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Hugh Grant warns ministers against press 'betrayal' Hugh Grant warns ministers against press 'betrayal'
(about 7 hours later)
Actor Hugh Grant has said any "further compromise" by ministers over press regulation would be a "betrayal of the promises" made to media abuse victims.Actor Hugh Grant has said any "further compromise" by ministers over press regulation would be a "betrayal of the promises" made to media abuse victims.
He said the government was "terrified of the press" and was doing all it could "to oblige the press barons".He said the government was "terrified of the press" and was doing all it could "to oblige the press barons".
On Tuesday Culture Secretary Maria Miller said newspapers' proposals for regulation had been rejected.On Tuesday Culture Secretary Maria Miller said newspapers' proposals for regulation had been rejected.
But she suggested the government was willing to consider some of the ideas put forward by publishers.But she suggested the government was willing to consider some of the ideas put forward by publishers.
Mr Grant, a member of the Hacked Off campaign, accused senior Tories of an "abuse of democracy" by trying to "sabotage" plans for a royal charter agreed by all parties in Parliament.Mr Grant, a member of the Hacked Off campaign, accused senior Tories of an "abuse of democracy" by trying to "sabotage" plans for a royal charter agreed by all parties in Parliament.
The report of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards recommended a tougher form of self-regulation backed by legislation, and Mr Grant said any suggestion such a system would limit free speech was "propaganda on the part of the press".The report of the Leveson Inquiry into press standards recommended a tougher form of self-regulation backed by legislation, and Mr Grant said any suggestion such a system would limit free speech was "propaganda on the part of the press".
He said some of the main newspaper groups "refuse to accept any system which would make them accountable for any of their actions".He said some of the main newspaper groups "refuse to accept any system which would make them accountable for any of their actions".
Mr Grant said Lord Leveson had made "very mild" recommendations but the press was determined to "mark its own homework".Mr Grant said Lord Leveson had made "very mild" recommendations but the press was determined to "mark its own homework".
He said victims of press abuse, such as the families of Madeleine McCann and Milly Dowler, had been told by David Cameron that new rules would protect people from the press.He said victims of press abuse, such as the families of Madeleine McCann and Milly Dowler, had been told by David Cameron that new rules would protect people from the press.
"Any further compromise would be a betrayal of the promises made by the secretary of state and above all by the prime minister to them," Mr Grant added."Any further compromise would be a betrayal of the promises made by the secretary of state and above all by the prime minister to them," Mr Grant added.
Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, said Ms Miller was simply talking about "tidying up" press regulation plans.Bob Satchwell, executive director of the Society of Editors, said Ms Miller was simply talking about "tidying up" press regulation plans.
He said the minister agreed with Lord Leveson that a regulation system forced on the press without its consent would be "unworkable".He said the minister agreed with Lord Leveson that a regulation system forced on the press without its consent would be "unworkable".
On Tuesday Ms Miller announced that the Privy Council - an ancient body which advises the Queen, mostly made up of senior politicians - had rejected press proposals for a royal charter.On Tuesday Ms Miller announced that the Privy Council - an ancient body which advises the Queen, mostly made up of senior politicians - had rejected press proposals for a royal charter.
She referred to principles in the Leveson report such as independence and access to arbitration and said an alternative plan would now be "improved", adding that ministers were said to be willing to consider some of the industry's ideas.She referred to principles in the Leveson report such as independence and access to arbitration and said an alternative plan would now be "improved", adding that ministers were said to be willing to consider some of the industry's ideas.
Changes will now be made to the alternative plan backed by politicians and campaigners, and the Privy Council's decision is expected on 30 October.Changes will now be made to the alternative plan backed by politicians and campaigners, and the Privy Council's decision is expected on 30 October.
Roger Alton, executive editor of the Times, later said newspapers could take legal action in the European courts against new rules. Meanwhile, Times editor John Witherow has said the newspaper and magazine industry still intended to "go ahead and set up a self-regulation body".
He told the BBC's Newsnight programme the proposed system would be an "unjust law". In July, the industry set out a draft constitution for an Independent Press Standards Organisation which included plans for a whistleblowers' hotline for journalists and a standards and compliance arm "with investigative powers to call editors to account".
"What we don't want to have is a statutory body because that is essentially the end of 300 years of a free press," he said. "Whether we put it up for recognition is something we can deal with further down the road but we intend to apply the criteria we put out in our royal charter for the self-regulation," Mr Witherow told BBC Radio 4's The Media Show.
Mr Alton appeared on Newsnight in a personal capacity, not as a representative of his newspaper. "We may well see if we set this up, when we set it up, that it works effectively and the political parties might change their mind."
'Bridgeable gap'
Mr Witherow said the government's plans for the royal charter to have the potential to be amended by Parliament - but only if there was a two-thirds majority in both houses - was "a fundamental stumbling block" to agreement between the political parties and the press.
"Via this version, if we want to make any changes to this regulation we have to go back to Parliament and it requires a two-thirds majority in both houses of Parliament to make those changes.
"So you can imagine the time it would take to do that and even getting a two-thirds majority is such a mountain to climb, it's almost inconceivable how it could be achieved."
Guardian editor Alan Rusbridger, meanwhile, said there was a "bridgeable" gap between the political parties and newspapers on regulation which "could probably be done in a day".
"My sense is that the politicians are willing to amend some of the things that the press found problematic in the original charter," he told Radio 4's The World at One.
Options for the self-regulation of the press were proposed in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry, 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.Options for the self-regulation of the press were proposed in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry, 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.
Lord Justice Leveson gave evidence to a House of Lords select committee on Wednesday and is due to face questions from MPs on the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on Thursday.
It is unclear whether he will be prepared to discuss the continuing disagreements over press regulation.
"Under no circumstances was it, or is it, appropriate for a serving judge to be involved in a political debate," he told the Lords committee on Wednesday.
"It is why I have repeatedly said that I would not participate in continued discussions about the subject matter of my inquiry.
"I've made my recommendations - that's what they were - it's for others to pick them up and decide how best to go forward."
New press regulator: Proposals comparedNew press regulator: Proposals compared
Political involvement:Political involvement:
"Recognition" panel:"Recognition" panel:
Appointments process:Appointments process:
Corrections and apologies:Corrections and apologies:
Arbitration:Arbitration: