This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-21825823

The article has changed 25 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 10 Version 11
Press regulation deal struck by parties - Labour Press regulation deal struck by parties - Labour
(about 1 hour later)
A deal has been struck between the three main political parties on measures to regulate the press, Labour's Harriet Harman says. A deal has been struck between the three main political parties on measures to regulate the press, Labour has said.
It comes after talks were held overnight between the Lib Dem and Labour leaders and a senior Tory minister on a new press watchdog. Leader Ed Miliband said the deal would protect "future victims" of press intrusion, while maintaining a free press.
But Tory Maria Miller said leaders still needed to discuss details.
An overhaul of press regulation began after it was revealed that journalists had hacked thousands of phones.An overhaul of press regulation began after it was revealed that journalists had hacked thousands of phones.
But Tory Maria Miller said leaders still needed to discuss details.
Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press ethics in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal called for a new, independent regulator backed by legislation, which prompted months of political wrangling.Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press ethics in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal called for a new, independent regulator backed by legislation, which prompted months of political wrangling.
The prime minister had opposed establishing a watchdog backed by law, but the other parties have pushed for it. The Liberal Democrats and Labour wanted a royal charter backed by legislation to establish the regulator, while Prime Minister David Cameron supported a royal charter without a law.
The BBC's Nick Robinson said Labour and the Liberal Democrats appeared to have accepted a watered-down version of their demands for full legal underpinning of a royal charter establishing a new watchdog. A Commons debate and vote were scheduled for Monday, but after overnight talks between the Lib Dem and Labour leaders and a senior Tory minister resulted in a deal, the vote was cancelled. A statement from the prime minister is expected in the Commons later.
Ms Miller said: "We're very close to a deal. What has been accepted by all the main parties is that the prime minister's royal charter should go ahead, and more importantly we've stopped Labour's extreme version of the press law." Describing the regulator as having teeth to punish, Mr Miliband said: "A free press has nothing to fear from what has been agreed".
The deal sets out that an independent regulator of the press will be established by royal charter, but both sides have differed in their interpretation of what the deal involves.
Mr Miliband said the royal charter published by Mr Clegg and himself last week "would be underpinned by statute".
He said this was important because "it stops ministers or the press meddling with it, or watering it down in the future."
However, Culture Secretary Maria Miller said: "This is not a statutory underpinning, it is simply making sure that there's no change. It's a no-change clause."
The BBC's Nick Robinson said Labour and the Lib Dems appeared to have accepted a watered-down version of their demands for full legal underpinning of a royal charter establishing a new watchdog.
Details still have to be worked out, with Ms Miller saying: "We're very close to a deal. What has been accepted by all the main parties is that the prime minister's royal charter should go ahead, and more importantly we've stopped Labour's extreme version of the press law."
She added: "It's important that we get the details right, and there needs to be a conversation between the leaders, and I think that will go ahead this morning."She added: "It's important that we get the details right, and there needs to be a conversation between the leaders, and I think that will go ahead this morning."
Last week talks ended abruptly, with Prime Minister David Cameron instead publishing his proposals - prompting Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband to join forces to unveil rival plans. Ms Harman, who told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that there was an agreement, explained that "a small piece of legislation" in the enterprise and regulatory reform bill would be tabled in the Lords later.
Ms Harman said a planned vote on the issue due to be held in the Commons later would not go ahead. This clause would give power in law to any royal charter that states that a two-thirds majority of both houses of Parliament is needed to amend it.
She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yes, there is an agreement." It would not mention any specific charter, Leveson or the press - but the royal charter on press regulation would itself state that it cannot be amended without a two-thirds majority of Parliament, being the only charter to do so.
She explained that "a small piece of legislation" in the enterprise and regulatory reform bill would be tabled in the Lords later, stating that rules regarding royal charters cannot be tampered with. Nick Robinson said the press had been informed over the days and months of wrangling, with key players being Telegraph's Lord Black, Associated Newspapers' Peter Wright, the editor of the Times John Witherow and the editor of the FT Lionel Barber, he says. A member of campaign group Hacked Off was thought to be at the overnight talks.
This "compromise clause" would not mention any specific charter, Leveson or the press, reports BBC political correspondent Norman Smith.
However, the royal charter for the press will state it can only be altered by a "super majority" of two-thirds in both houses.
It appears to allow Labour and the Lib Dems to claim they have secured legislation and for Mr Cameron to claim that there is no legislation linked to the press.
Labour and the Conservatives have differing views on Monday's deal.
Ms Harman said the deal was about making sure that there was independent regulator "with teeth... so that if the press get something wrong, the regulator can direct them to correct it".
Ms Miller said: "This is not a statutory underpinning, it is simply making sure that there's no change. It's a no-change clause."
Sources at Downing Street said Mr Cameron, by bringing the issue to a head, had ensured there would be no press law or statutory underpinning of the royal charter.
"The PM, who was in a minority position, has played a very difficult hand incredibly well," a No 10 source told the BBC's Norman Smith.
Nick Robinson said the press had been informed and consulted during the weekend talks. Key players were the Telegraph's Lord Black, Associated Newspapers' Peter Wright, the editor of the Times John Witherow and the editor of the FT Lionel Barber, he says.
But reacting to news of a political deal, one newspaper industry source told the BBC they were "instinctively uncomfortable" with it.But reacting to news of a political deal, one newspaper industry source told the BBC they were "instinctively uncomfortable" with it.
The source noted that there was no compulsion for the papers to be involved in the new system - they could carry on setting up a new regulator but decide that the regulator should not apply for official recognition.The source noted that there was no compulsion for the papers to be involved in the new system - they could carry on setting up a new regulator but decide that the regulator should not apply for official recognition.
The industry's proposed independent body would be able to fine those who breached its standards - up to £1m - and award compensation to victims. There would be an investigative arm, to look into serious wrongdoing by papers, and legally enforceable contracts, to bind publishers into the new system and ensure funding. The industry's proposed independent body would be able to fine those who breached its standards - up to £1m - and award compensation to victims.
There would be an investigative arm, to look into serious wrongdoing by papers, and legally enforceable contracts, to bind publishers into the new system and ensure funding.
The press industry's existing self-regulation body, the Press Complaints Commission, has already moved into a "transitional phase" while a long-term replacement can be established.The press industry's existing self-regulation body, the Press Complaints Commission, has already moved into a "transitional phase" while a long-term replacement can be established.
It currently upholds its own editors' code of practice, and judges complaints about newspapers and magazines against the code, but the UK newspaper and magazine industry has been working on a new regulatory system. It currently upholds its own editors' code of practice, and judges complaints about newspapers and magazines against the code.