Leveson to recall Mail editor Dacre

Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre has been recalled to expand on his evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards

Published: 2:56am, 7th February 2012
Updated: 11:53am, 7th February 2012

Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre is to be recalled to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards, its chairman has said.

Mr Dacre, editor-in-chief of Associated Newspapers which publishes the Daily Mail and the Mail on Sunday, will answer more questions about accusations made by actor Hugh Grant.

On Monday the editor defended accusing Grant of making "mendacious smears" after the actor claimed a Mail on Sunday story about his relationship with socialite Jemima Khan was likely to have come from illicit eavesdropping.

Mr Dacre told the inquiry that he would withdraw the statement if Grant withdrew his claims that the Daily Mail or Mail on Sunday were involved in phone hacking.

He said he had never placed a story in the newspaper that he knew had come from phone hacking and was convinced it did not happen.

Lord Justice Leveson said the editor would be recalled to answer more questions on the issue, as well as complaints made by Grant about press intrusion following his relationship with Chinese actress Tinglan Hong, who gave birth to his daughter in late September.