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Madeleine McCann's parents attack 'compromise' response to Leveson Madeleine McCann's parents attack 'compromise' response to Leveson
(7 months later)
The press has lost its entitlement to self-regulate and the government's post-Leveson proposals are a "compromise of a compromise", the parents of missing child Madeleine McCann have said.The press has lost its entitlement to self-regulate and the government's post-Leveson proposals are a "compromise of a compromise", the parents of missing child Madeleine McCann have said.
Last week, the government said it would not introduce new legislation to regulate the press but would instead push ahead with a watchdog underpinned by royal charter to avoid conflicts around media freedom.Last week, the government said it would not introduce new legislation to regulate the press but would instead push ahead with a watchdog underpinned by royal charter to avoid conflicts around media freedom.
Gerry McCann said the government should reverse its decision and introduce statutory regulation so as not to leave the public bereft of protection.Gerry McCann said the government should reverse its decision and introduce statutory regulation so as not to leave the public bereft of protection.
Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, he also criticised the government's process for responding to Lord Justice Leveson's findings, which he said ran contrary to the inquiry.Speaking on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show, he also criticised the government's process for responding to Lord Justice Leveson's findings, which he said ran contrary to the inquiry.
"A major part of Leveson was acknowledging that the press has got too close to politicians," he said. Yet ahead of the government's response, editors and ministers were "having a number of private meetings, the minutes are not published, the discussions are not published … That leads to serious concerns about the independence of what's been proposed"."A major part of Leveson was acknowledging that the press has got too close to politicians," he said. Yet ahead of the government's response, editors and ministers were "having a number of private meetings, the minutes are not published, the discussions are not published … That leads to serious concerns about the independence of what's been proposed".
"They [the press] are getting a last chance at self-regulation … [it is] a step too far," he said."They [the press] are getting a last chance at self-regulation … [it is] a step too far," he said.
Madeleine was nearly four when she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve, where she had been left by her parents as they dined at a tapas restaurant with friends nearby on 3 May 2007.Madeleine was nearly four when she vanished from her family's holiday apartment in Praia da Luz in the Algarve, where she had been left by her parents as they dined at a tapas restaurant with friends nearby on 3 May 2007.
Leveson cited the coverage of her disappearance as an example of how stories ran "totally out of control".Leveson cited the coverage of her disappearance as an example of how stories ran "totally out of control".
Kate McCann described the Leveson inquiry as "a painstaking process" but said the judge's final proposals were balanced and fair to all parties. She said, however, that in a chartered watchdog, the government had offered a "compromise of a compromise".Kate McCann described the Leveson inquiry as "a painstaking process" but said the judge's final proposals were balanced and fair to all parties. She said, however, that in a chartered watchdog, the government had offered a "compromise of a compromise".
"Why do the press not want to be accountable like everyone else? The press are the first to hold people in authority to account.""Why do the press not want to be accountable like everyone else? The press are the first to hold people in authority to account."
The McCanns also spoke about a recent dispute with a newspaper editor, following the publication of a story involving a police lead that they said had "not been fully explored" and that they did not want published.The McCanns also spoke about a recent dispute with a newspaper editor, following the publication of a story involving a police lead that they said had "not been fully explored" and that they did not want published.
"It is something we raised at Leveson that Madeleine and her safety is often treated with complete contempt," Gerry McCann said."It is something we raised at Leveson that Madeleine and her safety is often treated with complete contempt," Gerry McCann said.
"I wrote to the editor of the newspaper and explained my concerns," Kate McCann said. "And I have to say I got a reply back which made my blood boil. It was basically telling me that they knew what was best for Madeleine, that they knew what was best for missing children so despite what we as parents thought, despite what the Metropolitan police thought, they knew what was best."I wrote to the editor of the newspaper and explained my concerns," Kate McCann said. "And I have to say I got a reply back which made my blood boil. It was basically telling me that they knew what was best for Madeleine, that they knew what was best for missing children so despite what we as parents thought, despite what the Metropolitan police thought, they knew what was best.
"And that is really concerning, post-Leveson inquiry, that this is the kind of response we are getting. I believe if the royal charter goes through, we'll not be better off and this is one opportunity that might not come again.""And that is really concerning, post-Leveson inquiry, that this is the kind of response we are getting. I believe if the royal charter goes through, we'll not be better off and this is one opportunity that might not come again."
Earlier, John Witherow, the acting editor of the Times and a former long-serving editor of the Sunday Times, told presenter Eddie Mair that the proposal for a royal charter "had teeth" and took in many of Leveson's recommendations without the need for legislation.Earlier, John Witherow, the acting editor of the Times and a former long-serving editor of the Sunday Times, told presenter Eddie Mair that the proposal for a royal charter "had teeth" and took in many of Leveson's recommendations without the need for legislation.
"What is on the table is very tough on the press," he said."What is on the table is very tough on the press," he said.
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