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 6 Version 7
Press regulation deal struck, says Labour's Harman Press regulation deal struck by parties - Labour
(35 minutes 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's Harriet Harman say.
It comes after talks were held overnight between the Lib Dem and Labour leaders and a Cabinet Office minister on a new press watchdog.It comes after talks were held overnight between the Lib Dem and Labour leaders and a Cabinet Office minister on a new press watchdog.
Ms Harman also said that the planned vote on the issue due to be held in the Commons later will not go ahead. The deal involves ensuring that a royal charter cannot be tampered with.
Full details of the deal are still to be revealed. Labour's Harriet Harman said a planned vote on the issue due to be held in the Commons later will not go ahead.
The prime minister had opposed establishing a watchdog backed by law, but the other parties have pushed for it.The prime minister had opposed establishing a watchdog backed by law, but the other parties have pushed for it.
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.
The BBC's Nick Robinson said Labour and the Liberal Democrats had appeared to have accepted a watered-down version of their demands for full legal underpinning of a royal charter establishing a new watchdog.
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 told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yes, there is an agreement."
She explained that "a small piece of legislation" to the enterprise and regulatory reform bill will be tabled in the Lords later, stating rules regarding royal charters cannot be tampered with.
This "compromise clause" will 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.
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".
'Greater powers'
Former Conservative MP Louise Mensch said a new regulator not bolstered by the law would still be more powerful than the Press Complaints Commission - the self-regulating body which upholds its own editors' code of practice, and judges complaints about newspapers and magazines against the code.
"For a start off you'd have more independent people sitting on the board, you'd have far greater powers to fine, apologies would be more prominent.
"I can remember when I had a run-in with one newspaper - a News International paper - they said they weren't going to provide the transcript of the interview because it backed up my case. That kind of thing won't be allowed to happen under the new regulator."
The PCC has already agreed to move into a "transitional phase" until a long-term replacement can be established, and the UK newspaper and magazine industry has been working on a new regulatory system.
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.