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Press regulation royal charter delayed by ministers Press regulation royal charter delayed by ministers
(35 minutes later)
A royal charter to underpin a new system of press regulation following the Leveson report will be delayed, Downing Street has said. Cross-party proposals for a royal charter to underpin press regulation following the Leveson report are to be delayed, Downing Street has said.
Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, as Lord President of the Privy Council, had been due to present the charter to the Queen for approval on 15 May. The Privy Council was due to consider the plans on 15 May but it will now first consider separate plans proposed by some newspapers for self-regulation with a lesser role for the state.
This will allow more time for consideration of alternative royal charter proposals put forward by newspapers and magazines. Government sources said the council's rules meant it could not consider two proposals at the same time.
The industry welcomed the announcement.The industry welcomed the announcement.
'Period of openness'
Its proposals are open for comment on the Privy Council website until 23 May.
The Privy Council will then consider these proposals, which are backed by most but not all newspapers, and consider the plans agreed by the political parties later.
Government sources told BBC deputy political editor James Landale that the Privy Council would hold "a period of openness" for three weeks to allow the public to comment before deciding whether to hold a full eight-week consultation over the newspapers' plans.
They said it meant the cross-party plans were more likely be considered by the council in either June or July.
The sources said the move effectively gave all sides more time to consider the various plans - in particular more time for the newspapers to see if they could find a position that could be agreed by all of them, and to try to persuade Labour and the Liberal Democrats to support their plan.
They said the decision did not mean the government was giving up on cross-party royal charter.
'Public support''Public support'
A spokeswoman for Number 10 said it "made sense" that both versions should be considered. There are a number of key differences between the industry's plan for press regulation for England and Wales and that agreed by politicians and campaigners. They:
There are a number of key differences with the plan for press regulation for England and Wales agreed by politicians and campaigners.
Newspaper bosses have said their proposals would introduce a rigorous system of regulation but keep the press free from state interference.Newspaper bosses have said their proposals would introduce a rigorous system of regulation but keep the press free from state interference.
In a statement in response to the latest announcement, they 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.In a statement in response to the latest announcement, they 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."
Ethics and standards
These proposals are supported by most of the country's national, regional and local newspapers and magazines.These proposals are supported by most of the country's national, regional and local newspapers and magazines.
The Guardian and the Independent are the only two national newspaper titles out of 11 that have not signed up.The Guardian and the Independent are the only two national newspaper titles out of 11 that have not signed up.
It has been supported by some politicians, including London Mayor Boris Johnson and Commons culture committee chairman John Whittingdale.It has been supported by some politicians, including London Mayor Boris Johnson and Commons culture committee chairman John Whittingdale.
But campaign group Hacked Off has accused the industry of "unilaterally rejecting" the findings of the Leveson Inquiry.But campaign group Hacked Off has accused the industry of "unilaterally rejecting" the findings of the Leveson Inquiry.
The inquiry was set up to investigate press ethics and standards in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World.The inquiry was set up to investigate press ethics and standards in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal at the News of the World.