'Telegraph' wrong on Euan story, says PCC

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Andreas Whittam Smith: Intrusion into lives of young people hurtful and unnecessary

The Press Complaints Commission upheld a complaint by the Prime Minister and his wife yesterday over a newspaper article concerning their eldest son's university plans.

The Daily Telegraph was censured for a diary story that reported Euan Blair had applied for a place at Trinity College, Oxford. The item was in breach of clause six of the PCC's code of practice, designed to prevent children becoming media targets in their time at school or simply because they have famous parents.

But the PCC adjudication also said that the children of people in public life may not receive absolute protection from the press if they themselves begin to make public appearances. In what is thought to be a reference to Euan Blair's widely reported introduction to the actress Kate Winslet at a recent film première, the PCC warned that maintaining protection for children would be difficult if they began to acquire a public profile in their own right.

"Privacy is best maintained when not compromised in any way," the adjudication said.

Two weeks ago, newspapers reported the Prince of Wales had consulted the PCC about stories concerning Prince Harry drinking and experimentation with cannabis. His father decided to co-operate with the press over the stories. Guy Black, the PCC's director, said: "St James's Palace rightly recognised there were important matters of public interest here. There was no issue to be raised in respect of privacy under the code."

Charles Moore, editor of the Telegraph, said the newspaper had published the story in good faith but accepted the adjudication. He also said the contradictory signals from the PCC needed clarification.

"There is real difficulty in defining where the privacy of the Blairs' children begins and ends, particularly when it is compared to the different standards applied to Prince Harry," he added. "I hope the industry can clarify these matters in the coming weeks."

The newspaper had argued that its diary story was not about Euan but about the choices the Prime Minister and his wife were making on their children's education, in the context of the debate on Oxbridge colleges' admissions policies. But the PCC noted that the story made no reference to the debate about admissions. It said the newspaper had failed to demonstrate there was sufficient public interest to over-ride the "normally paramount" interests of the child.

Although the college concerned had posted a list of applicants in its porter's lodge at the time the interviews were being conducted, that did not mean his application was "firmly" in the public domain, the PCC said.

The Blairs also complained about an article in the Daily Mail that referred to their son's application. Although the PCC said it was "clear" the Mail had breached the codes protecting children, the PCC has suggested the newspaper resolve the matter with the Blairs without a formal adjudication, partly because its article was following up the Telegraph piece.

The Mail had contacted Downing Street before publication and said it would have reconsidered running the story if the Blairs had raised any objection on privacy grounds. Robin Esser, executive managing editor, said the newspaper was considering the PCC ruling "very seriously".

A Downing Street spokes- man said: "We think it is a fair adjudication and it speaks for itself."

* Cherie Blair helped to launch a fund-raising initiative yesterday to encourage young musicians to take part in sponsored practice sessions in aid of the charity Sargent Cancer Care for Children.