Theresa May backs press freedom but won’t be drawn on row over Met commander’s leaks warning

Neil Basu (left) has been criticised for his comments after memos from Sir Kim Darroch (right) were leaked
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Theresa May today backed press freedom as a “foundation” of democracy — but declined to say if she agreed with a Scotland Yard chief’s warning that newspapers could be prosecuted for publishing leaked government information.

The Prime Minister’s spokesman said: “On press freedom, the Prime Minister’s views are very well known. She has said a free press is one of the foundations on which our democracy rests.”

But he would not be drawn on the comments made by Neil Basu, assistant commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, who came under fire for his remarks on the leaking of confidential diplomatic cables about President Donald Trump. He said: “I’m not going to comment on the individual statement.”

Former Brexit secretary David Davis called for Mr Basu to be pulled from an investigation into the leaking of the candid cables from Britain’s US ambassador Sir Kim Darroch that described the Trump administration as “inept”.

Sajid Javid
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Mr Basu urged journalists in possession of leaked government documents to return them, saying any further publication from the dispatches cables could result in prosecution.

Writing in The Times, Mr Davis said Britain did not prosecute journalists for “embarrassing the state”.

He accused Mr Basu of “straying beyond his brief” and called for commissioner Cressida Dick to put the investigation in the hands of “an officer who puts preservation of our free press ahead of protection of the state’s reputation”.

International Trade Secretary Liam Fox backed the rights of a free press but also said that editors should stay within the law. “Newspapers have to be very clear about their responsibilities, which is to remain within the law.”

Asked about publishing such leaks, he said: “They will have to make their own decisions on that. It’s quite right that the press will publish what they believe will be of political interest, but of course it’s not acceptable to stray over the line into breaking the law.”

On whether the Mail on Sunday should have published the leaks that led to Sir Kim’s resignation, Mr Fox said: “That’s not for me to say.”

He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme there was nothing to prevent a politician being appointed to replace Sir Kim rather than a career diplomat. But Jeremy Hunt has backed “outstanding candidates” from the Diplomatic Service.

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