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| Newspapers' press regulation plans rejected | Newspapers' press regulation plans rejected |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Newspaper industry proposals for a royal charter covering press regulation have been rejected, Culture Secretary Maria Miller has told the Commons. | Newspaper industry proposals for a royal charter covering press regulation have been rejected, Culture Secretary Maria Miller has told the Commons. |
| She said they did not comply with some "important" principles of the Leveson report on press regulation, such as independence and access to arbitration. | She said they did not comply with some "important" principles of the Leveson report on press regulation, such as independence and access to arbitration. |
| The alternative plans proposed by the government after cross-party talks would now be "improved", she added. | The alternative plans proposed by the government after cross-party talks would now be "improved", she added. |
| Ministers were said to be willing to consider some of the industry's ideas. | Ministers were said to be willing to consider some of the industry's ideas. |
| The charter agreed by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour, and backed by Parliament in March, will now be put forward for approval at a specially convened meeting of the Privy Council on 30 October, Mrs Miller said. | The charter agreed by the Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Labour, and backed by Parliament in March, will now be put forward for approval at a specially convened meeting of the Privy Council on 30 October, Mrs Miller said. |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said the decision to reject the industry plans was taken by four Tories and two Lib Dems in the Privy Council - a cross-party, governmental advisory body - and it had been clear for some time that they felt the industry proposals were not independent enough. | |
| But government sources have told the BBC they are seeking "workable press regulation". | |
| Our political editor said there was a fear at ministerial level of a possible a legal challenge by newspapers to the Privy Council decision and if the press take it in too contentious a way, the Queen may refuse to formally sign the royal charter. | |
| Campaign group Hacked Off said the rejection of the industry's charter was "long overdue". | |
| Its director Brian Cathcart said: "This is a solution to a long-standing problem affecting many, many ordinary people... | |
| "It is time now [the press] stepped up and accepted what is a workable, fair solution that poses no threat whatsoever to freedom of expression in this country." | |
| Press regulation options were proposed in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry, which was set up in July 2011 after it emerged journalists working for the now-closed News of the World had hacked into the mobile phone of murdered Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler. | Press regulation options were proposed in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry, which was set up in July 2011 after it emerged journalists working for the now-closed News of the World had hacked into the mobile phone of murdered Surrey schoolgirl Milly Dowler. |
| But politicians and the newspapers have clashed over the details of a royal charter - a formal document used to establish and lay out the terms of a body - to underpin a new press regulator. | But politicians and the newspapers have clashed over the details of a royal charter - a formal document used to establish and lay out the terms of a body - to underpin a new press regulator. |
| 'Once-in-a-generation opportunity' | 'Once-in-a-generation opportunity' |
| The government's proposals, published in March, have cross-party backing and the support of campaign group Hacked Off. | The government's proposals, published in March, have cross-party backing and the support of campaign group Hacked Off. |
| The industry's plans for an alternative royal charter were formally proposed by the majority of the UK's newspaper groups amid concerns the government charter gave politicians too much power. | The industry's plans for an alternative royal charter were formally proposed by the majority of the UK's newspaper groups amid concerns the government charter gave politicians too much power. |
| It was considered by a sub-committee of the Privy Council on Monday. | It was considered by a sub-committee of the Privy Council on Monday. |
| Mrs Miller told MPs: "The Committee of the Privy Council is unable to recommend the press's proposal for a royal charter be granted. | Mrs Miller told MPs: "The Committee of the Privy Council is unable to recommend the press's proposal for a royal charter be granted. |
| "Whilst there are areas where it is acceptable, it is unable to comply with some important Leveson principles and government policy." | "Whilst there are areas where it is acceptable, it is unable to comply with some important Leveson principles and government policy." |
| But she said the committee had identified issues where the cross-party charter could be improved, including arbitration and the editors' code of conduct. | |
| Mrs Miller told MPs: "We have an opportunity to take a final look at our charter, an opportunity to bring all parties together and ensure that the final charter is both workable and effective. | Mrs Miller told MPs: "We have an opportunity to take a final look at our charter, an opportunity to bring all parties together and ensure that the final charter is both workable and effective. |
| "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get this right. We all want it to be the best we can do to give individuals access to redress whilst safeguarding this country's free press which forms such a vital part of our democracy." | "We have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to get this right. We all want it to be the best we can do to give individuals access to redress whilst safeguarding this country's free press which forms such a vital part of our democracy." |
| But Spectator magazine editor Fraser Nelson, writing in a blog on the publication's website, said it would "have no part in any government-mandated regulator" for the press. | |
| "Spectator readers would be appalled if we signed up to some kind of regulatory hierarchy which had politicians at the top," he said. | |
| "They expect us to be holding these guys to account, not dancing to their tune." | |
| New press regulator: Proposals compared | |
| Political involvement: | |
| "Recognition" panel: | |
| Appointments process: | |
| Corrections and apologies: | |
| Arbitration: |