Downing Street backs Maria Miller's aide over expenses row Asked why Miss Hindley raised the issue of press regulation, he said: "She made clear that Maria Miller was in contact with the editor and would be raising those concerns directly and it is my understanding a letter was sent." Asked why Ms Hindley then phoned the Telegraph's head of corporate affairs to discuss an editorial investigation, he said: "Both the special adviser and the secretary of state were raising concerns about the way that investigation was conducted." Asked if Maria Miller or her aide were threatening the Telegraph over its investigation, the spokesman said: "It is reasonable for someone in the Government to raise these kinds of concerns about the way a newspaper is conducting an investigation is a reasonable thing to do." On Monday, after initially refusing to answer questions about the controversial claims, Mrs Miller and her advisers indicated that this newspaper had timed its disclosures to overshadow Monday's announcement about same-sex marriage. The Telegraph has decided to disclose details of the private conversations amid widespread concern about the potential dangers of politicians being given a role in overseeing the regulation of the press. This organisation first approached the Culture Secretary's office on Thursday afternoon last week, a day before David Cameron announced that the Government would be backing gay marriage and allowing ceremonies to take place in some churches. When a reporter approached Mrs Miller's office last Thursday, her special adviser, Miss Hindley, pointed out that the Editor of The Telegraph was involved in meetings with the Prime Minister and the Culture Secretary over implementing the recommendations made by Lord Justice Leveson. Miss Hindley immediately contacted The Telegraph's head of public affairs to raise concerns about the story. The news group decided to delay publication in order to ensure the facts were correct. Miss Hindley also accused The Telegraph of harassing Mrs Miller's father, John Lewis. Over the course of the conversation, Mr Lewis said he enjoyed reading The Telegraph. Mrs Miller also contacted The Telegraph to complain about her parents being approached. A spokesman for Mrs Miller said the parents lived with the family "as dependents."