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Press regulation deal 'very close' | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
A deal between Britain's political parties on measures to regulate the press is "very close", Downing Street sources have said. | |
Efforts have stalled on the extent to which a new self-regulatory body should be underpinned by a law but talks have been continuing through the night. | |
Labour sources confirmed the possible deal is based on their idea for a royal charter backed by legislation. | |
MPs were due to vote on the terms of the new watchdog. | |
Prime Minister David Cameron, who was opposed to a new law being brought in, was facing a potential defeat in the Commons. | |
Lib Dem leader and Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband have said they want a new watchdog to be backed by a law, while the prime minister was opposed to this. | |
Mr Cameron and Mr Clegg met on Sunday as part of a last-ditch attempt to reach a deal ahead of the vote. | |
Rival plans | Rival plans |
On Thursday, the prime minister called time on cross-party talks on reforms and instead published his proposals to establish a tougher press regulator. | On Thursday, the prime minister called time on cross-party talks on reforms and instead published his proposals to establish a tougher press regulator. |
In response, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband joined forces to unveil rival plans. | In response, deputy prime minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband joined forces to unveil rival plans. |
Both the prime minister and the two other parties agree on the concept of a royal charter, a formal document used to establish and lay out the terms of an organisation, for example the Bank of England or the BBC, that cannot be changed without government approval. | Both the prime minister and the two other parties agree on the concept of a royal charter, a formal document used to establish and lay out the terms of an organisation, for example the Bank of England or the BBC, that cannot be changed without government approval. |
However, a major sticking point was whether a new self-regulatory body should be backed by law. | |
Mr Cameron believes enshrining it in law will harm press freedom but Mr Clegg and Mr Miliband insist on it - they say the rules would lack impact without it. | Mr Cameron believes enshrining it in law will harm press freedom but Mr Clegg and Mr Miliband insist on it - they say the rules would lack impact without it. |
The other main differences in the rival royal charter, which Mr Clegg launched with Mr Miliband, involve not giving the press a veto over the members of the regulator and preventing it from being watered down or strengthened by future governments. | The other main differences in the rival royal charter, which Mr Clegg launched with Mr Miliband, involve not giving the press a veto over the members of the regulator and preventing it from being watered down or strengthened by future governments. |
Earlier, Conservative sources told the BBC that Mr Cameron was now "reluctantly" prepared to accept changes to his plans which, if passed, could mean his royal charter may be altered - but only by a two thirds majority of both Houses. | |
Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press ethics found newspapers had "wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people" under the existing regime of self-regulation, and called for a new, independent regulator backed by legislation - something that has prompted months of political wrangling. | Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press ethics found newspapers had "wreaked havoc with the lives of innocent people" under the existing regime of self-regulation, and called for a new, independent regulator backed by legislation - something that has prompted months of political wrangling. |