Harry Potter series author J.K. Rowling, actors Hugh Grant and Sienna Miller and parents of disappeared girl Madeleine McCann were on Wednesday made “core participants” in the inquiry into the phone-hacking scandal led by justice Brian Leveson.
The judicial inquiry will initially examine press ethics and practices in relation to the public, politicians and the police. The second part of the inquiry, dealing with specific phone-hacking allegations, will begin only after the Met Police completes its two investigations into the issue.
The judge announced 46 names granted “core participant” status for the part of his inquiry which will mainly, but not exclusively, focus on “press and the public.”
“It is important to underline that Part One of this inquiry is not concerned with the apportionment of personal or corporate responsibility,” Lord Justice Leveson said in his ruling on Wednesday afternoon.
He added that he planned to keep the issue of core participant status under review. “If the inquiry proceeds along lines that cause me to consider that my view should be changed, I shall invite further representation. At each stage, I will consider any application entirely on its merits.”
Three other areas of the first part of the inquiry will focus on the press and the police; the press and politicians; and the future. The inquiry chief said he will consider applications for “core participant” status for these modules in due course. Sally and Bob Dowler, parents of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, four MPs — Chris Bryant, Tessa Jowell, Denis MacShane and Simon Hughes, Labour peer Lord Prescott, who is former deputy prime minister and celebrity PR agent Max Clifford are among the core participants in the inquiry.
Indian-origin British actress Shobna Gulati is also among the core participants, who were chosen if they played a direct and significant role in relation to the matters to which the inquiry relates, had a significant interest in an important aspect of the matters to which the inquiry relates.