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Coalition in behind-the-scenes battle over royal charter on press regulation Coalition in behind-the-scenes battle over royal charter on press regulation
(3 months later)
A behind-the-scenes battle between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats has forced Maria Miller, the culture secretary, to keep open the possibility that the cross-party version of the royal charter on press regulation will be put to the privy council next week.A behind-the-scenes battle between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats has forced Maria Miller, the culture secretary, to keep open the possibility that the cross-party version of the royal charter on press regulation will be put to the privy council next week.
In a written ministerial statement Miller makes reference only to the industry version of the charter being considered at a meeting of the privy council on 8 July. But it is understood that following legal and political exchanges between the coalition parties, it is still to be decided whether the tougher cross-party-endorsed royal charter will be submitted next week alongside the charter prepared by the industry.In a written ministerial statement Miller makes reference only to the industry version of the charter being considered at a meeting of the privy council on 8 July. But it is understood that following legal and political exchanges between the coalition parties, it is still to be decided whether the tougher cross-party-endorsed royal charter will be submitted next week alongside the charter prepared by the industry.
Legal arguments are continuing at high levels of government on whether the privy council can have two versions of a royal charter to consider at the same time. Miller has been receiving strong legal advice that the industry's version has to be considered first since it was submitted first on 30 April and two versions cannot be considered at the same meeting.Legal arguments are continuing at high levels of government on whether the privy council can have two versions of a royal charter to consider at the same time. Miller has been receiving strong legal advice that the industry's version has to be considered first since it was submitted first on 30 April and two versions cannot be considered at the same meeting.
It had been expected and Conservative sources had said that only the industry version of the royal charter would be considered and then handed to a sub-committee of the privy council for consideration. This would have meant the cross-party version of the charter would be pushed back until the autumn, nearly six months after it was accepted by parliament on 18 March.It had been expected and Conservative sources had said that only the industry version of the royal charter would be considered and then handed to a sub-committee of the privy council for consideration. This would have meant the cross-party version of the charter would be pushed back until the autumn, nearly six months after it was accepted by parliament on 18 March.
The industry version was submitted first partly because the government needed to complete consultations with the Scottish government and the commissioner for public appointments.The industry version was submitted first partly because the government needed to complete consultations with the Scottish government and the commissioner for public appointments.
But the Liberal Democrats, advised by Hacked Off's barristers, have challenged this advice, saying the delay is not necessary.But the Liberal Democrats, advised by Hacked Off's barristers, have challenged this advice, saying the delay is not necessary.
There are strong suspicions in Labour and Liberal Democrat circles that with the general election drawing closer, the Tories are playing for time by trying to reassure press proprietors that no fundamental reforms will be implemented in this parliament. In all public statements, Cameron and Miller continue to defend the cross-party version of the royal charter. But the Liberal Democrats have warned they will not tolerate any further delays. They argue that it will not look good for the government in the autumn if a series of criminal trials related to phone hacking start and it emerges that the government has lost its press reforms in the thicket of procedures over the passage of royal charters. It was the Conservatives who insisted that the reforms could be implemented via royal charter rather than statute in order to ensure the independence of the press from state interference.There are strong suspicions in Labour and Liberal Democrat circles that with the general election drawing closer, the Tories are playing for time by trying to reassure press proprietors that no fundamental reforms will be implemented in this parliament. In all public statements, Cameron and Miller continue to defend the cross-party version of the royal charter. But the Liberal Democrats have warned they will not tolerate any further delays. They argue that it will not look good for the government in the autumn if a series of criminal trials related to phone hacking start and it emerges that the government has lost its press reforms in the thicket of procedures over the passage of royal charters. It was the Conservatives who insisted that the reforms could be implemented via royal charter rather than statute in order to ensure the independence of the press from state interference.
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