Leveson sets the date for media report

The Prime Minister will outline the future of press regulation in Britain next week after the Leveson report into media ethics is finally published next Thursday.

Lord Justice Leveson will make a televised statement on his long-awaited findings and recommendations on press standards at 1.30pm before his document is laid before Parliament – leading to what could be a six-hour debate following a statement from David Cameron.

Mr Cameron and selected other members of the Cabinet will have advance access to the document, which is rumoured to urge a crackdown on the media according to leaks of private letters from Lord Justice Leveson to newspaper groups.

The publication will mark the end of only the first part of the report, concerning the culture, practices and ethics of the press.

The second part of the Leveson inquiry, which will examine unlawful activities by journalists, is not able to start until the criminal investigation into alleged phone hacking and corrupt payments to police officers is complete.