James Murdoch should disclose contents of second mobile phone to Leveson ... - Telegraph.co.uk

"I'd like to know whether he used the secret phones to discuss the parliamentary inquiry with the other senior executives who were issued phones."

News International and News Corporation declined to comment on the iPhone. A company source said: "Mr Murdoch fully cooperated with the Leveson inquiry." The source added: "It's ridiculous that James Murdoch keeps, or kept, a 'secret phone'."

The news came as it emerged that Lord Justice Leveson had complained to the Government over comments made about his inquiry by a Cabinet minister.

The judge complained to Sir Jeremy Heywood, the Cabinet Secretary, after Education secretary Michael Gove told a press lunch that the inquiry had created a "chilling atmosphere" towards journalistic freedom.

Lord Justice Leveson made the call last month to enquire whether Mr Gove was speaking on behalf of the Government with his comments.

If Mr Gove's comments did reflect the views of the Cabinet, Lord Justice Leveson said, then it questioned whether his enquiry was a waste of public money. Sources insisted that these remarks did not amount to Lord Justice Leveson threatening to resign, however.

Sir Jeremy is reported to have told Prime Minister David Cameron about the conversation.

The judge's intervention apparently resulted in stopping ministers making public remarks about the inquiry, which will report in September.

Former Times journalist Mr Gove warned a Parliamentary Press Gallery lunch on Feb 21 of "a chilling atmosphere towards freedom of expression which emanates from the debate around Leveson".

Mr Gove was called to give evidence to the inquiry and warned that recommendations from inquiries were often "applied in a way that the cure is worse than the disease".

Mr Gove also concerns about restraints on the "precious liberty" of freedom of speech, prompting Lord Justice Leveson to reply: "I do not need to be told about the importance of freedom of speech, I really don't."

A Leveson Inquiry spokesman said: "Lord Justice Leveson is conducting a judicial inquiry and, in that capacity, will not comment on press stories outside the formal proceedings of the inquiry."

A Cabinet Office spokesman said: "We are not commenting on this."