On Wednesday December 10^th, thirteen years after the publication of the Leveson Report on press standards, over 30 victims of press abuse have written to the Prime Minister calling on him to meet with them to discuss action on press standards.

The signatories, none of whom are “celebrities”, criticise the failure of politicians to take action on press reform.  They urge the Prime Minister to meet with them, hear their accounts of intrusion and abuse, and keep Labour promises to back standards of decency and accuracy for the media.

Christine Flack, mother of the late television presenter Caroline Flack, said,

“The Sun and other newspapers made life unbearable for Caroline.  No one should have to suffer the way she did.  Yet every day, more do – all because companies like News UK are so powerful that even the Government is too frightened to stand up to them.

“I hope this Prime Minister will have the courage to meet with us and discuss action to introduce basic standards of decency to our media.”

Gerry McCann, father of the missing girl Madeleine McCann said,

“Over the last thirteen years, I and other victims of the press have been repeatedly promised that a future Labour Government will introduce the Leveson reforms on press standards, and finally put an end to the abuse of ordinary people at the hands of national news publishers.

“Yet since his election last year, the Prime Minister has shown no indication that he intends to keep that promise.  I believe this is because his office has prioritised securing the support of The Sun and other national newspapers above the public interest.  That would be a serious failure of political courage, and not what the public voted for in 2024.”

Paul Dadge, 7/7 hero, Labour Party member, former PPC and phone hacking victim, added,

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“The lack of action on press reform by our Prime Minister is a profound betrayal—not only of those of us who have suffered press intrusion, but of the guiding principles of the Labour Party: fairness, accountability, integrity, and social justice. These principles are not optional—they are the foundation of trust between the party and the people it serves.

If the Prime Minister cannot act with purpose and uphold these values to protect individuals from harassment and abuse by powerful corporations, then he should step aside for someone who will."

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Dear Prime Minister,

Meeting request: the victims of press abuse

We are individuals who have experienced phone hacking and other press abuses first hand. 

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Thirteen years after the Leveson Report was published, its recommendations have been ignored. There has been no accountability. And the public remains unprotected.

No individual or family should have to suffer the kinds of distress and trauma that we have endured. Yet every day more people are affected by the unethical, and sometimes illegal behaviour, of an industry which remains above the law.

In line with your own and the Culture Secretary’s past statements about the importance of listening to victims, we ask that you make the time to hear in person our experiences and our views on the state of media accountability today.

Despite the industry’s history of illegality, corruption and misconduct, the same publishers remain members of IPSO, a body they control. As Leveson warned, the press continues to “mark their own homework”. These publishers insist that everything has changed since Leveson published his report. We can testify that it hasn’t.

Worse, many of these publishers have shown no genuine regret, no sincere engagement with Parliament or the public, and no good-faith effort to implement Leveson's recommendations. Instead, they have lobbied, delayed, and used their influence to shield themselves from scrutiny. Meanwhile we, the victims, continue to seek justice and genuine change.

This is not an attack on journalism. It is a defence of ethical and professional standards in journalism - the kind that holds power to account, not the kind that abuses it with impunity.

We understand from our previous meeting with the Culture Secretary that there is a standing request to meet with you, which has been made on our behalf. We reiterate that request today, and hope you will agree.

We understand that you recently had time to meet News Corp Chairman Lachlan Murdoch¹. We hope you will now meet with some of the British citizens whose lives have been upended by the illegal practices and abuses associated with his company.

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely, 

Professor Corinne Fowler, Margaret Aspinall, Sue Roberts, Jacqui Hames, Andy Miller, Juliet Shaw, Gerry and Kate McCann, Benedict Rattigan, Thomas Wright, John Shepherd, Jane Winter, Baroness Sheila Hollins, Alastair Morgan, Professor John Tulloch, Mark Cann, Tricia Bernal, Emily Brothers, Ben Jackson, Christine Flack, Danielle Hindley, Nadeem Murtuja, Paul Dadge, Ian Piddock, Carina Trimingham Chris Huhne, Mandy Garner, Dean Stott MBE, Alana Stott MBE, Heather Teale, Juliet Shaw. 

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¹ https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/register-of-ministers-gifts-and-hospitality-june-2025

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