This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2013/mar/09/leveson-report-press-victims-government-vote

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Leveson findings: press intrusion victims and MPs unite to speed up vote Leveson findings: press intrusion victims and MPs unite to speed up vote
(7 months later)
Victims of press intrusion are to join forces with MPs this week to pressurise the government into dropping talks with newspapers and letting the House of Commons vote on legislation to regulate Fleet Street. By sending a letter to party leaders that rejects all "press-led" compromises, campaigners hope to initiate an endgame in protracted wrangles over Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations.Victims of press intrusion are to join forces with MPs this week to pressurise the government into dropping talks with newspapers and letting the House of Commons vote on legislation to regulate Fleet Street. By sending a letter to party leaders that rejects all "press-led" compromises, campaigners hope to initiate an endgame in protracted wrangles over Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations.
The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and the leader of the opposition, Ed Miliband, are due to meet the prime minister early this week to urge him to strengthen new regulations, while the many victims of press intrusion who contributed to the Leveson inquiry – including Tessa Jowell, the McCanns, Sienna Miller, Anne Diamond, the Dowlers, Max Mosley and JK Rowling – have signed a letter to Oliver Letwin, the minister in charge of the issue, calling for an immediate end to talks with editors so that parliament can have its say before the end of the month.The deputy prime minister, Nick Clegg, and the leader of the opposition, Ed Miliband, are due to meet the prime minister early this week to urge him to strengthen new regulations, while the many victims of press intrusion who contributed to the Leveson inquiry – including Tessa Jowell, the McCanns, Sienna Miller, Anne Diamond, the Dowlers, Max Mosley and JK Rowling – have signed a letter to Oliver Letwin, the minister in charge of the issue, calling for an immediate end to talks with editors so that parliament can have its say before the end of the month.
Speaking at a public event in Covent Garden, London, on Friday, Clegg agreed that the coming week would be "crucial" and argued for a legal basis to any new rules. He stopped short, however, of rejecting a royal charter.Speaking at a public event in Covent Garden, London, on Friday, Clegg agreed that the coming week would be "crucial" and argued for a legal basis to any new rules. He stopped short, however, of rejecting a royal charter.
Jacqui Hames, a former Crimewatch presenter and Met police detective, told the Observer she felt a growing sense of unease. "We all hoped the report might mark a new era of transparency in relations between government and the press, but now that hope has evaporated," she said, adding that news that one of the advisers helping to design a self-regulatory body is former Sun political editor Trevor Kavanagh did not inspire confidence either.Jacqui Hames, a former Crimewatch presenter and Met police detective, told the Observer she felt a growing sense of unease. "We all hoped the report might mark a new era of transparency in relations between government and the press, but now that hope has evaporated," she said, adding that news that one of the advisers helping to design a self-regulatory body is former Sun political editor Trevor Kavanagh did not inspire confidence either.
"Whatever happened to the press wanting to show that they have changed and won't disappear back down the slippery slope?" she said."Whatever happened to the press wanting to show that they have changed and won't disappear back down the slippery slope?" she said.
The victims' letter, sent out this weekend by their solicitor, Dominic Crossley, has been copied to David Cameron, Clegg and Miliband.The victims' letter, sent out this weekend by their solicitor, Dominic Crossley, has been copied to David Cameron, Clegg and Miliband.
"To propose anything less than Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations would be to demonstrate the press's continued malign influence over government," writes Crossley."To propose anything less than Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations would be to demonstrate the press's continued malign influence over government," writes Crossley.
By the time leaders of the three main parties meet campaigners on behalf of the victims, it is hoped that every MP will have received a copy of Crossley's arguments, along with a covering letter in support from an MP on their own political benches.By the time leaders of the three main parties meet campaigners on behalf of the victims, it is hoped that every MP will have received a copy of Crossley's arguments, along with a covering letter in support from an MP on their own political benches.
A House of Lords amendment to the defamation bill, introduced by Labour peer Lord Puttnam, aims to bring in press regulation, despite Cameron's opposition to legislation. The amended bill was due to return to the Commons at the end of the week, but Cameron is expected to block it to prevent a likely government defeat. Such a manoeuvre will not only incense supporters of press reform, but dismay free speech campaigners on both sides of the house who have been banking on key reforms contained in the body of the bill.A House of Lords amendment to the defamation bill, introduced by Labour peer Lord Puttnam, aims to bring in press regulation, despite Cameron's opposition to legislation. The amended bill was due to return to the Commons at the end of the week, but Cameron is expected to block it to prevent a likely government defeat. Such a manoeuvre will not only incense supporters of press reform, but dismay free speech campaigners on both sides of the house who have been banking on key reforms contained in the body of the bill.
Hacked Off campaigners argue that Puttnam's additions to the bill are quite suitable if it is designed to protect freedom of expression. They want Cameron to put it back on the House of Commons slate and claim that the amendment offers a new system of redress for poorer victims of the press, while necessary reforms to libel law will only protect the rich.Hacked Off campaigners argue that Puttnam's additions to the bill are quite suitable if it is designed to protect freedom of expression. They want Cameron to put it back on the House of Commons slate and claim that the amendment offers a new system of redress for poorer victims of the press, while necessary reforms to libel law will only protect the rich.
Crossbench peer Lord Skidelsky has also put down Leveson-inspired amendments to an enterprise reform bill, due to reach the report stage next week. These reforms, again unrelated to the "host" bill, would introduce statutory arbitration of the press and create a body to oversee any voluntary regulator. Further tinkering with upcoming bills, such as the Crimes and Courts Bill, due to be debated on Wednesday, has also been mooted.Crossbench peer Lord Skidelsky has also put down Leveson-inspired amendments to an enterprise reform bill, due to reach the report stage next week. These reforms, again unrelated to the "host" bill, would introduce statutory arbitration of the press and create a body to oversee any voluntary regulator. Further tinkering with upcoming bills, such as the Crimes and Courts Bill, due to be debated on Wednesday, has also been mooted.
Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning.