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Press regulation deal struck by parties Press regulation deal struck by parties
(35 minutes later)
A deal has been struck between the three main political parties on measures to regulate the press in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.A deal has been struck between the three main political parties on measures to regulate the press in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.
An independent regulator will be set up by royal charter, although opinions vary over whether it creates a new law. An independent regulator will be set up by royal charter, although opinions vary over whether this is now underpinned by law.
Labour leader Ed Miliband said charter "would be underpinned by statute", but this was denied by the prime minister. Labour leader Ed Miliband said the charter "would be underpinned by statute", but the PM denied this.
An overhaul of press regulation began after it was revealed that journalists had hacked thousands of phones. Press reform campaign group Hacked Off has welcomed the deal.
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 designed to assess whether it is doing its job properly, which prompted months of political wrangling. Prime Minister David Cameron is to apply for an emergency debate in the House of Commons later.
The Liberal Democrats and Labour wanted a royal charter backed by legislation, while Prime Minister David Cameron supported a royal charter without a law. The overhaul of press regulation began after it emerged that journalists had hacked thousands of phones.
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. Lord Justice Leveson's subsequent inquiry into press ethics called for a new, independent regulator backed by legislation designed to assess whether it is doing its job properly, which prompted months of political wrangling.
Tory Maria Miller said leaders still needed to discuss details. A statement from the prime minister is expected in the Commons later. The Liberal Democrats and Labour wanted a royal charter backed by legislation, while Mr Cameron supported a royal charter without a law.
The regulator is likely to be able to force a newspaper to issue corrections and apologies, and could also have the power to impose fines. Early on Monday a deal was struck, under which a clause to the enterprise and regulatory reform bill would be tabled in the Lords.
Describing the regulator as having teeth to punish, Mr Miliband said: "A free press has nothing to fear from what has been agreed". This would state that a royal charter cannot be changed unless it meets requirements stated within specific charters for amendments.
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. It does 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.
Mr Miliband said the royal charter "would be underpinned by statute". Both sides have differed in their interpretation of whether this deal involves a new law.
He said this was important because "it stops ministers or the press meddling with it, or watering it down in the future." Mr Cameron and the Culture Secretary, Maria Miller, both said there was no statutory underpinning.
However, Mr Cameron and the Culture secretary, Maria Miller, both said there was no statutory underpinning.
"What we wanted to avoid, and we have avoided, is a press law," Mr Cameron said."What we wanted to avoid, and we have avoided, is a press law," Mr Cameron said.
"Nowhere will it say what this body is, what it does, what it can't do, what the press can and can't do. That, quite rightly, is being kept out of Parliament. So, no statutory underpinning but a safeguard that says politicians can't in future fiddle with this arrangement.""Nowhere will it say what this body is, what it does, what it can't do, what the press can and can't do. That, quite rightly, is being kept out of Parliament. So, no statutory underpinning but a safeguard that says politicians can't in future fiddle with this arrangement."
However, Mr Miliband said the royal charter "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."
Describing the regulator as having teeth to punish, Mr Miliband said: "A free press has nothing to fear from what has been agreed".
Mr Clegg said he had worked "flat out" to get the deal, and was "delighted" with the cross-party agreement.Mr Clegg said he had worked "flat out" to get the deal, and was "delighted" with the cross-party agreement.
"We've secured the cherished principle of freedom of the press, which is incredibly important in our democracy, but also given innocent people the reassurance that we won't be unjustifiably bullied or intimidated by powerful interests in the press without having proper recourse when that happens.""We've secured the cherished principle of freedom of the press, which is incredibly important in our democracy, but also given innocent people the reassurance that we won't be unjustifiably bullied or intimidated by powerful interests in the press without having proper recourse when that happens."
Labour's Harriet Harman explained that "a small piece of legislation" in the enterprise and regulatory reform bill would be tabled in the Lords later. Evan Harris of campaign group Hacked Off was at the overnight talks, with three other members. The group later said they believed the deal "can effectively deliver" Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations.
The clause states that a royal charter cannot be changed unless it meets requirements stated within specific charters for amendments. It said a free arbitration service would be offered to be people who feel they have been the victims of press abuse.
It does 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.
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.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.
Evan Harris of campaign group Hacked Off was at the overnight talks, with three other members. The group tweeted: "We're encouraged by the progress of the talks but questions remain over the incentives that get papers to join the new regulator."
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 to replace the much-criticised Press Complaints Commission 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 to replace the much-criticised Press Complaints Commission but decide that the regulator should not apply for official recognition.
The industry has a proposed independent body of its own, which would be able to fine those who breached its standards - up to £1m - and award compensation to victims.The industry has a proposed independent body of its own, which 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.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.