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| Royal Charter for press regulation is delayed | |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A privy council meeting due in May will not consider parliament's proposed Royal Charter to create a system of press regulation, to allow the privy council time to consult on the alternative proposals put forward by parts of the newspaper industry. | A privy council meeting due in May will not consider parliament's proposed Royal Charter to create a system of press regulation, to allow the privy council time to consult on the alternative proposals put forward by parts of the newspaper industry. |
| The government's Royal Charter agreed following all party talks and endorsed by parliament was due to go in front of the Privy Council on 15 May. But the largest newspaper groups responded by publishing their own version and government sources feared ministers might be open to legal challenge if it did not consider the newspaper industry proposals. | The government's Royal Charter agreed following all party talks and endorsed by parliament was due to go in front of the Privy Council on 15 May. But the largest newspaper groups responded by publishing their own version and government sources feared ministers might be open to legal challenge if it did not consider the newspaper industry proposals. |
| The privy council, struggling in new constitutional territory, will now hold a three-week "period of openness" in which it will allow the public to respond to the industry Royal Charter. Following that three-week consultation, the privy council will spend a further 15 days considering the responses before deciding how to proceed. | The privy council, struggling in new constitutional territory, will now hold a three-week "period of openness" in which it will allow the public to respond to the industry Royal Charter. Following that three-week consultation, the privy council will spend a further 15 days considering the responses before deciding how to proceed. |
| Government sources said the decision on which Royal Charter to be selected will be set against specific criteria, including whether the charter submitted by many in the newspaper industry could be truly regarded as an industry proposal. The press charter was backed by News International and the publisher of the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph – but not by the owners of the Financial Times and the Guardian. | Government sources said the decision on which Royal Charter to be selected will be set against specific criteria, including whether the charter submitted by many in the newspaper industry could be truly regarded as an industry proposal. The press charter was backed by News International and the publisher of the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph – but not by the owners of the Financial Times and the Guardian. |
| One government source said it was difficult to see this proposal as coming from the entire industry since the press complaints commission has been disbanded, and not all newspapers have backed these proposals. However if the privy council does decide the industry proposal requires further consideration, the delay could be extensive. | One government source said it was difficult to see this proposal as coming from the entire industry since the press complaints commission has been disbanded, and not all newspapers have backed these proposals. However if the privy council does decide the industry proposal requires further consideration, the delay could be extensive. |
| Evan Harris, the associate direct or the victim's campaign Hacked Off said: "All three parties have promised to deliver a Royal Charter that is compliant with Leveson principles. Only one of these Royal Charters is compliant and this is the case by the mile. The victims expect all three parties to stand by their promises. Press reform has been overdue for decades and another delay for a further month can be borne". | Evan Harris, the associate direct or the victim's campaign Hacked Off said: "All three parties have promised to deliver a Royal Charter that is compliant with Leveson principles. Only one of these Royal Charters is compliant and this is the case by the mile. The victims expect all three parties to stand by their promises. Press reform has been overdue for decades and another delay for a further month can be borne". |
| Hacked Off said it had been reassured by senior figures in government that none of the political parties were going to abandon their support of the Royal Charter. | Hacked Off said it had been reassured by senior figures in government that none of the political parties were going to abandon their support of the Royal Charter. |
| The two blueprints on the future of press regulation will now be considered by the privy council in June, on a date yet to be decided. A public consultation on the industry's breakaway proposals is open until 25 May. | The two blueprints on the future of press regulation will now be considered by the privy council in June, on a date yet to be decided. A public consultation on the industry's breakaway proposals is open until 25 May. |
| In a statement on Friday, the Newspaper Society, on behalf of the newspaper and magazine industry, welcomed the government's announcement. | In a statement on Friday, the Newspaper Society, on behalf of the newspaper and magazine industry, welcomed the government's announcement. |
| It said: "We have always said the Independent Royal Charter would be open to consultation and are confident it will receive the widespread public support shown in opinion polls. | It said: "We have always said the Independent Royal Charter would be open to consultation and are confident it will receive the widespread public support shown in opinion polls. |
| "It already has the backing of the vast majority of the newspaper and magazine industry." | "It already has the backing of the vast majority of the newspaper and magazine industry." |
| The government's decision to postpone the privy council discussion comes just two days after the industry formally submitted its own royal charter for press regulation to the office. The privy council office is taking advice from culture secretary, Maria Miller, about both submissions. | The government's decision to postpone the privy council discussion comes just two days after the industry formally submitted its own royal charter for press regulation to the office. The privy council office is taking advice from culture secretary, Maria Miller, about both submissions. |
| The industry argues that its proposals would meet the recommendations of Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press standards and would impose a tough and independent system of press regulation, while keeping newspapers and magazines free from state-sponsored controls and the interference of politicians. | The industry argues that its proposals would meet the recommendations of Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press standards and would impose a tough and independent system of press regulation, while keeping newspapers and magazines free from state-sponsored controls and the interference of politicians. |
| The industry plan - unveiled in a surprise announcement on 25 April by the Newspaper Society, Newspaper Publishers Association, Professional Publishers Association and Scottish Newspaper Society - won backing from a number of senior politicians including London Mayor Boris Johnson, who said it "keeps the best of Leveson but free from political interference" and Commons Culture Committee chairman John Whittingdale, who said Prime Minister David Cameron should take it "very seriously". | The industry plan - unveiled in a surprise announcement on 25 April by the Newspaper Society, Newspaper Publishers Association, Professional Publishers Association and Scottish Newspaper Society - won backing from a number of senior politicians including London Mayor Boris Johnson, who said it "keeps the best of Leveson but free from political interference" and Commons Culture Committee chairman John Whittingdale, who said Prime Minister David Cameron should take it "very seriously". |
| One of the lead editors behind the industry's blueprint – the acting Times editor, John Witherow, earlier this week provided hope of a way out of the current impasse by saying publishers are still open to negotiations with politicians. | One of the lead editors behind the industry's blueprint – the acting Times editor, John Witherow, earlier this week provided hope of a way out of the current impasse by saying publishers are still open to negotiations with politicians. |