Cameron’s promisesMany times, both before and after the Leveson Inquiry, David Cameron promised to listen to the views of victims of press abuses – and notably those victims who had testified before the Inquiry.In 2011 he promised (Hansard 13 July 2011):

‘We must at all times keep the real victims at the front and centre of this debate.’‘This has to be about the public and the victims.’‘What we must do in the coming days and weeks is think above all of the victims and make doubly sure that we get to the bottom of what happened and prosecute those who are guilty.’‘None of us can imagine what they [the victims] have gone through, but I do know that they, like everyone else in this country, want their politicians to bring this ugly chapter to a close and ensure that nothing like it can ever happen again.’

In 2012 David Cameron promised (Hansard 29 November 2012):

‘What matters most about this is putting in place a regulatory system that can make the victims proud.’ ‘What is absolutely vital is that we put in place a regulatory system that they [the victims] can see has got real teeth.’ ‘I think that they, as all victims do, deserve a really tough, independent regulatory system that can really hold the press to account, that can fine those editors, that can call them to account, that can insist on proper apologies and that can take up complainants’ cases and deal with them properly.’

The actions of Cameron and his governmentLast October Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, John Whittingdale, announced that he was considering shelving an important measure that gives teeth the Leveson reforms. (More here)Mr Whittingdale did not consult victims before this, nor did he even have the courtesy to warn them.Mr Whittingdale subsequently agreed to meet one victim but was unable to provide reassurance about his intentions or his motives so in November a group including Kate and Gerry McCann, Christopher Jefferies and the parents of Abigail Witchalls wrote directly to David Cameron.They asked the Prime Minister to implement this measure without delay or, failing that, to meet them as soon as possible.The Prime Minister did not implement and did not even acknowledge the request for a meeting. Instead he suggested they see Mr Whittingdale again.That meeting took nearly three months to arrange.This is not keeping the real victims at front and centre of the debate at all times.The contrastFar nearer to the front and centre of Mr Cameron’s mind are the leaders of the industry found guilty in the Leveson Report of ‘wreaking havoc in the lives on innocent people’.Five days after signing his dismissive letter to victims in December, Mr Cameron attended a party given by Rupert Murdoch. John Whittingdale and George Osborne were there too. And so was Rebekah Brooks.In the six months to last December, Mr Cameron met Murdoch and Murdoch’s editors no fewer than seven times, but he could find no time to meet victims.When Mr Whittingdale made his announcement about shelving the key Leveson measure, it was to a gathering of newspaper editors. Not surprisingly, they greeted his news with gleeful applause.The verdict When it suited David Cameron, when he was confronted by what he called a ‘firestorm’ of public outrage about press behaviour in 2011-13, he claimed he was listening to the victims and acting in their interests.Now a few years have passed and it is no longer convenient for him to listen to the victims, so he does not bother. Instead he quietly listens to the companies that perpetrated the abuses, and acts in their interests.