By Jason Groves

PUBLISHED: 18:41 EST, 17 June 2012 | UPDATED: 20:11 EST, 17 June 2012

Lord Justice Leveson was accused yesterday of trying to stifle the right to free speech.

He complained to Downing Street when Michael Gove warned his 6million inquiry into Press standards was creating a 'chilling atmosphere toward freedom of expression'.

It was even suggested that the judge had threatened to quit unless the Education Secretary and other politicians kept quiet.

Lord Justice Leveson, left, approached No 10 when Michael Gove, right, warned his 6million inquiry into press standards was creating a 'chilling atmosphere toward freedom of expression'

Tory MP Philip Davies last night warned the intervention raised questions over Lord Justice Leveson's attitude to free speech.

'Lord Leveson says that he understands free speech yet he immediately objects as soon as someone exercises it,' said Mr Davies, who sits on the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee.

'If this is his attitude to free speech then it doesn't bode well for his recommendations.

'Michael Gove is fully entitled to air his views – he, unlike Lord Leveson, is elected. It doesn't stop Lord Leveson doing his job or making whatever recommendations he wants to. If he is really this sensitive about criticism then he ought to move aside for someone else.'

Douglas Carswell, another Tory MP, last night said the judge's intervention 'raises questions about the integrity of the inquiry'.

'An inquiry that was supposed to be a look at the free Press instead seems to be telling us quite a lot about an arrogant judiciary,' he added.

It was even suggested the judge had threatened to quit unless the Education Secretary and other politicians kept quiet

It was even suggested the judge had threatened to quit unless the Education Secretary and other politicians kept quiet

'It is ridiculous and outrageous that Lord Leveson does not think elected politicians should be able to voice their views on issues that are properly the matter of public debate.

'We seem to have put in charge a man who says he believes in free speech but doesn't really seem to like the consequences of it.'

Andrew Neil, the former editor of the Sunday Times, also voiced surprise at Lord Justice Leveson's approach. Mr Neil, who presents the BBC's Daily and Sunday Politics shows, said: 'He seems to be quite a thin-skinned judge who is not used to criticism.'

Mr Gove, a former Times journalist, angered Lord Justice Leveson in February when he cautioned against allowing 'judges, celebrities and the establishment' to set the boundaries of free speech.

David Cameron defended his colleague the following day, saying Gove had made an 'important point'

David Cameron defended his colleague the following day, saying Gove had made an 'important point'

Mr Gove said: 'The big picture is that there is a chilling atmosphere towards freedom of expression which emanates from the debate around Leveson.'

David Cameron defended his colleague the following day, saying he had made an 'important point'.

The Prime Minister said: 'Even as this inquiry goes on, we want to have a vibrant Press that feels it can call the powerful to account, and we do not want to see it chilled – and although sometimes one  may feel some advantage in  having it chilled – that is not what we want.'

Later that day Lord Justice Leveson called the Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood to complain.

One Government source said he had demanded Mr Gove be gagged, adding: 'Our clear impression was that he was spitting tacks with Gove and was ready to resign unless the minister was told to shut up.' Other insiders insisted the judge did not threaten to resign.

Sources said Mr Cameron and Mr Gove were informed of the call. The Education Secretary was not ordered to drop his criticism, but other ministers have since been reluctant to voice their concerns in public outside the inquiry.

Lord Justice Leveson summoned Mr Gove to give evidence to his inquiry in May, when the two men clashed over Press freedom.

Mr Gove warned that inquiry recommendations were often 'applied in a way that the cure is worse than the disease'. He said phone hacking was already illegal and suggested it could be dealt with by better enforcement of the law, rather than new curbs on the Press.

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

A spokesman for Mr Gove last night refused to comment.
A spokesman for the Leveson Inquiry said the judge would not comment.