George Osborne excused Leveson inquiry grilling

George Osborne has been asked to submit a written statement to the Leveson inquiry, meaning that the chancellor is the only one of eight cabinet members who is not required to appear in person. The inquiry's decision raised eyebrows given Osborne's importance in the government and that he persuaded David Cameron to hire Andy Coulson in 2007, months after he resigned as editor of the News of the World when one of his reporters was jailed for phone hacking. Osborne frequently met Rupert Murdoch and other senior News International executives, dining with him in New York in December 2010, while Ofcom evaluated News Corp's bid for BSkyb. Emails released by News Corp show former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks asking George Osborne for an update that month. However, inquiry sources said that the team would review the chancellor's written witness statement and could then ask him to give oral evidence alongside Cameron, Nick Clegg and other colleagues.