Inquiry worries English government official

LONDON, Feb. 21 (UPI) -- British Education Secretary Michael Gove said the investigation into News Corp. phone hacks could result in a "cure worse than the original disease."

Gove, a former reporter for The Times of London, said the Leveson Inquiry could lead to overregulation that would complicate freedom of expression. He questioned the need for new laws.

"The big picture is that there is a chilling atmosphere towards freedom of expression which emanates from the debate around Leveson," Gove told The Daily Telegraph.

Gove became the first government official to express concern over the results of the inquiry, saying that rather than creating new regulations, authorities should strive to uphold existing ones.

Gove told The Guardian he worries scandals such as this become too politicized.

"It is a natural thing for politicians to do, but there are dangers associated with it. Sometimes the recommendations of that report may be modest, proportionate and sane," he said.

"But sometimes they give birth to quangos, commissions and law-making creatures that actually generate over-regulation, over -- prescription, and sometimes a cure that is worse than the original disease."