Government and press 'at rock bottom', says Prince Harry

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Prince Harry claimed the UK government was at "bottom line" in extraordinary intervention in politics during his High Court trial against a group of tabloids.

The Duke of Sussex has used a remarkable 55-page witness statement in his case against Mirror Group Newspapers (MGN) for alleged phone hacking to attack standards of British government and democracy.

Accusing the government of being too "afraid" of the press, he said: "Our country is judged globally by the state of our press and our government - which I believe are at rock bottom. "

Harry said, "Democracy fails when your press fails to scrutinize and hold government to account, and instead chooses to get into bed with them so they can maintain the status quo. "

The royal added: "If they are supposed to be watching over society, who on earth is watching over them, when even the government is afraid of alienating them because position is power. This is incredibly worrying for the whole of the UK."

Furious Tory MPs hit back at Harry's 'reckless' comments - urging him to stay away from UK politics, or give up his title and 'stand for election' if he wanted to be a politician.

Former Cabinet Minister Andrea Jenkyns said: 'If Harry has such contempt for the British government and the British media , it's a good thing he lives in America. He shouldn't interfere in British politics - that's not his role.

Henry Smith, a member of the Tory Common Sense Group, said: "I am sorry to the hardworking Royal Family that Harry continues to cause so much embarrassment", adding: "Sussex is disappointed with his absent duke. if he wants to, he must give up his title and stand for election. Sussex is disappointed with his absent Duke."

Another Tory MP said Harry broke the 'golden rule' of commenting on politics, saying the Royal Family 'do not comment on politicians and that politicians don't comment on the royal family".

Harry said he felt "physically ill" because of the use by the press of private detectives

(Reuters)...