As it happened: Brown and Osborne at Leveson Inquiry

That's all from us today. Thank you for joining us, and join us again on Tuesday when the hearing resumes at 10:00 BST. It will hear from former prime minister John Major, Harriet Harman MP, and Labour leader Ed Miliband.

To sum up: Mr Osborne denied courting former News of the World editor Andy Coulson to be the Conservative Party's director of communications because of his connections with News International - insisting Mr Coulson was a strong candidate because of his media experience, and his shared Conservative values. He said he had asked Mr Coulson if there was more to come out on phone-hacking, but Mr Coulson had said no.

Earlier, Mr Osborne said it took less than an hour - under enormous pressure - for the prime minister and his top advisors to decide to hand responsibility for News Corporation's bid for BSkyB to Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt, after Business Secretary Vince Cable's opposition to the bid was exposed in the media.

And on future regulation of the press, Mr Osborne said his instinct was to err on the side of freedom of speech.

In separate but related news, the Metropolitan Police says it has handed the Crown Prosecution Service files on five journalists for charging advice in relation to Operation Weeting - its investigation into phone hacking.

tells the BBC News Channel it was a "pretty smooth" performance by George Osborne - and he will be hoping that by this evening, we will all be more interested in the football.

And with that, Mr Osborne finishes his evidence, and the inquiry wraps up for the day.

Mr Osborne says he doubts that his 10 and eight-year-old children will ever buy a paper newspaper in their life.

Mr Osborne says it is important that the press can air controversial issues, such as immigration, without too much regulation to protect certain groups.

Lord Justice Leveson and Mr Osborne are discussing how best to regulate the press without impinging on its freedom.

Mr Osborne says he hopes there will be some recommendations made by the inquiry about how to help ordinary citizens who seek redress. But he warns against crossing a line into restriction on free speech.

Mr Osborne: "I think the courts and the defamation laws don't really provide much of a remedy" for those who have been libelled. He says the press complaints system "lacks teeth".

Mr Osborne: "If you try and construct some public interest test... you are in quite difficult territory", but he agrees there is a need to look at the current press complaints system.

Moving on to issues of media regulation, Mr Osborne says he errs on the side of freedom of speech.

Lord Justice Leveson interjects that social relationships do exist between the press and politicians - but it is important to have sound judgement in order to avoid crossing a line.

Mr Osborne also speaks about his close friendship with Daniel Finkelstein of the Times. He sometimes provides ideas for jokes and things that go in his speeches.

Osborne says he became a close personal friend of Mr Coulson - and still is. Although he adds he has not been able to speak to his friend for a year.

Osborne denies there was a specific "Sun strategy". Before the general election, the Conservative party wanted the full support of Conservative-leaning papers and broadsheets, and to win over others. "It was a broad media strategy."

In the end, newspapers supported the Conservative Party for the same reasons others did, Mr Osborne says. Labour had run out of steam and people wanted a new government. The idea that there was some "silent understanding" in the appointment of Mr Coulson is "complete nonsense".

Mr Osborne says Mr Coulson was helpful in bringing the Sun on side as communications director, but he says the endorsement of the Sun has been elevated to a "mythical status". If we had not had the endorsement of the Sun, we would have done well anyway, he adds.

Mr Osborne describes asking Rebekah Brooks about Mr Coulson - what he was like to work with and her opinion of him as a professional. He adds it was a brief conversation and he would not overstate it.

Mr Osborne was very impressed by Mr Coulson, and meeting him confirmed his instinct that he would be a good candidate for the job.

Andy Coulson was "somewhat surprised" about being approached about the job of Conservative Party's director of communications - Mr Osborne.

The PCC had said there was no problem with the appointment of Mr Coulson, Mr Osborne says. And the criminal court case - which had led to the jailing of News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire - had not disclosed any involvement of Mr Coulson in the case. But Mr Osborne asked him about it anyway.

Mr Osborne went for a drink with Mr Coulson before he was hired, and asked him about the phone-hacking scandal at News of the World.

Mr Coulson started his career on a Basildon newspaper - Basildon is a town "which beats close to the heart of the Conservative party", says Mr Osborne.

Mr Osborne: We were interested in hiring an individual because we thought he had the experience and the personality to do the job. And no-one had ever mounted a serious complaint about the way he handled himself in the job of communications director which is one of the most controversial jobs in Britain.

Mr Coulson's connection with News International was "not relevant", says Mr Osborne, but it was important that he was experienced in the ways of the press.

Mr Osborne had suggested Mr Coulson because as a previous editor of a major national newspaper, he had great experience, and would be able to develop a media strategy as well as handle the problems thrown at modern politicians.

He also believed Mr Coulson shared his own Conservative views.

Mr Osborne said several other people had been considered, but he had thought Mr Coulson would be a strong candidate.

The hearing has resumed and Mr Osborne is being questioned about the recruitment of Mr Andy Coulson to the Conservative Party post of communications adviser.

The Leveson Inquiry is now taking a short break.

Mr Osborne adds that one would have to be a real fantastist to believe his party had knowingly allowed Vince Cable to be secretly recorded on the BSkyB bid.

Mr Osborne says the government was not aware News International would make the BSkyB bid before they were in office. He says they followed "proper process" and Mr Hunt followed "proper process" on the bid.

Asked why the decision over control of the BSkyB bid was made in an hour: Mr Osborne says the pressure to make a decision was enormous.

Mr Osborne says questions on legal advice given at the time of moving control of the BSkyB bid to Mr Hunt will need to be directed to the cabinet secretary or the prime minister.

On the "I hope you like the solution" message to Mr Hunt, Mr Osborne says: The solution refers to the problem we had with Dr Cable's remarks that had obviously caused a political storm that day. The opposition was calling for Dr Cable to resign, so "solution" referred to that problem.

Mr Osborne says it took less than an hour to decide Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt would take over BSkyB bid decision.

Mr Osborne says permanent secretary Jeremy Heywood suggested moving the BSkyB bid responsibility to the Department of Culture, Media and Sport.

On Dr Cable's BSkyB remarks: Mr Osborne describes a meeting with Mr Cameron, permanent secretary Jeremy Heywood, a close team of advisers including the prime minister's private secretary.

Mr Osborne says Mr Harrison acted properly - explaining that in a job like his, or that of his special adviser, you get lobbied like this all the time.

Asked why his special adviser did not ask News International to stop contacting his office, Mr Osborne insists Mr Harrison was "diplomatic" in his correspondence with Mr Michel.

The inquiry is now discussing correspondence between Mr Osborne's special adviser Mr Harrison and News International's Mr Michelle in 2010. Mr Osborne says there was only general conversation between them, and when the BSkyB bid came up, Mr Harrison was polite in brushing Mr Michel off.

Now the chancellor is speaking about Rupert Harrison, his special adviser on economic policy.

He denies knowing or suspecting his colleagues' views on the BSkyB bid. He says he believes Mr Cameron also saw the bid as a political inconvenience.

"The view was there was a process" and there were "other things to be getting on with" in the Autumn in 2010, says Mr Osborne about the BSkyB bid. "There was no point sitting around chewing the cud" about it.

BSkyB bid: It was causing trouble with various newspaper groups - there were a couple of conservative papers vehemently against the bid, and a couple of conservative papers vehemently for it. But Mr Osborne maintains he did not have a strong view on it because "I was not involved in the process".

He said there had been no specific conversations with either Dr Vince Cable or Jeremy Hunt on BSkyB bid.

Back to Mr Osborne. Speaking about the BSkyB bid, he says he did not have a strong view about its merits, but it was clearly politically inconvenient.

You can watch Gordon Brown here telling the Leveson Inquiry this morning that there was no evidence of such a conversation: Brown: 'No threat to Murdoch'

Referring to Gordon Brown this morning denying Rupert Murdoch's previous evidence that Mr Brown had declared "war" on his company, News Corp has put out a statement saying: "Rupert Murdoch stands behind his testimony."

Mr Osborne says he does not recall a conversation at dinner with Ms Brooks. She previously wrote that he had been baffled by the Ofcom issues discussed.

Mr Osborne recalls a "social conversation" at a dinner with Mr Murdoch in 2010 - at which his own wife was present. He says he had been surprised that the BSkyB bid did not come up in conversation.

On James Murdoch's 2009 MacTaggart lecture, in which the News Corporation boss hit out at the dominance of the BBC, Mr Osborne said it was typical of what Mr Murdoch thought - he was telling anyone who wanted to listen; I disagreed and so did David Cameron.

Mr Osborne comments on a discussion about the BBC with James Murdoch in 2010, following a decision to freeze - rather than dismantle - the licence fee. He says he cannot remember exactly how the meeting took place, but he remembers Mr Murdoch being "angry" about the move.

tweets: Leveson: George Osborne on encounters with Murdochs - if a q of out lunching them, not beat New Labour. #Leveson #hacking

He says that News International's support of the Conservative Party was not down to a lot of lunches with the Murdochs.

Mr Osborne says history is littered with close relationships between press and politicians, and that the public understand that.

Mr Osborne says he and David Cameron "tried to bring conversation onto domestic politics but Rupert Murdoch wanted to talk global economics".

Mr Osborne agrees there was in January 2009 - rather than 2010 - a meeting in a Davos chalet with James and Rupert Murdoch, and Rebekah Brooks.

Mr Jay now refers to a Christmas meal Mr Osborne attended with the Murdochs after being invited by Rebekah Brooks in September 2008. He says political items probably were discussed.

Mr Osborne speaks about a complaint that was raised by James Murdoch over the BBC's licence fee, but he made it clear this was something the Conservatives would not change.

Mr Jay starts to ask Mr Osborne about his meetings with News International and its staff.

Mr Osborne has retrieved his electronic diary from his time as shadow chancellor - it is accurate he says, but he notes that having been working with a smaller team, some items may not have been diarised.

He says he think broadcasters are incredibly important in lending significance to a news story - a story is massively elevated if it appears on a major news show. He refers to their "power" and stresses the need for responsibility.

Mr Osborne says trying to police a distinction between fact, comment and opinion within media coverage would be very difficult.

Mr Osborne says the public have suspected for some time that inappropriate practices were going on within the press - prior to the inquiry.

Lord Justice Leveson says it is wrong to say Mr Osborne was required to give evidence after Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt's appearance - the decision was made earlier.

Lord Justice Leveson thanks Mr Osborne for the obvious effort that he has put into his two statements.

George Osborne has entered the hearing room and is being sworn in to give evidence to the Leveson Inquiry.

Mr Osborne is also likely to face questions over his communications with Jeremy Hunt on the day the culture secretary was handed responsibility for the BSkyB bid.

Mr Hunt had sent a text to Mr Osborne expressing fears the government would "screw up" over its handling of the BSkyB bid after Business Secretary Vince Cable was recorded saying he had "declared war" on Rupert Murdoch.

Mr Osborne texted to Mr Hunt: "I hope you like the solution," shortly before he was given responsibility for dealing with the bid.

Chancellor George Osborne will be giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry shortly - he was originally due to give only written evidence but last week it emerged he would appear in person.

He is likely to face questions about the appointment of former News of the World editor Andy Coulson as David Cameron's director of communications when the prime minister was in opposition.

Mr Hall also said Mr Brown was "obsessed" with the media, particular newspapers and headlines. "For him to say in front of everybody that he barely read the newspapers when he was in office, he had no interest in them, is absolute complete hogwash," he told the BBC.

Former News of the World editor Phil Hall says Mr Brown's advisers did brief against other politicians, despite evidence from the former PM that he did not feed damaging stories about his rivals to the media. He told BBC Radio 4's World At One: "To be saying on oath, publicly, that his spin doctors didn't spin against his political rivals, it really defies belief."

Reacting to the statement from the NHS in Fife that it was "highly likely" unauthorised information about Gordon Brown's son was leaked by staff to the Sun, the paper's publisher News International says: "We welcome the fact that NHS Fife have today said that they believe there was 'no inappropriate access' to the medical records of Gordon Brown's son.

"The Sun stands by previous statements issued on the matter."

Mr Robinson also said Mr Brown was and is "acutely aware" of the power of the press.

Labour's former Paymaster General Geoffrey Robinson tells BBC Radio 4's World At One it was "probably quite true" Gordon Brown did not have time to read the newspapers during his time as prime minister.

Mr Brown has finished giving evidence to the Leveson Inquiry - there is now a lunch break until 14:00 BST when Chancellor George Osborne will give evidence. But stay here for all the latest reaction to this morning's developments.

Mr Brown responds to a question about "a call that never took place" with Mr Murdoch. He says News International is doing itself damage in trying to suggest that conversations happened that never happened, or trying to suggest comments were made which were never made.

Mr Jay has finished his questions. Other members of the hearing are now asking questions. Rhodri Davies, for News International, is asking him about differing accounts of a phone call with Mr Murdoch.

Mr Brown says press regulation must be independent of politicians and press heads so that it is trusted, balanced and fair.

Mr Brown regrets that local press services - which are vital - are being run down.

Mr Brown says the terrible injustice done to the Dowler family - whose murdered daughter's phone was hacked after she went missing - demonstrates the importance of developing a secure complaints system. But we must not forget about supporting the good, he adds.

There is a real problem about how quality journalism can flourish and be financed in the next 20 years with the growth of the internet, says Mr Brown.

Mr Brown is speaking about the value of the licence fee and how it might be applied to the internet.

blogs on relations between Gordon and Sarah Brown, and the Murdochs and Rebekah Brooks. "Some will conclude the Browns felt they had no choice but to 'sup with the devil'. Some will say that they supped happily until it no longer suited their purposes."

Looking at how to deal with press complaints, Mr Brown says the current system is not good enough.

On phone hacking during his time in office, Mr Brown says that, as more information became available, "we had to look at what needed to be done". He says he asked civil servant Gus O'Donnell to "look at it".

The questioning has moved on to the subject of Tom Watson MP. Mr Brown does "not understand everything that happened" - referring to the animosity between Mr Watson and News International. He says News International had made it clear they did not like him and wanted him to go.

Mr Brown says the civil service and politicians must work out a way to work with the press. Openness is to be welcomed, he says.

There is a real problem which has not been resolved over how politicians should deal with the press on a day-to-day basis, says Mr Brown.

On lessons learned about the culture of the political class: Mr Brown believes "we should have changed the lobbying system", and he takes some responsibility for failing to do this. There was little consensus over how best to brief the press.

Mr Brown is now discussing the operations involving political advisors - he says he "toughened up the rules" during his time in office.

Mr Jay asks whether Mr Brown called on Mr Whelan to brief against former Conservative prime minister John Major. He says he cannot recall anything about this at all.

Damian McBride was "a career civil servant" and only became a political advisor in 2005, says Mr Brown. Asked whether he was warned about Mr McBride's behaviour, he says he was eventually pushed back from the front line, and it was only a few months later that he had to go.

Mr Brown says the people who worked for him were working "under specific guidance" - and when they did not - as in the case of special advisor Damian McBride - they had to go.

Mr Jay asks whether Mr Brown's special advisors used the media to force Mr Blair's resignation. Mr Brown says: "I would hope not. I have no evidence of that."

Asked about whether press Charlie Whelan, who was Mr Brown's press secretary when he was chancellor, and his former special advisor Damian McBride took part in anonymous press briefings, Mr Brown says he asked them to go through civil servants when dealing with the press. It would be "without my knowledge and without my sanction" if they did otherwise.

Mr Brown says political advisors had to work under the auspices of the civil service.

Mr Jay asks Mr Brown whether, owing to time pressures in 2008, a "rapid compromise was carved up" over press regulation.

Mr Brown is now discussing legislation on press coverage and guidance issued to journalists that he oversaw.

You can watch Gordon Brown expressing his frustration over press coverage of the war in Afghanistan here - and in particular discussing claims in the Sun that he fell asleep at a remembrance service. He was actually "praying" and bowing his head, he says.

Mr Brown denies any suggestions he was under pressure from the media industry, or gave way to it.

Mr Jay says Mr Dacre's account was that Mr Brown was sympathetic to the press industry at the time. Mr Brown insists he was concerned that the public interest defence was all-important.

Mr Brown discusses the information commissioner's proposals on data protection during his time in office. He said his own instinct was, and still is, that there should be a public interest defence in all press coverage.

Mr Brown says Mr Dacre was very kind during the difficult time with his first child, "I have not forgotten that". But he adds he had no political support from the Mail.

Now Mr Brown is being asked about Paul Dacre, editor of the Daily Mail.

Mr Brown says none of these dealings with Mr Murdoch were about politics - "I would rather have been an honest one-term PM than a dishonest two-term PM"

Mr Brown says his correspondence with Mr Murdoch dealt with coverage of Afghanistan - which he still believes did damage to the war effort.

NHS Fife has put out a statement responding to Mr Brown's comments on the sourcing of the Sun's story about his son's medical condition. It says: "Any breach of confidentiality in the NHS is unacceptable. We now accept that it is highly likely that, sometime in 2006, a member of staff in NHS Fife spoke, without authorisation, about the medical condition of Mr Brown's son, Fraser."

Mr Brown says the only call that ever happened was in November and it was about Afghanistan, it was weeks after when people allege the call took place. And he adds "there was no reference to threats or Conservative parties or anything".

Mr Brown says the Sun was damaging our effort in Afghanistan through their coverage - and he wanted to talk to Mr Murdoch.

You can watch Mr Brown talking about the Sun story on his son's health here. "Our press office was phoned by a journalist from the Sun who said they had this story about our son's condition and they were going to publish it," he said.

The inquiry is looking at the record of phone calls between Mr Brown and Rupert Murdoch in 2007 to 2009: Mr Brown says the allegation that the former prime minister threatened Mr Murdoch "did not happen". He says there would have been a record of the conversation - "I did not call him".

Mr Brown says he would not have any of the Murdoch's numbers on his mobiles, and all emails to press proprietors or political leaders would go through Downing Street.

Mr Brown says there is no question of a meeting or call with Mr Murdoch not first going through Downing Street - so there was always "someone on the call", and a record of the conversation.

Now Mr Jay is asking about previous meetings between Rupert Murdoch and Mr Brown.

Recess is over, the Leveson Inquiry continues.

A quick recap on what Gordon Brown has discussed so far this morning: He has spoken about British press standards, and his anger over the 2006 Sun story revealing his son's cystic fibrosis. He also denied being influenced by an overly close relationship with the Murdochs, adding he did not spend a great deal of time reading the newspapers in Downing Street.

The Leveson Inquiry is taking a short break.

Mr Brown disagrees that he was personally "stung" by the Sun during this time. He says the way they moved their support was offensive, but he never spent a good deal of time worrying about the newspapers.

Mr Brown says he was surprised about the way the Sun moved their support to the Conservatives, but believed it had been planned over many months. "I've never asked a newspaper for its support directly and I never complained to them directly" when they withdrew support.

Mr Brown says we accepted too easily a closed culture between politicians and the media. "We should have encouraged earlier" a more open culture.

Mr Brown does not think Tony Blair's government was too close to Murdoch, but adds he does not know. He also says that between 1997 and 2007, he himself rarely met Mr Murdoch.

tweets: Brown: Murdoch would have had us at war with France & Germany and as 51st state of US

Mr Brown says the fact the two men had a "similar background" meant he understood Mr Murdoch's views. He also appreciated the media mogul's success. But he adds this in no way extended to any commercial support for Mr Murdoch.

Mr Brown says the idea that he was influenced in what he did by Rupert Murdoch's views is frankly ridiculous.

Mr Jay says Mr Mandelson said relations between the press and Labour during the time were "closer than was wise", but Mr Brown disagrees.

Now the former prime minister is being asked about meetings he had with a full range of press members - including the Guardian, the Times, the Telegraph, and former News International chairman Les Hinton - during his time in government.

Mr Jay is asking Mr Brown about meetings he had with the Murdochs.

Asked whether he continued to have dealings with Ms Brooks because she was a powerful woman, former primer minister Mr Brown says he does not think he had a conversation with her for months before he finished in office.

During 2009 and 2010, Mr Brown says, News International moved to having an aggressive public agenda - to change the BBC and Ofcom, advertising, and to open up sporting events.

But Mr Brown adds there is a line in the sand which he could never cross - he was never out to promote anything not in the public interest. "You can serve up dinner, but you don't have to serve up BSkyB."

On relations with press: Mr Brown says he believed he had a duty to build a consensus in the country about how to approach Afghanistan and the economic crisis.

Gordon Brown says his wife remained friendly with former News International executive Rebekah Brooks because "Sarah is one of the most forgiving people I know" and finds the good in every one.

Gordon Brown speaks about his wife and Wendy Murdoch campaigning together for a charity supporting people who have lived through child mortality.

Mr Brown: We didn't want our children to grow up thinking they were "minor celebrities", but rather to go to school without media scrutiny.

Mr Brown absolutely denies that consent was given for the details of his son's medical condition to be published.

Gordon Brown: I think we have to learn lessons from this but "surely the rights of children must come first."

Mr Brown says he "cannot accept as a parent" that he and his wife gave "explicit permission" for his son's medical condition to be broadcast.

Mr Brown: We said if the story was published we wanted a statement that went to everyone.

Gordon Brown says the Sun said it had got the story about his son's cystic fibrosis from a father whose own son had the disease. Mr Brown says at best that person was a middle man working at the NHS.

Lord Justice Leveson says he hopes not to cause distress to Mr Brown and his family, but believes that speaking about these personal matters is an important part of the inquiry.

Gordon Brown is talking about how the Sun got details for a story of his son Fraser having cystic fibrosis.

Mr Brown is now talking about the obviously difficult subject of his children and the press.

The Conservative Party supported every one of the points put forward by the Murdoch group during that time, says Mr Brown.

Gordon Brown says there was a point in 2008 and 2009 when News International decided their commercial interest came first - James Murdoch gave a speech which was quite "breathtaking in its arrogance" as he took on the BBC, Ofcom, and a range of issues, says Mr Brown.

Brown: "I don't think anybody could accuse me of having a great deal of success in getting my message across."

Mr Brown is speaking about the lobby system in government - a small group of insiders gets early access to information. This is a problem, he says, and earlier changes his government tried to make did not work.

tweets: Gordon Brown's pain already on display. Says Sun's campaign on Afghanistan alleged he didn't care = "a licence to deceive"

Mr Jay asks about Tony Blair's speech in which he compared the media to a "feral beast". Mr Brown says he thinks Mr Blair was saying exactly what he is saying today.

Mr Brown: If you conflate fact and opinon, and then sensationalise it about the person you are attacking, "then that is not a healthy sign for a democracy".

Mr Brown returns to his theme of the mixing of fact and opinion in newspapers. "That's where the press has failed our country", he says.

On how best to segregate news and comment in the press, Mr Brown remembers a period in office when he had to make difficult decisions about Afghanistan.

He suggests perhaps the licence fee could be used to develop standards in a wider sphere than the BBC.

Brown recalls his time editing his student newspaper. He says the fact that anyone can become a "citizen journalist" puts pressure on the media. "Who is going to underpin quality journalism?", he asks.

Mr Brown says "I don't think we do enough to encourage the good" - adding we must be aware we are in an internet age in which there is a massive flow of information available to everyone.

However, he says, the conflation of fact and opinion is a problem in the British media.

The former prime minister says there must be some means by which we incentivise the good within press reportage.

Mr Brown says he has enjoyed a period of reflection on the British press, but he says, at best, the media in this country is the "best in the world".

Mr Brown says he was plagued for the first few years as a politician by the press.

Mr Brown says we think of the Dowler family with limited resources to seek redress when they were unfairly treated.

Mr Jay asks Mr Brown how one could rectify the imbalance of press freedom with the threat to individual privacy.

Mr Jay thanks Mr Brown for the work that has gone into the inquiry, and apologises that the hearing has been delayed.

Gordon Brown has just been called to give evidence.

He repeats that he will maintain an open mind for the future and, apologising for the delay, he concludes his opening speech.

Lord Leveson says he will be paying attention to how what transpires during the inquiry is reported.

Lord Leveson says his aim is to recognise there are entirely appropriate professional relationships between politicians and journalists.

He underlines that the inquiry is looking at the wider sweep of history, rather than focusing solely on the current political leadership.

Lord Justice Leveson starts with some remarks about the importance of cross-party support during the inquiry.

Lord Justice Leveson has just started addressing the court.

While we are waiting, you can read Lord Justice Leveson's draft criteria for a regulatory solution to press standards here

The hearing is now 16 minutes late - Lord Justice Leveson is keeping us in suspense this morning.

Looks like we are about to get started - Sarah Brown just tweeted again that Mr Brown has gone up to the court room, ready to present his evidence to Mr Jay.

Gordon Brown and his wife Sarah were pictured arriving at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London - they do indeed look rather relaxed, as she mentioned earlier in a tweet.

For up-to-the-minute coverage of today's hearing, you can also follow the BBC's Ross Hawkins, who is tweeting from the court.

Gordon Brown is due to be the first person to give evidence today. Read our profile of the former prime minister here.

Mr Brown is expected to talk about his relationship with Rupert Murdoch and News International. The questioning from Robert Jay QC, counsel to the inquiry, is also likely to focus on the Sun's 2006 story about Mr Brown's son Fraser having cystic fibrosis.

Appearing this morning at the Royal Courts of Justice in central London are former prime minister Gordon Brown and Chancellor George Osborne.

Hello and welcome to our live coverage of evidence to the Leveson Inquiry into press standards.