Tory MPs today accused former chief prosecutor Sir Keir Starmer of a U-turn on legal action against journalists.
It came after Sir Keir, now a London Labour MP, said he wanted a new “public interest” defence for journalists facing charges of bribing officials.
But Conservatives pointed out he had instigated a string of failed cases against reporters as Director of Public Prosecutions between 2008 and 2013.
Tory backbencher Andrew Bridgen said: “I think there will be a few raised eyebrows at Keir Starmer’s sudden about-turn on the need to protect journalists. Especially given the number of costly and ill-fated prosecutions he instigated against them during his time as DPP.”
Of more than two dozen journalists brought to court during Sir Keir’s tenure, only one has been convicted, while another entered a guilty plea. Many of the cases were dropped.
Sir Keir, who was speaking at a debate on press freedom held by the London Press Club and Society of Editors, told the Standard he wanted a public interest defence for journalists, but “it doesn’t follow from that it is wrong to bring any cases under the law as it is. Very few people believe there should be no prosecutions when journalists make payments to public officials.”
