.
Clifford says that he believes editors are now frightened following the public backlash from the phone hacking scandal, and the Leveson Inquiry.
On the power of newspapers Clifford says that "potentially they destroy people, they also do a lot of good things, wonderful things."
"I think that it is unhealthy that celebrities have so much influence over young people".
When asked about a new regulatory body Clifford said that any new PCC would have to be publicised, "If you need an ambulance you know who to call...If you are facing a potential media nightmare you need to know who to call."
Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists:
Stanistreet believes that journalists should be able to refuse a story on unethical grounds, she calls this a 'conscience clause'.
She says "It's vital that journalists have the protection of an independent trade union within their workplace."
Having asked for evidence from journalists 40 got in touch. None with positive experience of working in the trade. Evidence supplied by journalists confirms allegations that phone hacking was rife at NOTW, and only the tip of the iceberg. There are also a number of testimonies that also refer to extreme bullying, and exploitation of journalists in the newsroom. Shift workers in particular spoke of poor treatment, they are not entitled to holiday or sick pay, and earn significantly less than full-time reporters doing the same job.
Heather Mills:
Mills begins by describing the situation in which voicemails, which were subsequently hacked, were left. She describes an argument between herself and her ex-husband Paul McCartney. McCartney left a voicemail on Mills' mobile phone singing for forgiveness. Mills says that the only way that journalists could have heard this message was by hacking her phone.
In his evidence, Piers Morgan, admitted to being played the voicemail message in question. Mills is confirming that she "never...never, never...ever" authorised Piers Morgan to listen to that message. Mills said that she was astounded that "a man that has written noting but awful things about me" would suggest he was given permission to listen to her voicemail messages.
Mills has provided a DVD containing an edit of over 64 hours of paparazzi harassment footage, which Mills began filming following extreme harassment of herself and her daughter. The video shows clip of press photographers driving dangerously, doorstepping Mills and harassing herself and her daughter.
Mills says she went from "amazing campaigner" to "one-legged bitch" and "cow" in the press after meeting McCartney.
Ian Edmondson, former head of News of the World:
Edmondson is first asked about emails sent to girls involved in the Max Mosley orgy scandal. Leveson asks would he ever have written such an email offering anonymity if the women co-operate? "I don't like its tone," Edmondson says of the email. "From memory I saw them [the emails] some time after the Mosley case," he adds.
Leveson asks: "As you read the emails now, what's your reaction to them?"
"I think they are a threat," says Edmondson.
Leveson: "I think we can agree about that."
Edmondson admits to using Derek Webb, a private investigator, especially to find out if celebrities were having affairs. He also admitted that Webb's status as a 'journalist' was a pretence.
When asked about the publication of Kate McCann's diary, Edmondson recalls being asked by Myler not to reveal that they were in possession of the diaries during a phone call with the McCann's press advisor. He admits that this was to prevent an injunction on the story.
Edmondson says that the culture of bullying at a newspaper comes from the editor, but he does not want to go into detail.
Edmondson concludes his evidence stating that bullying occurred at all levels of the newspaper, "It is not a democracy at a newspaper – autocratic."
Darren Lyons is giving evidence first, from video link in Australia:
Lyons says that his company is not responsible for individual freelance photographers, but that they make decisions about which photographs to use. Photographs not acceptable are those that include "Extreme nudity, extreme situations where we felt the photographer had crossed the line; whether it was taken on private property – those kind of examples would stick out like sore thumbs to us." He said that the decision is based on the "PCC line".
"Celebrities court publicity when they want to court publicity...then they just turn it off".
Lyons does not believe that photographing celebrities against their will is wrong if in a public place, stating "A free press should be able to work in public places". He says that this is something he feels very strongly about.
When asked about taking photographs of celebrities in cars, Lyons says "It is the right of a photographer to take a photograph of someone in a car". He says that car shots are done more by news photographers than celebrity photographers.
When asked about his website, mrpaparazzi.com, which invites the public to submit their own photographs. He describes it as "the future".
Patry Hoskins replies that it could be said that encouraging the public to whip out their phones and take photographs of celebrities could be seen as incitement to invade someone's privacy.
Check back for updates.
