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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Press regulation deal 'very close' | Press regulation deal 'very close' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A deal between Britain's political parties on measures to regulate the press is "very close", Downing Street sources have said. | 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. | 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. | 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. | MPs were due to vote on the terms of the new watchdog. |
| 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 David Cameron was opposed to this. | |
| Mr Cameron, who was facing a potential defeat in the Commons, met Mr Clegg on Sunday as part of a last-ditch attempt to reach a deal ahead of the vote. | |
| It is understood that later discussions lasting for about five-and-half hours and ending at about 02:30 GMT took place between Mr Clegg, Mr Miliband, shadow culture secretary Harriet Harman and Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin. | |
| The prime minister was not present but was kept informed of progress. | |
| Labour sources said they were "confident" the reopened talks at Mr Miliband's office had secured the basis of an agreement, to be announced in the Commons later. | |
| Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press ethics in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal had called for a new, independent regulator backed by legislation, prompting months of political wrangling. | |
| 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 agreed on the concept of the 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. | 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. | 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. |