Guardian journalist Nick Davies believes Fleet Street is trying to “bully” Lord Justice Leveson and predicts a “dogfight” between the press and Government when his report is published later this month.

Every national newspaper has come out in support of continued self-regulation and most nationals have published editorials attacking any form of state involvement.

Davies accused the press of behaving like “spoilt children” and “throwing their toys out of the pram” ahead of Leveson’s report, which publishers fear will recommend some form of statutory underpinning.