This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/media/2013/dec/20/hacked-off-supporters-destructive-force-maria-miller
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hacked Off supporters reject Maria Miller's 'destructive force' claim | Hacked Off supporters reject Maria Miller's 'destructive force' claim |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Supporters of the Hacked Off campaign have demanded the culture secretary withdraw her "insulting" claim that it has been a destructive force. | Supporters of the Hacked Off campaign have demanded the culture secretary withdraw her "insulting" claim that it has been a destructive force. |
| Maria Miller made the claim when she appeared in front of the culture select committee this week. She was discussing the degree to which it had been unhelpful that Hacked Off members were present at one of the final inter-party meetings setting out details of the royal charter for press self-regulation on 17 March. | Maria Miller made the claim when she appeared in front of the culture select committee this week. She was discussing the degree to which it had been unhelpful that Hacked Off members were present at one of the final inter-party meetings setting out details of the royal charter for press self-regulation on 17 March. |
| Victims of press intrusion, including Christopher Jefferies, Kate and Gerry McCann and JK Rowling, wrote to Miller describing her comments as unfair and inaccurate, and pointing out that Hacked Off was asked to attend the meeting. They said they retained full confidence in the Hacked Off campaign. | |
| The letter also reflects frustration at the slowness, in their view, with which the culture department is moving to implement the recommendations of the Leveson report. | The letter also reflects frustration at the slowness, in their view, with which the culture department is moving to implement the recommendations of the Leveson report. |
| The commissioner for public appointments, Sir David Normington, has said he has not yet received a letter from Miller starting the process of creating a press regulation recognition panel. This is the body that will decide whether or not any new press regulator meets the criteria set out in the royal charter, which was granted by the government on 30 October. | The commissioner for public appointments, Sir David Normington, has said he has not yet received a letter from Miller starting the process of creating a press regulation recognition panel. This is the body that will decide whether or not any new press regulator meets the criteria set out in the royal charter, which was granted by the government on 30 October. |
| The newspaper industry is divided about whether to form a self-regulatory body that is unlikely to meet the criteria set by Leveson. | The newspaper industry is divided about whether to form a self-regulatory body that is unlikely to meet the criteria set by Leveson. |
| In their letter, the press victims write: "We regard the endorsement of the royal charter in the Commons last March, by your party and by every other party in the House, as a historic breakthrough, ensuring that in future people are better protected against the cruelty and intrusion to which we have been subjected by newspapers. | In their letter, the press victims write: "We regard the endorsement of the royal charter in the Commons last March, by your party and by every other party in the House, as a historic breakthrough, ensuring that in future people are better protected against the cruelty and intrusion to which we have been subjected by newspapers. |
| "You yourself have spoken in similar terms in a previous committee session. It is now clear that a group of newspaper companies stands almost alone in the country in opposing these cautious and minimal changes. We look to you to give leadership here on behalf of us and of ordinary, vulnerable people across the country who may find themselves the targets of unethical journalistic practice. You meet editors and proprietors often: please exert every possible pressure on them to accept the charter." | "You yourself have spoken in similar terms in a previous committee session. It is now clear that a group of newspaper companies stands almost alone in the country in opposing these cautious and minimal changes. We look to you to give leadership here on behalf of us and of ordinary, vulnerable people across the country who may find themselves the targets of unethical journalistic practice. You meet editors and proprietors often: please exert every possible pressure on them to accept the charter." |
| They add: "Hacked Off, we repeat, stands up for our interests. It does not pander to the interests of newspaper owners as, sadly, politicians have tended to do far too often in the past." | They add: "Hacked Off, we repeat, stands up for our interests. It does not pander to the interests of newspaper owners as, sadly, politicians have tended to do far too often in the past." |
| They say Miller's remarks were "not only mistaken, but insulting to us. We ask you to put the record straight." | They say Miller's remarks were "not only mistaken, but insulting to us. We ask you to put the record straight." |
| They also try to set out why they were invited to the meeting in March. They say David Cameron asked them to a meeting in Downing Street in February as representatives of victims of press abuse. At the meeting with the Cabinet Office minister Oliver Letwin, Hacked Off claims, Cameron sought the support of victims for the draft royal charter "that had been drawn up by Conservative ministers in secret meetings with the press, and which he made public the next day". | |
| The letter says: "On our behalf, Hacked Off rightly rejected it as falling far short of the Leveson recommendations: it was, indeed, little better than a Press Complaints Commission mark 2." | The letter says: "On our behalf, Hacked Off rightly rejected it as falling far short of the Leveson recommendations: it was, indeed, little better than a Press Complaints Commission mark 2." |
| It says Hacked Off was then invited to the March meeting following cross-party agreement on a different charter draft. "Your colleague Oliver Letwin was again present. Hacked Off was asked whether victims would support the draft and, on this occasion, since broadly it delivered what the Leveson report proposed, Hacked Off said they would." | It says Hacked Off was then invited to the March meeting following cross-party agreement on a different charter draft. "Your colleague Oliver Letwin was again present. Hacked Off was asked whether victims would support the draft and, on this occasion, since broadly it delivered what the Leveson report proposed, Hacked Off said they would." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |