Commenting on the Sunday Mirror's decision to publish allegations concerning the private life of Keith Vaz MP, Hacked Off Joint Executive Director Dr Evan Harris said:“The intrusion into someone’s private life and the use of hidden cameras needs to be justified by the public interest.“We don’t know enough about the Sunday Mirror’s methods, for example how much was paid and to whom, and the extent of any entrapment, to be sure that the several public interest justifications suggested by the Sunday Mirror are sufficient. “Running stories like this is a matter of editorial judgment - and some British newspapers frequently offer no real public interest justification when doing so - but if the subject of an intrusive story seeks remedy then that decision should be in the hands of an independent press regulator, which does not yet exist; or the courts, which do exist but are often not accessible to some people without MPs’ salaries.”

Notes

1. Hacked Off is the campaign for a free and accountable press, and works with the victims of press abuse to achieve those aims.
2. For press enquiries, please email press@hackinginquiry.org or call 07554 665 940.