Blogger summoned by Leveson for leaking Campbell evidence

POLITICAL blogger Paul Staines has been summoned to give evidence at the Leveson inquiry into media ethics after he published details of Alastair Campbell’s confidential testimony before the former spin doctor’s appearance.  

Staines published extracts from Campbell’s written submission to the inquiry and a link to the full documents on his Guido Fawkes website. Among other things, Staines claims Campbell has implicated the Daily Mirror in the hiring of private detectives to find stories.

Campbell (above) was due to appear before Leveson on Wednesday. His testimony has been eagerly awaited, because he was Tony Blair’s spin doctor and a former Daily Mirror journalist.

"Genuinely shocked someone has seen fit to leak my statement to Leveson," Campbell tweeted, adding that Guido Fawkes’s story “misrepresents” his written evidence.

A statement released by the Leveson inquiry said: "Lord Justice Leveson was extremely concerned to hear that a copy of the evidence that Mr Alastair Campbell intended to provide to the inquiry was published on the 'Guido Fawkes' website.

"The website asserts that this statement was obtained by 'legal means' but Lord Justice Leveson will be enquiring further into this claim and Mr Paul Staines will be required to give evidence."

Campbell’s witness statement will now be published by the Leveson inquiry today instead of Wednesday. ·