Recommendation L83: Disclosure of Media Contacts
From An Inquiry into the Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press, published 29 November 2012.
Recommendation
Party Leaders, Ministers and Front Bench Opposition spokesmen should consider publishing: (a) the simple fact of long term relationships with media proprietors, newspaper editors or senior executives which might be thought to be relevant to their responsibilities and, (b) on a quarterly basis: i. details of all meetings with media proprietors, newspaper editors or senior executives, whether in person or through agents on either side, and the fact and general nature of any discussion of media policy issues at those meetings; and ii. a fair and reasonably complete picture, by way of general estimate only, of the frequency or density of other interaction (including correspondence, phone, text and email) but not necessarily including content.
In brief (written by this site)
The Inquiry asked politicians to publish relevant relationships and regular details of media contacts. In July 2013, Ed Vaizey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, stated in a written answer that the government publishes details of meetings held by ministers and special advisers with editors, proprietors, and senior media executives, but did not mention long-term relationships, interaction frequency, or opposition spokespersons (Ed Vaizey, Jul 2013). In November 2012, David Cameron, Prime Minister, had stated to the House of Commons that the government accepted the recommendation (David Cameron response, Nov 2012).
AI-generated summary of the record on this page, checked by a second model and automatic checks, 1 Oct 2026. The record below is the sources' own words.
About this summary
This recommendation asks for cultural or behavioural change, which is difficult to verify from published sources alone. The record reflects policy commitments rather than measured outcomes.
Government response
I made that point last summer when I set up the inquiry, and at the same time I set in train reforms to improve transparency. We are the first Government ever to publish details of meetings between senior politicians and proprietors, editors or senior executives, as Lord Justice Leveson recommends in his report. He also recommends disclosing further information on the overall level of interaction between politicians and the press. That would apply to all parties, and on the Government’s behalf I can say that we accept the recommendation.
How this response relates to the recommendation
Site note: The Prime Minister's statement to the House of Commons on 29 November 2012, the day the report was published, and his answers to members' questions on it (Official Report, HC Deb vol 554, from col 446). He speaks for the Government; the site files his words under the Prime Minister's Office.
Blanket government agreement does not establish acceptance or delivery by each addressee. Some response passages cover groups of recommendations.
Scope of the government response
PM David Cameron responded to all 92 recommendations with a single statement accepting them "in principle" or "in part". No per-recommendation response was published.
Delivery
Department for Culture, Media and Sport says partially delivered (2 July 2013)
On the relationship between the press and politicians, as recommended by Lord Justice Leveson, the Government publish details of meetings held by Ministers and/or special advisers with editors, proprietors and senior media executives.
From: Culture, Practices and Ethics of the Press Inquiry (Commons written answer), Ed Vaizey, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
Site note: The answer speaks for Ministers and special advisers and describes the publication of their meetings with editors, proprietors and senior media executives. The recommendation is also addressed to party leaders and opposition front-bench spokespeople, and also covers long-term relationships and other contact.
Source
Responsible bodies
Themes and tags
Who has spoken
- Prime Minister's Office, 10 Downing Street
Response - Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Delivery statement