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Leveson: Ed Miliband tells MPs to do their duty for victims of the press Leveson: Ed Miliband tells MPs to do their duty for victims of the press
(7 months later)
Ed Miliband has called on MPs from all parties to stop living in fear of retribution and to do their political duty for the victims of media intrusion by establishing a press regulator enshrined in law on Monday.Ed Miliband has called on MPs from all parties to stop living in fear of retribution and to do their political duty for the victims of media intrusion by establishing a press regulator enshrined in law on Monday.
In an interview with the Observer, on the eve of a historic Commons debate and vote on press regulation, the Labour leader says that for too long politicians have been scared of acting against the powerful media magnates who have the capacity to destroy political careers and wreck governments. Miliband admits that he was personally worried about the consequences when he called for the resignation of Rebekah Brooks, the News International chief executive, nearly two years ago. His officials at the time were allegedly warned by one senior executive of the company, that having "made it personal about Rebekah, we are going to make it personal about you".In an interview with the Observer, on the eve of a historic Commons debate and vote on press regulation, the Labour leader says that for too long politicians have been scared of acting against the powerful media magnates who have the capacity to destroy political careers and wreck governments. Miliband admits that he was personally worried about the consequences when he called for the resignation of Rebekah Brooks, the News International chief executive, nearly two years ago. His officials at the time were allegedly warned by one senior executive of the company, that having "made it personal about Rebekah, we are going to make it personal about you".
But Miliband says that now is the moment to break with the past, when "politicians were fearful of speaking out because they thought: 'I'm going to get bad publicity, it will turn the press against me'." He says that he believes the country is now "24 hours away from putting in place a system that I believe will work", to ensure that the treatment meted out to the family of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, whose phone was hacked after she disappeared, and the parents of missing Madeleine McCann, can never be repeated. "I think it is an important moment because we have had decades of failing to ensure that we have a system of press complaints and redress which means that ordinary people aren't left at the whim of a sometimes abusive press.But Miliband says that now is the moment to break with the past, when "politicians were fearful of speaking out because they thought: 'I'm going to get bad publicity, it will turn the press against me'." He says that he believes the country is now "24 hours away from putting in place a system that I believe will work", to ensure that the treatment meted out to the family of the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, whose phone was hacked after she disappeared, and the parents of missing Madeleine McCann, can never be repeated. "I think it is an important moment because we have had decades of failing to ensure that we have a system of press complaints and redress which means that ordinary people aren't left at the whim of a sometimes abusive press.
"Monday is the day that politics has got to do the duty by the victims and has got to stand up for the victims.""Monday is the day that politics has got to do the duty by the victims and has got to stand up for the victims."
The vote follows an extraordinary week in British politics, with a serious schism emerging in the government, and a new coalition formed, as Miliband describes it, between Labour and the Liberal Democrats in the name of press reform. The dramatic developments were triggered on Thursday by David Cameron's decision to call an end to cross-party talks on a new regulatory regime for the press, describing the differences between the three main parties on the issue as "too great".The vote follows an extraordinary week in British politics, with a serious schism emerging in the government, and a new coalition formed, as Miliband describes it, between Labour and the Liberal Democrats in the name of press reform. The dramatic developments were triggered on Thursday by David Cameron's decision to call an end to cross-party talks on a new regulatory regime for the press, describing the differences between the three main parties on the issue as "too great".
He subsequently proposed a royal charter, a formal document issued by the Queen, which Cameron claimed would create the world's toughest regulatory system, allowing the imposition of exemplary damages on newspapers which refuse to sign up. The prime minister, however, insisted that his model would not include politicians voting in the Commons to lock the royal charter in law, and challenged Labour and the Liberal Democrats to offer a different solution. Critics of a legislative lock argue that it would open the door to political interference in the press.He subsequently proposed a royal charter, a formal document issued by the Queen, which Cameron claimed would create the world's toughest regulatory system, allowing the imposition of exemplary damages on newspapers which refuse to sign up. The prime minister, however, insisted that his model would not include politicians voting in the Commons to lock the royal charter in law, and challenged Labour and the Liberal Democrats to offer a different solution. Critics of a legislative lock argue that it would open the door to political interference in the press.
The alternative royal charter, presented by Miliband and Nick Clegg, would create a regulator with greater independence from the industry; it would have more powers to investigate complaints; and it would be able to instruct on the prominence of apologies in newspapers while, crucially, the charter would be enshrined in legislation. The Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders both maintain that the law is needed to guarantee that the new regulator has teeth.The alternative royal charter, presented by Miliband and Nick Clegg, would create a regulator with greater independence from the industry; it would have more powers to investigate complaints; and it would be able to instruct on the prominence of apologies in newspapers while, crucially, the charter would be enshrined in legislation. The Labour and Liberal Democrat leaders both maintain that the law is needed to guarantee that the new regulator has teeth.
Labour wants the prime minister to offer the Commons a straight decision between the two models on Monday.Labour wants the prime minister to offer the Commons a straight decision between the two models on Monday.
However, if the prime minister does not offer such a vote, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have added their name to amendments to the crime and courts bill for a vote in the Commons on Monday, which would place the key facets of the future regulator in law.However, if the prime minister does not offer such a vote, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have added their name to amendments to the crime and courts bill for a vote in the Commons on Monday, which would place the key facets of the future regulator in law.
If the House votes in favour of those amendments, Cameron has said he will accept that the will of parliament is a regulatory regime enshrined in legislation. On Saturday night it appeared that Labour with the Liberal Democrats would be able to build a cross-party majority to push through their regulatory regime. Miliband said: "This is quite an important coalition that has the victims at the heart of it and I think that is incredibly important because this is a test of all of us as politicians."If the House votes in favour of those amendments, Cameron has said he will accept that the will of parliament is a regulatory regime enshrined in legislation. On Saturday night it appeared that Labour with the Liberal Democrats would be able to build a cross-party majority to push through their regulatory regime. Miliband said: "This is quite an important coalition that has the victims at the heart of it and I think that is incredibly important because this is a test of all of us as politicians."
Writing in the Observer, the actor Hugh Grant, a key figure in the press reform lobby group Hacked Off, adds: "Tomorrow will be a historic day for Britain's newspapers and the nature of their relationship with the public.Writing in the Observer, the actor Hugh Grant, a key figure in the press reform lobby group Hacked Off, adds: "Tomorrow will be a historic day for Britain's newspapers and the nature of their relationship with the public.
"I believe that the prime minister is facing possible defeat tomorrow, 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."I believe that the prime minister is facing possible defeat tomorrow, 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.
"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." Christopher Jefferies, who successfully sued eight national newspapers over their coverage of his arrest during the investigation into the murder of Joanna Yeates, described Cameron's position as a "non-starter"."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." Christopher Jefferies, who successfully sued eight national newspapers over their coverage of his arrest during the investigation into the murder of Joanna Yeates, described Cameron's position as a "non-starter".
Conor Burns, the Tory MP for Bournemouth West, who has been battling against parliament becoming involved in regulation of the press, said that he believed Cameron faced an "uphill battle" to swing support to his plans as around 20 of his colleagues will potentially rebel against the Tory whip.Conor Burns, the Tory MP for Bournemouth West, who has been battling against parliament becoming involved in regulation of the press, said that he believed Cameron faced an "uphill battle" to swing support to his plans as around 20 of his colleagues will potentially rebel against the Tory whip.
Miliband also appears to have brought around his rebels, including David Blunkett MP and Frank Field MP, who have both previously voiced their concerns over any type of press law.Miliband also appears to have brought around his rebels, including David Blunkett MP and Frank Field MP, who have both previously voiced their concerns over any type of press law.
Blunkett, a former home secretary, said: "My observation at this moment, and subject to further consultation, is that we may just have an agreement."Blunkett, a former home secretary, said: "My observation at this moment, and subject to further consultation, is that we may just have an agreement."
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