The chief constable of South Yorkshire Police has said the BBC put his force in “a very difficult position” over a planned search of Cliff Richard’s home.

David Cameron insisted last night that he had seen no evidence that culture secretary Jeremy Hunt has breached the ministerial code of conduct in his handling of News Corp’s bid for BSkyB.

Rupert Murdoch faces a two-day grilling under oath at the Leveson Inquiry into press standards this week.