View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

PCC to investigate Telegraph ‘subterfuge’ in Cable exposé

By Oliver Luft

The Press Complaints Commission has opened an investigation into The Daily Telegraph’s use of “subterfuge” in a series of undercover stings – one of which led to Business Secretary Vince Cable telling reporters he had “declared war on Rupert Murdoch”.

The press standards watchdog confirmed that Tim Farron, president of the Liberal Democrats, had asked the body to conduct an investigation into the actions of the Telegraph Media Group after its reporters posed as constituents to secretly detail conversations with several leading Lib Dems during constituency surgeries.

One of these sessions took place in Cable’s Twickenham constituency where he made his comments about Rupert Murdoch and indicated he could seek to block the proposed takeover of BSkyB by the media mogul’s News Corporation.

In his capacity as Business Secretary, Cable had the power to veto the takeover on on media plurality grounds, however, revelation of his comments led Prime Minster David Cameron to strip him of this power and pass it over to Tory Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt.

The PCC issued a statement this morning saying: “The PCC has today confirmed that it has initiated an investigation into the use of subterfuge by the Daily Telegraph, which led to reports of comments made by Liberal Democrat MPs published in December 2010.

“The PCC was contacted by around 200 members of the public on this subject, and proactively sought the comments of party representatives.

“The president of the Liberal Democrats has today written to the PCC and asked it to investigate the issue.”

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Press Gazette understands that senior Lib Dems are angry at the Telegraph’s use of clandestine recordings, believing the resulting articles failed to produce anything that could justify a public interest defence.

Lib Dems believe the Telegraph simply embarked on a “fishing expedition” designed to entrap a number of its MPs.

Clause 10:2 of the voluntary code of practice to which journalists sign up to states: “Engaging in misrepesentation…can generally be justified only in the public interest and then only when the material cannot be obtained by other means.”

Spokesperson for Telegraph Media Group said: “The Telegraph always abides by the terms of the editors’ code and co-operates fully with the work of the PCC.

“We will of course assist their investigation on this complaint in any way we can. We are satisfied we acted within the terms of the code as we believe there is a strong public interest in our publishing this story.”

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network