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		</div><p>Scotland Yard has come under fire after warning journalists they could face prosecution if they publish any more leaked diplomatic cables from Britain’s ambassador to the US.</p>
<p>Tory leadership contenders Boris Johnson and Jeremy Hunt both strongly defended the right of the press to publish leaked government documents, amid anger at the police intervention.</p>
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<p>The Metropolitan Police announced on Friday it was launching a criminal investigation into the leak of dispatches from Kim Darroch, which were highly critical of the Trump administration.</p>
<p>At the same time, Assistant Commissioner Neil Basu issued a warning to the media that they could face prosecution if there was any further publication of the documents.</p>
<figure id="attachment_136135" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-136135" style="width: 600px" class="wp-caption alignnone"><img class="size-full wp-image-136135" src="https://londonglossy.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/FE21CE1F-4B5F-4B68-902A-1248656DFBEF.jpeg" alt="" width="600" height="400" /><figcaption id="caption-attachment-136135" class="wp-caption-text">Boris Johnson said a prosecution of journalists could have a ‘chilling effect’ on public debate</figcaption></figure>
<p>His comments drew a furious response from journalists and some politicians.</p>
<p>Mr Johnson said any such prosecution would amount to an “infringement of press freedom” and would have a “chilling effect” on public debate.</p>
<p>“In my view there is no threat to national security implied by the release of this material. It is embarrassing but it is not a threat to national security,” he said.</p>
<p>“It is the duty of media organisations to bring new and interesting facts into the public domain. That is what they are there for.</p>
<p>“A prosecution on this basis would amount to an infringement on press freedom and have a chilling effect on public debate. That is my view.”</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="550" data-dnt="true">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">These leaks damaged UK/US relations &; cost a loyal ambassador his job so the person responsible MUST be held fully to account. But I defend to the hilt the right of the press to publish those leaks if they receive them &; judge them to be in the public interest: that is their job</p>
<p>&mdash; Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jeremy_Hunt/status/1149973973070995461?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 13, 2019</a></p></blockquote>
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<p>Mr Hunt, the British Foreign Secretary, said that while police were right to investigate the source of the leak he backed the right of the press to publish such material.</p>
<p>“These leaks damaged UK/US relations and cost a loyal ambassador his job so the person responsible MUST be held fully to account,” he tweeted.</p>
<p>“But I defend to the hilt the right of the press to publish those leaks if they receive them and judge them to be in the public interest: that is their job.”</p>
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