The criticism of Ralph Miliband, and his son's response, came in the run-up to a possible agreement between the media and parliament over the findings of the Leveson inquiry, a point which was made in the "Mail"s editorial on the subject. The articles published by the "Mail" were criticised by publications including "The Spectator" and "The Times", as well as by major figures in the Conservative Party. Both Prime Minister David Cameron and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg empathised with Ed Miliband's response. Former Conservative Deputy Prime Minister Michael Heseltine condemned the "Mail" for demeaning the level of political debate, as did former Conservative cabinet minister John Moore, who had been taught by Ralph Miliband at the London School of Economics.