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| David Cameron's dilemma over rival press regulation plan | David Cameron's dilemma over rival press regulation plan |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| David Cameron is facing an acute political dilemma after the majority of the newspaper industry, made up of five of the country's largest press groups, rejected cross-party plans for newspaper regulation and launched an audacious bid to set up their own royal charter-backed body. | David Cameron is facing an acute political dilemma after the majority of the newspaper industry, made up of five of the country's largest press groups, rejected cross-party plans for newspaper regulation and launched an audacious bid to set up their own royal charter-backed body. |
| News International, the publisher of the Sun and Times, the Telegraph Media Group, the Daily Mail's publisher Associated Newspapers, Trinity Mirror and Express Newspapers published a draft royal charter saying they rejected the "stitch-up" put together by the three political parties. | News International, the publisher of the Sun and Times, the Telegraph Media Group, the Daily Mail's publisher Associated Newspapers, Trinity Mirror and Express Newspapers published a draft royal charter saying they rejected the "stitch-up" put together by the three political parties. |
| The newspapers said the original government royal charter unveiled on 15 March and endorsed by parliament "has no support within the press". They went on: "A number of its recommendations are unworkable and it gives politicians an unacceptable degree of interference in the regulation of the press." | The newspapers said the original government royal charter unveiled on 15 March and endorsed by parliament "has no support within the press". They went on: "A number of its recommendations are unworkable and it gives politicians an unacceptable degree of interference in the regulation of the press." |
| The move divided senior figures in the Conservative party but was dismissed by the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the victims' campaign group Hacked Off. | The move divided senior figures in the Conservative party but was dismissed by the Liberal Democrats, Labour and the victims' campaign group Hacked Off. |
| Boris Johnson, the London mayor, supported the industry's plan as did the Conservative chair of the culture select committee, John Whittingdale. | Boris Johnson, the London mayor, supported the industry's plan as did the Conservative chair of the culture select committee, John Whittingdale. |
| David Cameron said he was very happy to look at the proposals and his aides said he needed time to examine the gaps between what the parties had agreed and the industry was proposing. | David Cameron said he was very happy to look at the proposals and his aides said he needed time to examine the gaps between what the parties had agreed and the industry was proposing. |
| But a spokesman for the culture department stood firm by the original plans endorsed by the Commons and Lords: "We want to see a tough, independent self-regulator implemented swiftly. The royal charter published on 18 March followed 21 weeks of discussion and has cross-party agreement." | But a spokesman for the culture department stood firm by the original plans endorsed by the Commons and Lords: "We want to see a tough, independent self-regulator implemented swiftly. The royal charter published on 18 March followed 21 weeks of discussion and has cross-party agreement." |
| Aides to the culture secretary, Maria Miller, suggested the government was not going to abandon its plans, indicating the original royal charter would still be sent to be sealed by the privy council on 15 May. They ridiculed suggestions the industry had been excluded from the discussions. | Aides to the culture secretary, Maria Miller, suggested the government was not going to abandon its plans, indicating the original royal charter would still be sent to be sealed by the privy council on 15 May. They ridiculed suggestions the industry had been excluded from the discussions. |
| The sources added the government proposal had always allowed for the industry not to participate in the proposed system of voluntary self-regulation, but there would be steep consequences further down the line with law-breaking newspapers that hadn't joined facing higher costs and exemplary damages. On the current timetable, newspapers not co-operating with a recognised regulator would be exposed to the risk of these exemplary damages, probably from autumn 2014. | The sources added the government proposal had always allowed for the industry not to participate in the proposed system of voluntary self-regulation, but there would be steep consequences further down the line with law-breaking newspapers that hadn't joined facing higher costs and exemplary damages. On the current timetable, newspapers not co-operating with a recognised regulator would be exposed to the risk of these exemplary damages, probably from autumn 2014. |
| The Conservatives were urged by the shadow culture secretary, Harriet Harman, not to succumb to newspaper pressure. "The royal charter implements Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations," she said. "It was supported unanimously by the Commons and had the full backing of the Lords. The important thing is that we get on with implementation." | The Conservatives were urged by the shadow culture secretary, Harriet Harman, not to succumb to newspaper pressure. "The royal charter implements Lord Justice Leveson's recommendations," she said. "It was supported unanimously by the Commons and had the full backing of the Lords. The important thing is that we get on with implementation." |
| The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said: "The royal charter is still going to go ahead, and I hope the newspapers will sign up to it." | The Labour leader, Ed Miliband, said: "The royal charter is still going to go ahead, and I hope the newspapers will sign up to it." |
| Evan Harris, associate director of Hacked Off, was scathing. "A section of the industry is sticking two fingers up to their victims, to the public, to parliament, to their readers and to the senior judge who conducted a year-long inquiry. | Evan Harris, associate director of Hacked Off, was scathing. "A section of the industry is sticking two fingers up to their victims, to the public, to parliament, to their readers and to the senior judge who conducted a year-long inquiry. |
| "The royal charter agreed by parliament is not going to be reopened at the request of Mr Murdoch, Mr Desmond and Mr Dacre. This is a temper tantrum by some powerful people used to having their own way and they will in due course see that the voluntary independent self-regulation proposed by Leveson is a generous settlement." | "The royal charter agreed by parliament is not going to be reopened at the request of Mr Murdoch, Mr Desmond and Mr Dacre. This is a temper tantrum by some powerful people used to having their own way and they will in due course see that the voluntary independent self-regulation proposed by Leveson is a generous settlement." |
| But behind the tough responses, Cameron's aides are aware that without a critical mass of support for the system of regulation the original royal charter may be unworkable. Any new regulatory system also needs to be funded by the newspaper industry. | But behind the tough responses, Cameron's aides are aware that without a critical mass of support for the system of regulation the original royal charter may be unworkable. Any new regulatory system also needs to be funded by the newspaper industry. |
| The newspapers' rival royal charter differs in many respects from the plans painfully agreed by the parties. It does not include the government proposal, championed by Cameron's policy tsar, Oliver Letwin, that the charter could be dissolved only with a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of parliament. It also reinstates the right of the newspaper industry sitting on an appointments committee to veto members of the regulator board, as well as to block changes to the charter. It would also reintroduce the right of former newspaper editors and political peers to sit on the regulator board. | The newspapers' rival royal charter differs in many respects from the plans painfully agreed by the parties. It does not include the government proposal, championed by Cameron's policy tsar, Oliver Letwin, that the charter could be dissolved only with a two-thirds majority vote of both houses of parliament. It also reinstates the right of the newspaper industry sitting on an appointments committee to veto members of the regulator board, as well as to block changes to the charter. It would also reintroduce the right of former newspaper editors and political peers to sit on the regulator board. |
| The right of the regulator to direct, as opposed to require, apologies is also removed. Plans for an arbitration process for civil legal claims are watered down. | The right of the regulator to direct, as opposed to require, apologies is also removed. Plans for an arbitration process for civil legal claims are watered down. |
| Peter Wright, Associated Newspapers' executive tasked with dealing with Leveson negotiations, said he had spoken to editors of the Guardian and the Financial Times and they both thought it was "a good idea to get the ball rolling" but said no editor "has signed up on the specifics". | Peter Wright, Associated Newspapers' executive tasked with dealing with Leveson negotiations, said he had spoken to editors of the Guardian and the Financial Times and they both thought it was "a good idea to get the ball rolling" but said no editor "has signed up on the specifics". |
| The managing editor of the Sun, Richard Caseby, said the government-sponsored charter, was draconian and "bodged together" while Cameron was asleep. He said: "It meant that the state would ultimately have the final say in what newspapers write." A Mirror spokesman said: "We are supporting this industry-wide proposal." | The managing editor of the Sun, Richard Caseby, said the government-sponsored charter, was draconian and "bodged together" while Cameron was asleep. He said: "It meant that the state would ultimately have the final say in what newspapers write." A Mirror spokesman said: "We are supporting this industry-wide proposal." |
| Chris Blackhurst, the Independent editor, said he did not object to the move for a rival royal charter. The lack of independence from the newspaper industry could be a stumbling block, he added. "I have always taken the view that in the end the politicians would decide on press regulation. We have to come up with a system that is acceptable to them. Leveson used the phrase 'independent self-regulation'. That word 'independent' is crucial. If it's not independent, it won't be acceptable. As an industry we should be far more pragmatic than we are being." | Chris Blackhurst, the Independent editor, said he did not object to the move for a rival royal charter. The lack of independence from the newspaper industry could be a stumbling block, he added. "I have always taken the view that in the end the politicians would decide on press regulation. We have to come up with a system that is acceptable to them. Leveson used the phrase 'independent self-regulation'. That word 'independent' is crucial. If it's not independent, it won't be acceptable. As an industry we should be far more pragmatic than we are being." |
| The Guardian, along with the Independent and the FT was not consulted about the proposals, but said some of its ideas over entrenching the regulator may be workable. But not "if, as proposed, the newspapers still have the power to veto even the 'independent' members of the new regulator. That was dismissed as ridiculous by MPs, yet here it is again. That does not look like consensus building." | The Guardian, along with the Independent and the FT was not consulted about the proposals, but said some of its ideas over entrenching the regulator may be workable. But not "if, as proposed, the newspapers still have the power to veto even the 'independent' members of the new regulator. That was dismissed as ridiculous by MPs, yet here it is again. That does not look like consensus building." |
| The Guardian editor in chief, Alan Rusbridger, said the issue was whether "this was an act of defiance or constructive engagement", adding he would like a high-powered mediator appointed to strike a deal between newspapers and politicians. | The Guardian editor in chief, Alan Rusbridger, said the issue was whether "this was an act of defiance or constructive engagement", adding he would like a high-powered mediator appointed to strike a deal between newspapers and politicians. |
| Bob Satchwell, the executive director of the Society of Editors, said: "Any self-regulatory system, which is what Leveson recommended, has to be capable of earning the respect of the public and of the industry. | |
| "It must of course be independent and have strengthened powers to meet the Leveson criteria but it cannot be simply imposed on the industry without any involvement in the way it is set up. | |
| "Hacked Off and other opponents simply missed the point that the press is not just one publishing company or, indeed, national papers. It includes 1,100 regional papers and hundreds of magazines which had nothing to answer for and which the inquiry praised as a vital public service." |