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Press regulation: Main parties agree deal Press regulation: Main parties agree deal
(35 minutes later)
The three main political parties have agreed a deal on press regulation. A Royal Charter aimed at underpinning self-regulation of the press has been published by the government.
It follows months of wrangling since Sir Brian Leveson published his report into the ethics and practices of the press.It follows months of wrangling since Sir Brian Leveson published his report into the ethics and practices of the press.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the deal would safeguard the freedom of the press and the future of local papers.Culture Secretary Maria Miller said the deal would safeguard the freedom of the press and the future of local papers.
BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the agreed draft could become a formal Royal Charter by the end of October. But the industry said the proposals could neither be described as "voluntary or independent".
The BBC's media correspondent David Sillito said the draft's proposals included: BBC political correspondent Ross Hawkins said the agreed draft could become a formal Royal Charter by the end of October - although some newspapers look set to go it alone.
But he added there had been no change on the industry's "red-line issue" - the involvement of politicians in making changes to the system. As one magazine immediately rejected the plan, Labour called on the newspaper industry to "engage" with the new system and said there must be "no press boycott".
Some newspapers have proposed their own, rival system of self-regulation. The all-party draft's proposals include:
One editor, Chris Blackhurst from the Independent, told the BBC the press would not support the Westminster parties' plan. It comes following a deadlock between the press and politicians over what a new system of self-regulation would look like.
Some in the newspaper industry feared the Westminster proposals would give politicians too much power.
And while the culture secretary said the draft charter included "some really important changes" in an attempt to appease the press, she said there would be no movement on proposals for how regulation system could be amended in the future.
The all-party charter states that changes could only be made with a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Asked on BBC Radio 4's PM programme if this was up for negotiation, she said: "No, that lock has to be in place. I think that's a fundamental way we keep this new system of self-regulation independent of government either now or in the future."
She added: "I'm very clear that we've published a final draft today but if there are things that come forward which all three parties feel merit attention then of course we'll be looking at that."
There is now likely to be a clash between the press and politicians as some newspapers go it alone and set up their own system of regulation.
The industry steering group - which represents publishers - said the all-party draft proposals were neither "voluntary or independent."
'Don't they understand?'
One magazine - a long-standing opponent of reforming the regulatory system - rejected the draft almost immediately.
"What part of 'no' don't they understand?" wrote the Spectator's Fraser Nelson.
And Chris Blackhurst editor of the Independent, told the BBC the press would not support the Westminster parties' plan.
"They still think it involves politicians overseeing our industry and they don't want that at any price," he said."They still think it involves politicians overseeing our industry and they don't want that at any price," he said.
"It's a great threat that some newspapers... will try and go it alone.""It's a great threat that some newspapers... will try and go it alone."
Media commentator Stuart Purvis added: "This is the moment of truth really for the newspaper industry."Media commentator Stuart Purvis added: "This is the moment of truth really for the newspaper industry."
'No threat' 'No Boycott'
Campaigners said changes to the draft proposals meant there was no reason for the press to refuse to back the charter.Campaigners said changes to the draft proposals meant there was no reason for the press to refuse to back the charter.
"The way is now open to create a system of independent, effective press self-regulation that will benefit the public and poses no threat whatever to freedom of expression," said Brian Cathcart from the Hacked Off group."The way is now open to create a system of independent, effective press self-regulation that will benefit the public and poses no threat whatever to freedom of expression," said Brian Cathcart from the Hacked Off group.
Sir Brian's inquiry was set-up following public and political anger at phone-hacking, which culminated in the emergence that the now defunct News of the World had accessed the voicemail messages of murdered teenager Milly Dowler. Sir Brian Leveson's inquiry was set-up following public and political anger at phone-hacking, which culminated in the emergence that the now defunct News of the World had accessed the voicemail messages of murdered teenager Milly Dowler.
The agreement came as a result of talks between Ms Miller, Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman and Liberal Democrat Lord Wallace.The agreement came as a result of talks between Ms Miller, Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman and Liberal Democrat Lord Wallace.
It will be put to the Privy Council - an ancient body which advises the Queen, mostly made up of senior politicians - for final agreement on 30 October. "I hope that the press will engage with this new system of independent self-regulation," Ms Harman said.
Under the proposals the newspaper industry would draw up a code of conduct for editors, which would be approved by an independent regulator. "We must have no press boycott. We need a press which is robust and free which holds those in power to account but which does not wreak havoc on the lives of innocent people."
The proposals will be put to the Privy Council - an ancient body which advises the Queen, mostly made up of senior politicians - for final agreement on 30 October.