The Telegraph exposes a massive culture of expenses abuse by MPs

Giving politicians any sort of control over the media is a frightening prospect especially when you consider its role in exposing their mistakes, abuses of power and, in some cases, corruption.

A look back over the last 60 years yields any number of examples of politicians who have misbehaved and who have been brought to book by the dogged and noble efforts of reporters and their editors.

In 1963, Secretary of State for War John Profumo had an affair with Christine Keeler, the reputed mistress of an alleged Soviet spy.

He lied to the House of Commons about it and when the newspapers revealed all, he resigned.

MP Neil Hamilton was investigated by the Guardian and in 1994 an article claimed he had received cash in a brown envelope from Mohamed Al-Fayed, the owner of Harrods, to ask questions on behalf of Al-Fayed in the Commons. He claimed his innocence but was forced to resign.

Tory

Neil Hamilton MP was caught up in the 'cash for questions' scandal

Former Tory cabinet minister Jonathan Aitken was investigated by the Guardian and World In Action for corrupt deals with leading Saudi Arabians.

He said he would fight the media claims with the Sword of Truth.
In 1999 he was jailed for perjury and perverting the course of justice.

And then there is the scandal of MPs' expenses. The Daily Telegraph exposed a massive culture of claim abuse that ripped off the taxpayer.

Sackings, resignations, deselections and retirements followed their extensive coverage.

More recently it was the Sun that exposed the foul-mouthed tirade of chief whip Andrew Mitchell to the police officers protecting Downing Street and the Sunday Times that exposed the close links our retired generals have with the arms industry.

And do not forget that it was the press in the form of the Guardian that exposed the phone hacking and corrupt payments to public officials, not the police or politicians.

All of this is proof that we need media at liberty to investigate and at liberty to tell the public what it finds without fear of prosecution.