Controversial proprietor Richard Desmond has supported the libellous coverage of his newspapers over the McCanns.

Robert Jay QC accused him as he gave evidence to the Leveson Inquiry of “grotesque characterisation” over the disappearance of Madeleine McCann. This came after Desmond questioned the length of time it took for the McCanns to take legal action against the press.

Desmond said newspapers should be allowed to report on opinions as well as fact, and added: "There are views about the McCanns and what happened".

The owner of Northern & Shell, which includes the Express and Star, apologised to the McCanns several times when giving evidence but said the PCC had scapegoated Express Newspapers over national coverage of the story. He said if 38 articles had been labelled defamatory, then many more printed in the paper must have been acceptable.

Desmond tried to defend Express and Star coverage by comparing rumours over Madeleine's disappearance to conspiracy theories about the death of Princess Diana.

He also told the inquiry he didn't know what the word "ethical" meant. He said: "We do not talk about ethics or morals because it’s a very fine line".

Desmond said he would "get rid" of the inquiry, which he called "probably the worst thing that’s happened to newspapers in my lifetime”, and focus on prosecuting people guilty of phone-hacking.

He described a new regulator called the “RCD board” to replace the PCC. When Lord Justice Leveson asked what this stood for, he said: “Richard Clive Desmond”. Jay became visibly irritated when Desmond later said he thought it was “a good name”.

Desmond also said he felt he had betrayed Tony Blair "as a mate" when the Express switched to supporting the Conservatives in 2004, but backed the decision of editor Peter Hill.

He met Blair after buying Express Newspapers in 2000 and the pair talked about "music and drums" before the then Prime Minster asked about politics. Desmond said he took the decision to back Labour because Blair "seemed a nice fellow".