This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-24746137

The article has changed 12 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 7 Version 8
Press regulation: Papers lose last-minute court appeal Press regulation: Privy Council grants royal charter
(35 minutes later)
A new cross-party royal charter on press regulation looks set to be approved shortly by the Privy Council, after the newspaper industry lost a last-minute court challenge. A new cross-party royal charter on press regulation has been granted by the Privy Council, the government says, after the newspaper industry lost a last-minute court challenge.
Court of Appeal judges refused newspaper publishers an urgent injunction to stop ministers seeking the Queen's approval for the charter.Court of Appeal judges refused newspaper publishers an urgent injunction to stop ministers seeking the Queen's approval for the charter.
Editors had argued their alternative proposals were not properly considered.Editors had argued their alternative proposals were not properly considered.
Under the charter, a new regulator will be overseen by a watchdog. The charter will create a watchdog to oversee a new press regulator.
The matter of press regulation emerged following the phone-hacking affair and subsequent Leveson Inquiry into the ethics and practices of newspapers.The matter of press regulation emerged following the phone-hacking affair and subsequent Leveson Inquiry into the ethics and practices of newspapers.
Publishers had until 17:30 GMT on Wednesday to try to stop the politicians' charter being approved, which they say could allow governments to encroach on press freedom. Publishers had until 17:30 GMT on Wednesday to try to stop the politicians' charter being approved, which they argue could allow governments to encroach on press freedom.
Earlier on Wednesday, High Court judges refused publishers a last-minute injunction and said there were no grounds for a judicial review.Earlier on Wednesday, High Court judges refused publishers a last-minute injunction and said there were no grounds for a judicial review.
Press freedomPress freedom
Hours later publishers appealed to Court of Appeal judges to reconsider that decision.Hours later publishers appealed to Court of Appeal judges to reconsider that decision.
However, Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls, sitting with Lord Justice Moore-Bick and Lord Justice Elias, refused to grant an interim order pending further legal action.However, Lord Dyson, Master of the Rolls, sitting with Lord Justice Moore-Bick and Lord Justice Elias, refused to grant an interim order pending further legal action.
In a joint statement, the newspapers said the newspaper and magazine industry had been denied the right properly to make their case that the Privy Council's decision to reject their charter was "unfair and unlawful".In a joint statement, the newspapers said the newspaper and magazine industry had been denied the right properly to make their case that the Privy Council's decision to reject their charter was "unfair and unlawful".
The newspapers learned their alternative proposals had been rejected by the Privy Council earlier this month because they did not comply with certain principles from the Leveson report, such as independence and access to arbitration.The newspapers learned their alternative proposals had been rejected by the Privy Council earlier this month because they did not comply with certain principles from the Leveson report, such as independence and access to arbitration.
Culture Secretary Maria Miller welcomed the court's earlier ruling, saying: "Both the press and the government think that the best way forward is for us to have self-regulation of the press and the principles for that are set out in a royal charter. A spokesman for the Department for Culture Media and Sport said: "Acting on the advice of the government, the Privy Council has granted the cross-party royal charter.
"The decisions today mean that we can move forward with that and we will continue to work with the industry to make sure this is a success. "Both the industry and the government agree independent self-regulation of the press is the way forward and that a royal charter is the best framework.
"The most important thing is that we retain the freedom of the press which is such an important part of our democratic process but that we have a way of giving people redress if there have been mistakes and errors made and I think that's a shared objective between the press and the government." "The question that remains is how it will work in practice; we will continue to work with the industry, as we always have.
"A royal charter will protect freedom of the press whilst offering real redress when mistakes are made.
"Importantly, it is the best way of resisting full statutory regulation that others have tried to impose."
The Privy Council, whose active members must be government ministers, meets in private to formally advise the Queen to approve "Orders" which have already been agreed by ministers.
This latest Privy Council meeting, held at Buckingham Palace, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Culture Secretary Maria Miller and the Liberal Democrat Justice minister, Lord McNally of Blackpool.
Earlier, Roger Alton, executive editor of the Times, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The idea that somehow a deal stitched up between a few politicians over pizzas and a handful of lobbyists from Hacked Off, which is essentially an anti-newspaper group, the idea that such a deal is the thing that now controls the press, which is one of the most vital safeguards in our democracy, I find extraordinarily depressing, very sad... It will be resisted."Earlier, Roger Alton, executive editor of the Times, told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "The idea that somehow a deal stitched up between a few politicians over pizzas and a handful of lobbyists from Hacked Off, which is essentially an anti-newspaper group, the idea that such a deal is the thing that now controls the press, which is one of the most vital safeguards in our democracy, I find extraordinarily depressing, very sad... It will be resisted."
Both politicians and the press have agreed there should be a "recognition panel" to oversee a press self-regulation committee with powers to impose fines of up to £1m on newspapers for wrongdoing. Both politicians and the press agreed there should be a "recognition panel" to oversee a press self-regulation committee with powers to impose fines of up to £1m on newspapers for wrongdoing.
However, the press charter would require industry-wide approval for any amendments, while the politicians' version - backed by the three mainstream parties - could be changed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament. However, the press charter required industry-wide approval for any amendments, while the politicians' version - backed by the three mainstream parties - can be changed by a two-thirds majority in Parliament.
Hacked Off's executive director Brian Cathcart said: "The royal charter is good for journalism, good for freedom of speech, and - vitally - good for the public.Hacked Off's executive director Brian Cathcart said: "The royal charter is good for journalism, good for freedom of speech, and - vitally - good for the public.
"What Mr Murdoch and his friends are clinging to is the right to lie, twist, bully and intrude, inflicting misery on innocent people. That has to stop.""What Mr Murdoch and his friends are clinging to is the right to lie, twist, bully and intrude, inflicting misery on innocent people. That has to stop."
Standards codeStandards code
Paul Connew, former editor of the Sunday Mirror, said: "This is not simply about the big national newspapers. This is being supported by over 1,000 local and regional newspapers and by the entire magazine world in fact.Paul Connew, former editor of the Sunday Mirror, said: "This is not simply about the big national newspapers. This is being supported by over 1,000 local and regional newspapers and by the entire magazine world in fact.
"So, at the end of the day, this could be a royal charter that no-one is signing up to. What happens next?""So, at the end of the day, this could be a royal charter that no-one is signing up to. What happens next?"
Under the royal charter, the Press Complaints Commission would be replaced by a new regulator with greater powers, and a watchdog - the recognition panel - which will check the regulator remains independent. Under the royal charter, the Press Complaints Commission will be replaced by a new regulator with greater powers, and a watchdog - the recognition panel - which will check the regulator remains independent.
The regulator, set up by the press but without any editors on the board, will draw up a standards code and will be able to impose fines of up to £1m.The regulator, set up by the press but without any editors on the board, will draw up a standards code and will be able to impose fines of up to £1m.
It will also provide a speedy arbitration service to deal with complaints.It will also provide a speedy arbitration service to deal with complaints.
The recognition panel will be made up of between four and eight members, none of whom can be journalists, civil servants or MPs.The recognition panel will be made up of between four and eight members, none of whom can be journalists, civil servants or MPs.
Media organisations will be free to sign up or stay outside the new system of regulation.Media organisations will be free to sign up or stay outside the new system of regulation.
The Privy Council, whose active members must be government ministers, meets in private to formally advise the Queen to approve "Orders" which have already been agreed by ministers.