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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 a watchdog to regulate the press after the phone-hacking scandal. A deal has been struck between the three main political parties on a new press regulation regime in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal.
An independent regulator will be set up by royal charter with powers to impose million pound fines on, and demand upfront apologies from, publishers.An independent regulator will be set up by royal charter with powers to impose million pound fines on, and demand upfront apologies from, publishers.
The Prime Minister has outlined to MPs the scope of the formal document, which will set out the regulator's powers. The prime minister has outlined to MPs the scope of the formal document, which will set out the regulator's powers.
Press reform campaign group Hacked Off has welcomed the deal.Press reform campaign group Hacked Off has welcomed the deal.
The news follows Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into phone hacking, which found that journalists had hacked thousands of phones. He called for a new, independent regulator backed by legislation designed to assess whether it is doing its job properly. But the major newspapers have yet to respond to the details.
The deal follows Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press ethics, which found that journalists had hacked thousands of phones. He called for a new, independent regulator backed by legislation designed to assess whether it is doing its job properly.
David Cameron said the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour had agreed on a new system of "tough independent self-regulation that will deliver for victims and meet the principles set out in (Leveson's) report".David Cameron said the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour had agreed on a new system of "tough independent self-regulation that will deliver for victims and meet the principles set out in (Leveson's) report".
He said a new system would ensure:He said a new system would ensure:
The charter defines publishers as newspapers, magazines or websites containing news-related material.The charter defines publishers as newspapers, magazines or websites containing news-related material.
Mr Cameron said all of this would be put in place without the need for new law - although Labour leader Ed Miliband said legislation did underpin the new press regulator. But there was confusion over how the plans would extend to the rest of the internet - with one Downing Street aide telling the BBC it would not cover blogs such as Guido Fawkes' political commentary.
Announcing the draft royal charter, which will need to be approved by the Queen's Privy Council, Mr Cameron told MPs: "What happened to the Dowlers, to the McCanns, to Christopher Jeffries and to many other innocent people who've never sought the limelight was utterly despicable. Announcing the draft royal charter, Mr Cameron told MPs: "What happened to the Dowlers, to the McCanns, to Christopher Jeffries and to many other innocent people who've never sought the limelight was utterly despicable.
"It is right that we put in place a new system of press regulation to ensure such appalling acts can never happen again. We should do this without any further delay.""It is right that we put in place a new system of press regulation to ensure such appalling acts can never happen again. We should do this without any further delay."
The Liberal Democrats and Labour had wanted a royal charter - a formal document used to set up bodies such as universities and the BBC - backed by legislation, while Mr Cameron supported a royal charter without a law. Labour leader Ed Miliband said the agreement satisfied the demands of protection for victims and freedom of the press.
Early on Monday a deal was struck, under which a clause in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill would be tabled in the Lords. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg said he hoped newspaper groups would see the logic of the deal and back it.
This would state that a royal charter could not be changed unless it met requirements stated within that charter for amendments. The charter will not be passed by MPs, but will need to be approved at the May meeting of the Queen's Privy Council - advisers to the Queen, mostly comprising senior politicians.
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. A clause in the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill will be tabled in the Lords which will mean that the charter cannot be amended without a two-thirds majority of Parliament.
Both sides have differed in their interpretation of whether this deal involves a new law. And a separate bill, the Crime and Courts Bill, will have amendments ensuring that newspapers who refused to join the new regulatory regime would be potentially liable for exemplary damages if a claim was upheld against them.
Mr Cameron said there was no statutory underpinning. The three main parties differed over whether this amounted to bringing in a new law.
"What we wanted to avoid, and we have avoided, is a press law," he said. Mr Cameron said a press law had been avoided - although he conceded the clauses were "two very important but relatively small legislative changes" that needed to be made.
"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." Mr Miliband said there was statute underpinning the charter, "which is actually protecting it from being changed".
'Stops meddling'
However, Mr Miliband said the royal charter "would be underpinned by statute" to "stop ministers or the press meddling with it, or watering it down in the future".
Under the deal, a separate bill, the Crime and Courts Bill, would have amendments ensuring that newspapers who refused to join the new regulatory regime would be potentially liable for exemplary damages if a claim was upheld against them.
One newspaper industry source earlier told the BBC they were "instinctively uncomfortable" with news of the deal.
The Sun and others have said they will accept everything recommended by Lord Justice Leveson - except statutory legislation.
BBC political editor 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.
'Sad day''Sad day'
Evan Harris of campaign group Hacked Off was at the overnight talks, with three other pressure group members. The group later said it believed the deal "can effectively deliver" Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations. BBC political editor 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.
Although major UK newspapers have yet to deliver their response to the announcement, one industry source earlier told the BBC they were "instinctively uncomfortable" with the deal.
The Sun and others have previously said they will accept everything recommended by Lord Justice Leveson - except statutory legislation.
Evan Harris of campaign group Hacked Off was at the overnight talks to reach a deal on Monday, with three other pressure group members. The group later said it believed the deal "can effectively deliver" Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations.
But the idea of a charter was criticised by free speech campaign group Index on Censorship. Chief executive Kirsty Hughes said the decision was a "sad day for press freedom in the UK".But the idea of a charter was criticised by free speech campaign group Index on Censorship. Chief executive Kirsty Hughes said the decision was a "sad day for press freedom in the UK".
She said: "Index is against the introduction of a royal charter that determines the details of establishing a press regulator in the UK - the involvement of politicians undermines the fundamental principle that the press holds politicians to account."She said: "Index is against the introduction of a royal charter that determines the details of establishing a press regulator in the UK - the involvement of politicians undermines the fundamental principle that the press holds politicians to account."