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| New press regulator Impress awaits approval decision | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A group seeking to become the first officially recognised press regulator is to find out if it has been approved. | A group seeking to become the first officially recognised press regulator is to find out if it has been approved. |
| Impress, established by press reform campaigners, is seeking formal approval from the Press Recognition Panel (PRP). | Impress, established by press reform campaigners, is seeking formal approval from the Press Recognition Panel (PRP). |
| The PRP was set up in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry to ensure any future press regulator met certain standards. | The PRP was set up in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry to ensure any future press regulator met certain standards. |
| Most of Britain's press has joined the rival regulator, Ipso, which was set up by and is funded by the press. It has not sought official recognition. | |
| If Impress is approved, newspapers that refuse to sign up to the new regulator could have to pay the legal fees of complainants who sue them for libel, even if the paper won the case. | |
| Culture Secretary Karen Bradley will have to decide whether to activate these regulations. | Culture Secretary Karen Bradley will have to decide whether to activate these regulations. |
| Impress's bid for official recognition has angered many newspapers, who argue it would be a threat to press freedom. | |
| However Evan Harris, joint executive director of Hacked Off, which campaigns for greater press regulation, told BBC Radio Four's Today programme that the government would be going back on promises made to the victims of press intrusion if it watered down Leveson's recommendations. | |
| The background to press regulation | The background to press regulation |
| In 2011, it emerged that thousands of people, from celebrities to families of murder victims, including Milly Dowler, had been victims of phone hacking by the now-defunct News of the World. | In 2011, it emerged that thousands of people, from celebrities to families of murder victims, including Milly Dowler, had been victims of phone hacking by the now-defunct News of the World. |
| In response, then Prime Minister David Cameron set up a public, judge-led investigation - the Leveson Inquiry - to examine the culture, behaviour and ethics of the press. | In response, then Prime Minister David Cameron set up a public, judge-led investigation - the Leveson Inquiry - to examine the culture, behaviour and ethics of the press. |
| Lord Leveson recommended newspapers should continue to be self-regulated - as they had been by the Press Complaints Commission - but that there should be a new press standards body created by the industry, backed by legislation, and with a new code of conduct. | Lord Leveson recommended newspapers should continue to be self-regulated - as they had been by the Press Complaints Commission - but that there should be a new press standards body created by the industry, backed by legislation, and with a new code of conduct. |
| Plans to set up a new press watchdog by Royal Charter were backed in 2013 by Mr Cameron and the UK's other main party leaders at the time, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, but the press rejected them and formed its own regulator, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. | Plans to set up a new press watchdog by Royal Charter were backed in 2013 by Mr Cameron and the UK's other main party leaders at the time, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg, but the press rejected them and formed its own regulator, the Independent Press Standards Organisation. |
| Press regulation: What you need to know | Press regulation: What you need to know |
| Appearing before the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday, Ms Bradley made clear she would be in no hurry to activate the regulations, which are under Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, 2013, even if Impress was recognised by the PRP. | Appearing before the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Monday, Ms Bradley made clear she would be in no hurry to activate the regulations, which are under Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, 2013, even if Impress was recognised by the PRP. |
| She told MPs there were fears among local newspapers in particular that they could be forced out of business if the rules were enforced and she wanted to consider all the options before making a decision. | |
| Former culture secretary John Whittingdale told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he was opposed to the Section 40 proposals. | |
| He said: "If you bring in these sanctions, you are going to punish every newspaper across the country. | |
| "If you're saying to somebody that unless you join this you are going to be liable for potentially millions of pounds of costs, even if you win your case, that's not just an encouragement." | |
| Mr Harris said those who signed up to Impress would receive protection from excessive legal costs through a "low-cost arbitration service" that would help settle legal disputes. | |
| He said: "But the idea is that if you are refusing to offer low-cost arbitration in a recognised scheme, you're forcing people, ordinary people, to go into the court, then you must pay for that. | |
| "It's like going on a journey and 'I want to go by bus, you want to go by Rolls-Royce - OK, if we go by Rolls-Royce you pay.' | |
| "And that protects the access to justice for ordinary people, who we represent, who can't afford the risk of losing their house on taking on the press in court." | |
| Impress, which covers 25 small specialist publications, is expected to hear if it has been approved later. | Impress, which covers 25 small specialist publications, is expected to hear if it has been approved later. |
| It has received funding from former F1 boss Max Mosley, along with the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a funder of political campaigns in Britain, and author JK Rowling. | It has received funding from former F1 boss Max Mosley, along with the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust, a funder of political campaigns in Britain, and author JK Rowling. |
| Ipso has said it will not seek official recognition from the PRP. | Ipso has said it will not seek official recognition from the PRP. |