News

News

FT editor: PCC failed to enforce code during phone hacking scandal

10/01/2012

Financial Times editor Lionel Barber has said the PCC failed to enforce its code during the phone hacking scandal.Barber, appointed as editor in 2005, was questioned over the code and internal Financial Times standards at the Leveson Inquiry.He went on to say that the code must be seen to be credible and in the case of phone-hacking this clearly had not happened – and it was a matter to be discussed between editors.He added the code needs to be “enforced before it is substantially amended”.Barber was also asked about internal procedure within the Financial Times and explained how staff must confirm they have read the FT code and sign an investment register.He said that it was “fundamental” that the paper upheld the “highest standards” of journalism to maintain the trust of readers, firmly stating: “Financial Times journalists do not break the law”.He added: “We are making sure that we are not in any way conflicted or behaving unethically.”Barber explained that although the Financial Times is focused on business and finance news, it was also interested in the “private lives” of others. He referenced a story broken by the paper last year that exposed António Horta-Osório, Lloyds Banking Group CEO, as suffering from stress.The editor has worked for the Financial Times for over 26 years and has held several positions during this time including U.S. managing editor and Washington correspondent.

Download the full report:

Download report

Queries: campaign@hackinginquiry.org

related Posts

Notes from the Campaign Trail: August 2026 Update
Personal reflections from Jacqui Hames on a period of political upheaval — and hope for the new Prime Minister
8/1/26
News
Mandy Garner to Andy Burnham: We Deserve Better
In an open letter to Prime Minister Andy Burnham, Mandy Garner asks him to turn his warnings about a 'dangerous' lack of accountability into action — on the press, the justice system and public inquiries.
7/24/26
News
'What I Experienced Was Pure Evil': Why Tulisa Is Launching the 'Fix the Press' Campaign
Hacked Off backs Tulisa Contostavlos as she launches her 'Fix the Press' campaign and petition for independent press regulation.
7/22/26
News
Jacqui Hames: The Mail has not been exonerated. Evidence of unlawful behavior remains, and the need for Leveson 2 is as strong as ever.
To people like Paul Dacre, and his colleagues at the Daily Mail and The Telegraph, press freedom means the freedom to publish falsehoods, disinformation and private information about anyone whose lives, they believe, will titillate their readers and sell them more newspapers.
7/8/26
News