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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Leveson report: Editors to meet prime minister for talks | Leveson report: Editors to meet prime minister for talks |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| Newspaper editors are meeting the prime minister and the culture secretary in Downing Street to set out their ideas for a new system of press regulation. | Newspaper editors are meeting the prime minister and the culture secretary in Downing Street to set out their ideas for a new system of press regulation. |
| David Cameron has already rejected the main finding in the Leveson report, which said it was essential to have a law to back up an independent watchdog. | David Cameron has already rejected the main finding in the Leveson report, which said it was essential to have a law to back up an independent watchdog. |
| But Labour and the Liberal Democrats want the report implemented in full. | But Labour and the Liberal Democrats want the report implemented in full. |
| MSPs are also debating press regulation and whether to take a UK-wide approach or create a system just for Scotland. | MSPs are also debating press regulation and whether to take a UK-wide approach or create a system just for Scotland. |
| Online petition | Online petition |
| In his report published last week, Lord Justice Leveson recommended an independent self-regulatory body for the UK newspaper industry, backed up by legislation to ensure its independence and effectiveness. | In his report published last week, Lord Justice Leveson recommended an independent self-regulatory body for the UK newspaper industry, backed up by legislation to ensure its independence and effectiveness. |
| Press Complaints Commission chairman Lord Hunt, who will also attend the talks with Mr Cameron and Maria Miller, said he had the support of 120 publishers, representing 2,000 editors, for a new independent regulator. | Press Complaints Commission chairman Lord Hunt, who will also attend the talks with Mr Cameron and Maria Miller, said he had the support of 120 publishers, representing 2,000 editors, for a new independent regulator. |
| But he said newspapers could sign legally enforceable membership contracts, which would mean it was not necessary to have their agreement backed up with new legislation. | But he said newspapers could sign legally enforceable membership contracts, which would mean it was not necessary to have their agreement backed up with new legislation. |
| However an online petition in favour of statutory underpinning, launched by campaign group Hacked Off and supported by many victims of press intrusion, has collected more than 135,000 signatures. | |
| 'Euphoria' | |
| Chris Blackhurst, editor of the Independent newspaper, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he expected a very different tone from Mr Cameron than last week, when his rejection of the idea of legislation was greeted with "euphoria" in many newsrooms. | |
| He said: "I expect the tenor of today's meeting will be very different. He will be saying 'you have to get your act together and if you don't you will get statute'." | |
| Mr Blackhurst said while the Independent, Guardian and Financial Times accepted the need for the new press watchdog to be fully independent some editors, such as Paul Dacre of the Daily Mail, were in favour of "the status quo". | |
| Mr Blackhurst added: "There has got to be some movement (from them). How long it takes I don't know. If it takes too long we will get statute." | |
| Steve Hewlett, commentator and editor of the BBC's Media Show, told Today there was "a certain amount of theatre" about Tuesday's meeting, with the prime minister anxious to show he was getting tough with newspaper editors. | |
| But he said most editors agreed that the status quo was not viable and he said they had agreed a lot of what Lord Leveson proposed - fines of up to £1m, full-page apologies and compliance - but he said the sticking point remained the independence of the watchdog. | |
| Mr Hewlett said there was still the threat of legislation if the editors did not agree to everything Mr Cameron demanded but he added: "The cynical view is to say the press might hold on and hold on and nothing changes. But I think that is extremely unlikely." | |
| Mrs Miller told MPs in a debate on Monday the Leveson report marks a "dark moment in the history of the British press". She also said there was a need for cross-party unity. | |
| "Change can either come with the support of the press or - if we are given no option - without it. Be in no doubt that if the industry doesn't respond, the government will," she said. | "Change can either come with the support of the press or - if we are given no option - without it. Be in no doubt that if the industry doesn't respond, the government will," she said. |
| "We will not accept a puppet show with the same people pulling the same strings." | "We will not accept a puppet show with the same people pulling the same strings." |
| She said the government had "grave concerns" about the judge's call for press regulation to be underpinned by statute, but had not ruled it out. | She said the government had "grave concerns" about the judge's call for press regulation to be underpinned by statute, but had not ruled it out. |
| 'Complicated' legislation | 'Complicated' legislation |
| Cross-party talks are ongoing and the government is drawing up draft legislation on a new press watchdog. | Cross-party talks are ongoing and the government is drawing up draft legislation on a new press watchdog. |
| No 10 said there was no timetable for producing this legislation and the process had only just begun. | No 10 said there was no timetable for producing this legislation and the process had only just begun. |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg have voiced their support for the Leveson report and Labour says it is drafting its own bill in case no agreement can be reached. | Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg have voiced their support for the Leveson report and Labour says it is drafting its own bill in case no agreement can be reached. |
| Mr Cameron has indicated he has "serious concerns and misgivings" about any legislation to regulate the press and wants newspapers to sign up to a tougher new regulator, without the need for legislation. | Mr Cameron has indicated he has "serious concerns and misgivings" about any legislation to regulate the press and wants newspapers to sign up to a tougher new regulator, without the need for legislation. |
| His official spokesman said the government was "approaching these talks in good faith and we will draft the legislation accordingly". | His official spokesman said the government was "approaching these talks in good faith and we will draft the legislation accordingly". |
| "The prime minister's view - which he set out in the House of Commons - is that it is likely that legislation will be quite complicated in practice. But we are progressing the work on that, and will continue the talks." | "The prime minister's view - which he set out in the House of Commons - is that it is likely that legislation will be quite complicated in practice. But we are progressing the work on that, and will continue the talks." |