Leveson inquiry into phone hacking: who's appearing on Wednesday

Alastair Campbell Tony Blair's former director of communications has criticised newspapers for spinning stories more effectively than any publicist could. A former journalist at the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror and Today, Campbell was on first name terms with nearly every Fleet Street editor during his time at No 10. He wrote on his blog last week that he was "giving his evidence considerable thought" . Much of that thinking is likely to be about Daily Mail editor Paul Dacre, of whom Campbell has been critical of late. He wrote on his blog in July, after David Cameron had announced the Leveson Inquiry into press standards, that Dacre "will be a central figure in any public inquiry into the standards and practices of the modern press, because the Mail's influence has been so strong upon the rest of the media". Of the press generally, Campbell wrote: "One of the reasons they are in the mess they are in is that they believe the standards by which they judge others should not apply to themselves." Alec Owens Alec Owens, a retired policeman with 30 years experience, was the lead investigator at the information commissioner's office when it conducted Operation Motorman, a 2003 investigation into the use of illegally-obtained information by newspapers which resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of former private investigator Steve Whittamore. He was questioned by police over alleged leaks to newspapers earlier in November . Both Owen and Thomas are likely to be asked about those claims when they give evidence.