Leveson 'can't comment' on press regulation proposals

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24482945

Version 0 of 1.

The judge who carried out the public inquiry into press standards has told MPs he does not think he should comment on proposals for press regulation.

Lord Justice Leveson told the Culture, Media and Sport Committee that, as a judge, he could not comment on an issue of political controversy.

Newspapers and MPs have failed to agree on how press regulation should work since Sir Brian produced his report.

It recommended a tougher form of self-regulation backed by legislation.

Asked by MPs whether rival proposals put forward by the government and the newspaper industry complied with his recommendations, Lord Leveson said he could not go beyond what he had said in his report, which was published last November.

"I don't think I could do it because I would be entering into a political argument. I could legitimately be criticised for reaching conclusions about matters on which I had not heard evidence or listened to the contrary argument," he said.

"If you ask me to pick and choose then I come into the problem I'd need to know why, I'd need evidence, I'd need submissions. That's how I work, it is a judicial exercise for me and I've finished, and I don't have any authority to do that," he added.

However Lord Leveson said it was "fundamental" for any UK press regulation to reflect "legitimate concerns" of victims of press intrusion.

'Stuck'

His comments came after committee chairman John Whittingdale voiced his "frustration" over Lord Leveson's refusal to comment.

"We have reached a position where the prime minister told me essentially we are stuck. Both sides are arguing that their version delivers your recommendations, that they will establish a system which is essentially Leveson system.

"You are somebody who has spent 15 months taking evidence, you are the head of an inquiry that cost £5m, you took evidence from a huge range of people. It would be enormously helpful if in terms of trying to resolve these differences and trying to get an agreement if we could at least get your view on that subject," he said.

On Tuesday, Culture Secretary Maria 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.

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.

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

The public, judge-led inquiry examined the culture, practice and ethics of the press.

New press regulator: Proposals compared

Political involvement:

"Recognition" panel:

Appointments process:

Corrections and apologies:

Arbitration: