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The Prime Minister David Cameron, in a statement to the House of Commons earlier today, announced Lord Justice Leveson would be leading a two pronged inquiry into phone hacking.  Soon after the Prime Minister's statement, the parent company of News International - Newscorp announced the withdrawal of their bid for BskyB.

One part of the inquiry would focus on investigating the allegations of wrongdoing by the media as well as the police while the other part would review the regulations that govern the press examining "the culture, practices and ethics of the press; their relationship with the police; the failure of the current system of regulation; the contacts made, and discussions had, between national newspapers and politicians; why previous warnings about press misconduct were not heeded; and the issue of cross-media ownership."

The inquiry would have the power to call journalists, media executives, police officers and politicians under oath and Lord Justice Levinson would be assisted by a panel of experts.

Mr. Cameron has been recently criticised for his handling of the phone hacking affair and has been damaged by Andy Coulson.  The Prime Minister sought to regain the initiative as he announced new transparency measures for meetings between government ministers or officials with media executives or editors.

He went on to say that those media executives who sanctioned the phone hacking should be bannned from having a further role in running media companies in the UK.

But he pointed out that the press still needs to retain the freedom to challenge the powerful and expose wrongdoing.

"He [Leveson] will make recommendations for a new, more effective way of regulating the press. One that supports their freedom, plurality and independence from government but which also demands the highest ethical and professional standards," the Prime Minister said

The opposition leader Ed Miliband welcomed the Prime Minister's proposals however earlier he pointedly said that Rebekah Brooks still being in her job was an insult to the Dowler family.

"She was right to resign, that resignation should have been accepted," Mr. Cameron said. "There needs to be root and branch change at this entire organisation."

No. 10 welcomed the decision by News Corporation to withdraw their bid and reiterated the point that the company needs to clear up this mess.

Mr. Miliband hailed the withdrawal as a victory for the people "up and down this country".