i set up the levinson inquiry. the terms of reference of the inquiry were agreed by the leader of the liberal democrat party and the leader of the labor party. and i believe that to step in and try and prejudge that inquiry would be wrong. and let me be clear. let me be clear, lord justice levinson has made that precise point this morning. let me read to the house what lord justice levinson has said. perhaps the house would like to listen. let's hear -- >> let's hear what the prime minister has to say and then the questioning will continue. prime minister? >> lord justice levin said said this this morning, it is very important to hear every side of the story before drawing conclusions. and then he said this. although i have seen requests for other inquiries and investigations, and of course i do not seek to constrain parliament, but it seems to me that the better course is to allow this inquiry to proceed. now having set up this inquiry, having agreed with this inquiry, he should listen to the inquiry. -- >> mr. sp

i set up the levinson inquiry. the terms of reference of the inquiry were agreed by the leader of the liberal democrat party and the leader of the labor party. and i believe that to step in and try and prejudge that inquiry would be wrong. and let me be clear. let me be clear, lord justice levinson has made that precise point this morning. let me read to the house what lord justice levinson has said. perhaps the house would like to listen. let's hear -- >> let's hear what the prime minister has to say and then the questioning will continue. prime minister? >> lord justice levin said said this this morning, it is very important to hear every side of the story before drawing conclusions. and then he said this. although i have seen requests for other inquiries and investigations, and of course i do not seek to constrain parliament, but it seems to me that the better course is to allow this inquiry to proceed. now having set up this inquiry, having agreed with this inquiry, he should listen to the inquiry. -- >> mr. sp

>> whether or not they believe it doesn't change the fact that levinson was suggesting, and i don't think i've ever had a conversation with a politician where he or she didn't try to convince me of the rectitude of their views and is that -- i think that's true of pretty much anyone they talk to, but particularly people with any direct or indirect relationship with the press. >> are you agreing or disagreeing that there's at least a perception in the minds of politicians that reputations of newspapers such as "the sun" is important? >> i think that's a question but it's a question for them. >> in terms of your analysis of the timing of something like the b-sky-b bid weighing out the pros and cons, it would be part of the assessment as to the power you can exercise over politicians in a critical time in the run-up to election. >> that would not be part of our assessment that we would exercise our power over politicians that you believe is there, that is not the case. >> after the election, the tables are turned somewhat, the power is more with the politicians. morely if you need their help