Hunt at Leveson Pt.1

Robert Jay, the Leveson Inquiry QC, is taking a different approach with Jeremy Hunt than he has most other witnesses. He is subjecting the Culture Secretary to an old-fashioned court-room examination full of references to the precise timings of Hunt’s actions.

Hunt’s main line so far is that he now understands the quasi-judicial process far better than when he wrote Cameron that memo suggesting a meeting with Cable and Clegg to discuss media policy and the bid. He is adamant that when given this role himself, he behaved properly.

But the inquiry is now moving on to whether Smith spoke for Hunt in his texts to Fred Michel. Judging by his body language, Jay clearly thinks Hunt is on weak ground here. It is also worth remembering that Leveson himself seemed sceptical that someone of Smith’s experience had been given this much discretion.