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Leveson report: Newspapers reject press Royal Charter Leveson report: Newspapers reject press royal charter
(35 minutes later)
The newspaper industry is to reject cross-party press regulation plans, and will publish proposals for self-regulation backed by Royal Charter. The newspaper industry rejects cross-party press regulation plans, and publishes its own proposals for self-regulation backed by royal charter.
The three main political parties agreed to a royal charter last month in response to Lord Justice Leveson's report on press standards and ethics.The three main political parties agreed to a royal charter last month in response to Lord Justice Leveson's report on press standards and ethics.
They said an independent watchdog would be set up by Royal Charter with powers to issue fines and demand apologies. They said an independent watchdog would be set up by royal charter with powers to issue fines and demand apologies.
But newspapers argue that they had no say in the final discussions.But newspapers argue that they had no say in the final discussions.
According to a statement released by the Newspaper Society on behalf of the national and local newspaper industry, the industry said the Royal Charter published by the government on 18 March had been condemned by a "range of international media freedom organisations" and enjoys "no support within the press" in the UK. According to a statement released by the Newspaper Society on behalf of the national and local newspaper industry, the industry said the royal charter published by the government on 18 March had been condemned by a "range of international media freedom organisations" and enjoys "no support within the press" in the UK.
"A number of its recommendations are unworkable and it gives politicians an unacceptable degree of interference in the regulation of the press," warned the statement."A number of its recommendations are unworkable and it gives politicians an unacceptable degree of interference in the regulation of the press," warned the statement.
The industry's proposal is closely based on the draft Royal Charter published on 12 February following negotiations with national and local newspapers and magazines. 'Widespread backing'
The industry's proposal is closely based on the draft royal charter published on 12 February following negotiations with national and local newspapers and magazines.
The newspaper's alternative charter takes away powers from Parliament to block or approve future changes to regulation.
Instead the regulator, trade bodies and a "recognition panel" would need to agree to changes.
It removes a ban on former editors sitting on the recognition panel, which would recognise a regulator and requires at least one board member to have experience of the newspaper industry.
It would also be more difficult to bring group complaints than under the government's system.
The statement described it as "a workable, practical way to swiftly deliver the Leveson recommendations, which the industry accepts, without any form of state-sponsored regulation that would endanger freedom of speech".The statement described it as "a workable, practical way to swiftly deliver the Leveson recommendations, which the industry accepts, without any form of state-sponsored regulation that would endanger freedom of speech".
The statement said the new proposal has "widespread backing across the industry". It said the new proposal has "widespread backing across the industry".
Those who arranged the response said all national papers apart from the Guardian and Independent were signed up.Those who arranged the response said all national papers apart from the Guardian and Independent were signed up.
Industry sources told the BBC's political correspondent Ross Hawkins that the new press regulator would not apply for formal recognition under the government's royal charter plans.
This throws open the post-Leveson debate as politicians cannot force the papers to engage with their plan, our correspondent says.
'Stitch-up'
Peter Wright, editor emeritus of Associated Newspapers, told the BBC's World at One: "We recognise that the most important thing we have do is get an effective new regulator up and running, and we need to have the support of political parties in this. The clear preference is for a royal charter... that is in line with Leveson regulations."
He said the press were "deliberately excluded" from the final negotiations on the government's charter and it contained a number of measures that were "unworkable".
The press - in particular members of the regional press - did not feel they could sign up to it, he said.
Tony Gallagher, editor of the Daily Telegraph, tweeted his response: "Can anyone possibly be surprised we have rejected Lab-Lib-Hacked Off stitch up[?]"
The industry statement said the charter would deliver:
Lawyers representing the papers said they had formally petitioned the Privy Council, which meets next month, to consider the issue.