Leveson Inquiry: David Cameron granted right to see Andy Coulson's evidence in ... - Telegraph.co.uk

Mr Cameron was granted core participant status for the third part of the inquiry, which begins on Wednesday and will examine the relationship between politicians and the press.

The other ministers given core participant status are: George Osborne, the Chancellor; Nick Clegg, the Deputy Prime Minister; Vince Cable, the Business Secretary; Jeremy Hunt, the Culture Secretary; Michael Gove, the Education Secretary; Kenneth Clarke, the Justice Secretary and Theresa May, the Home Secretary.

All of them will give evidence to the Inquiry, with all but Mr Osborne due to appear in person.

But Lord Justice Leveson stressed that, like every other core participant, the eight ministers will be required to sign confidentiality agreements preventing them sharing advance copies of other witnesses' evidence with anyone who is not a core participant.

He said: "I mean absolutely no discourtesy to ministers or those who will have to assist them, but the rule must apply to everyone."

Mr Coulson, who resigned last year, is expected to be asked about the process by which he became the Prime Minister's communications chief, including how thoroughly he was vetted after resigning from the News of the World over the phone-hacking scandal.

Chris Hutchings, a specialist in media law and partner at Hamlins LLP, said: "This is a controversial move because the hearing to decide who would be allowed core participant status for the third part of the Inquiry was held more than a month ago.

"The Government chose not to make an application at that stage, and the fact that they are doing so now, so late in the day, suggests they are reacting to events of the past week, and that this has come out of anxiety and nervousness.

"It's also controversial because it means the Government, which of course commissioned this Inquiry, will be able to challenge the witnesses' evidence before it is made public, and apply for certain documents to be kept out of the public domain if they object to them."

Lord Justice Leveson said the application was "late" but allowed it to be heard because he had done the same for other applicants.

A spokesman for the Leveson Inquiry confirmed that the Government could have applied for core participant status as long ago as last year, but said it was open for parties to apply at any time.