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Hugh Grant: be wise, Mr Cameron, and grasp this historic opportunity Hugh Grant: be wise, Mr Cameron, and grasp this historic opportunity
(7 months later)
Sunday will be a historic day for Britain's newspapers and the nature of their relationship with the public. After the Leveson inquiry into press behaviour, and poll after poll showing that the public wants a newspaper complaints system that is independent of the newspaper industry and independent of the government, it is decision day for MPs.Sunday will be a historic day for Britain's newspapers and the nature of their relationship with the public. After the Leveson inquiry into press behaviour, and poll after poll showing that the public wants a newspaper complaints system that is independent of the newspaper industry and independent of the government, it is decision day for MPs.
There have been some astonishing claims about how Leveson's recommendations would affect the newspapers. Advertisements paid for by the press, for example, linked the eminently reasonable Lord Justice Leveson with Zimbabwe's President Mugabe and President Assad of Syria.There have been some astonishing claims about how Leveson's recommendations would affect the newspapers. Advertisements paid for by the press, for example, linked the eminently reasonable Lord Justice Leveson with Zimbabwe's President Mugabe and President Assad of Syria.
There have also been scary accusations about how Leveson's supporters have been making their case and running their campaign and many accusations have been directed at me. I would like to reply to some of those accusations. The prime minister is facing possible defeat, not because Hacked Off is a mighty instrument of propaganda or a slick PR machine (it is neither) but because he is so clearly on the wrong side in this debate.There have also been scary accusations about how Leveson's supporters have been making their case and running their campaign and many accusations have been directed at me. I would like to reply to some of those accusations. The prime minister is facing possible defeat, not because Hacked Off is a mighty instrument of propaganda or a slick PR machine (it is neither) but because he is so clearly on the wrong side in this debate.
When he was forced to choose between honouring his promises to the victims of years of press abuses or staying cosy with the owners of Conservative-supporting newspapers, he chose the press barons. When he had the choice between giving the British people an independent press complaints system or letting the newspaper industry continue to mark its own homework, he chose the latter.When he was forced to choose between honouring his promises to the victims of years of press abuses or staying cosy with the owners of Conservative-supporting newspapers, he chose the press barons. When he had the choice between giving the British people an independent press complaints system or letting the newspaper industry continue to mark its own homework, he chose the latter.
For David Cameron, staying on good terms with Rupert Murdoch is more important than standing up for the Dowler family, the McCann family, the Hillsborough families and thousands of members of the public who have been trashed in Britain's newspapers. Many Tory MPs are deeply unhappy about their leader walking out of the cross-party talks. They are now likely to feel unable to support Mr Cameron's draft of a royal charter, a version that falls so demonstrably short of Leveson.For David Cameron, staying on good terms with Rupert Murdoch is more important than standing up for the Dowler family, the McCann family, the Hillsborough families and thousands of members of the public who have been trashed in Britain's newspapers. Many Tory MPs are deeply unhappy about their leader walking out of the cross-party talks. They are now likely to feel unable to support Mr Cameron's draft of a royal charter, a version that falls so demonstrably short of Leveson.
Some Tory MPs have told me they do not understand why he has thrown up the chance of setting up a truly independent regulator, with all-party support. These MPs share my desire for a new self-regulator that meets the central principle put forward by Leveson – that it should be independent of the press and independent of government, Parliament and politicians of all stripes.Some Tory MPs have told me they do not understand why he has thrown up the chance of setting up a truly independent regulator, with all-party support. These MPs share my desire for a new self-regulator that meets the central principle put forward by Leveson – that it should be independent of the press and independent of government, Parliament and politicians of all stripes.
What is so curious about the choice for MPs is that David Cameron's version of a royal charter actually puts government ministers in charge of future changes to the system. It also leaves the editors in control of the standards code for press behaviour, which is at the heart of the system. It is even more curious that although the prime minister says he will not introduce a press law, his royal charter is exactly that. It's a law. It has legal force. It's just that it's a medieval way of making law.What is so curious about the choice for MPs is that David Cameron's version of a royal charter actually puts government ministers in charge of future changes to the system. It also leaves the editors in control of the standards code for press behaviour, which is at the heart of the system. It is even more curious that although the prime minister says he will not introduce a press law, his royal charter is exactly that. It's a law. It has legal force. It's just that it's a medieval way of making law.
Mr Cameron is also proposing a modern legislative route to provide that newspapers that don't join the new regulation system run the risk of exemplary damages in court actions. You don't hear him shouting about that.Mr Cameron is also proposing a modern legislative route to provide that newspapers that don't join the new regulation system run the risk of exemplary damages in court actions. You don't hear him shouting about that.
The Hacked Off campaign, representing press victims, has reluctantly accepted that a royal charter could just about be effective in giving legal backing to the new system. They have supported a "good" royal charter, proposed by Mr Clegg and Mr Miliband, which will not be under the control of ministers in the way that David Cameron's "bad" royal charter sadly is. The "good" royal charter makes sure the regulator cannot be controlled by the press in a way that, equally sadly, David Cameron's charter doesn't.The Hacked Off campaign, representing press victims, has reluctantly accepted that a royal charter could just about be effective in giving legal backing to the new system. They have supported a "good" royal charter, proposed by Mr Clegg and Mr Miliband, which will not be under the control of ministers in the way that David Cameron's "bad" royal charter sadly is. The "good" royal charter makes sure the regulator cannot be controlled by the press in a way that, equally sadly, David Cameron's charter doesn't.
It gives powers to the new regulation system so that it can work properly. It does not give new powers to Parliament. And it does not interfere with the content of any newspaper, nor with the right of any editor to publish what they wish. I am still hopeful that David Cameron will see the sense in the "good" royal charter and not allow the press barons to split Parliament in the way they want to.It gives powers to the new regulation system so that it can work properly. It does not give new powers to Parliament. And it does not interfere with the content of any newspaper, nor with the right of any editor to publish what they wish. I am still hopeful that David Cameron will see the sense in the "good" royal charter and not allow the press barons to split Parliament in the way they want to.
I hope that Parliament will grab this opportunity to recast the relationship between the citizens of Britain and their newspapers. I hope it will be brave and bring about an enduring settlement that protects the public and press freedom simultaneously. If MPs fail, we will all be back here in 10 years' time with another inquiry after more newspaper abuses of innocent people.I hope that Parliament will grab this opportunity to recast the relationship between the citizens of Britain and their newspapers. I hope it will be brave and bring about an enduring settlement that protects the public and press freedom simultaneously. If MPs fail, we will all be back here in 10 years' time with another inquiry after more newspaper abuses of innocent people.
As Sir John Major told the inquiry, it is now politicians who are in the last chance saloon.As Sir John Major told the inquiry, it is now politicians who are in the last chance saloon.
• This article will be opened for comments on Sunday morning.• This article will be opened for comments on Sunday morning.
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