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 9 Version 10
Press regulation deal struck by parties - Labour 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 say. A deal has been struck between the three main political parties on measures to regulate the press, Labour's Harriet Harman says.
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 senior Tory minister on a new press watchdog.
But Tory Maria Miller said leaders still needed to discuss details.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.
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 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.
Ms Harman said a planned vote on the issue due to be held in the Commons later would not go ahead. The prime minister had opposed establishing a watchdog backed by law, but the other parties have pushed for it.
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.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.
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."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."
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.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 on Monday: "Yes, there is an agreement." Ms Harman said a planned vote on the issue due to be held in the Commons later would not go ahead.
She explained that "a small piece of legislation" in the enterprise and regulatory reform bill will be tabled in the Lords later, stating rules regarding royal charters cannot be tampered with. She told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "Yes, there is an agreement."
This "compromise clause" will not mention any specific charter, Leveson or the press, reports BBC political correspondent Norman Smith. 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.
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.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.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.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 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." 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."
Nick Robinson said the press had been being 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. 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.
'Greater powers' "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.
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. 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.
"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. But reacting to news of a political deal, one newspaper industry source told the BBC they were "instinctively uncomfortable" with it.
"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 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 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.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.
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.