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Miliband: Scrap 'toothless' Press Complaints Commission Miliband: Scrap 'toothless' Press Complaints Commission
(40 minutes later)
Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for the Press Complaints Commission to be scrapped in the wake of the phone hacking scandal at the News of World.Labour leader Ed Miliband has called for the Press Complaints Commission to be scrapped in the wake of the phone hacking scandal at the News of World.
He said the PCC was "a toothless poodle" and a new body with "proper investigative powers" was needed.He said the PCC was "a toothless poodle" and a new body with "proper investigative powers" was needed.
David Cameron says a probe will be set up immediately to examine the "culture, practices and ethics" of the press.David Cameron says a probe will be set up immediately to examine the "culture, practices and ethics" of the press.
The prime minister urged cross-party support for a "truly independent" regulator to "clean up" the industry.The prime minister urged cross-party support for a "truly independent" regulator to "clean up" the industry.
After the two men spoke on Friday, it emerged that Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World who later worked as a close aide to David Cameron, had been arrested on suspicion of corruption and phone hacking.
Two inquiriesTwo inquiries
At a press conference, Mr Cameron said "utterly unacceptable practices" had taken place at the News of the World and potentially other newspapers and politicians from all parties had failed to "grip the situation".At a press conference, Mr Cameron said "utterly unacceptable practices" had taken place at the News of the World and potentially other newspapers and politicians from all parties had failed to "grip the situation".
As well as the investigation into press regulation, Mr Cameron also said Parliament would be asked soon to consider the terms of reference of a judge-led public inquiry into the phone hacking scandal - although he stressed this could not begin in full until the current police investigation and any criminal proceedings had concluded.As well as the investigation into press regulation, Mr Cameron also said Parliament would be asked soon to consider the terms of reference of a judge-led public inquiry into the phone hacking scandal - although he stressed this could not begin in full until the current police investigation and any criminal proceedings had concluded.
Mr Miliband said the impending closure of the News of the World, following allegations crime victims and bereaved families may have had their mobile phones hacked into, was "not the answer" to restoring trust and senior executives must "take responsibility".Mr Miliband said the impending closure of the News of the World, following allegations crime victims and bereaved families may have had their mobile phones hacked into, was "not the answer" to restoring trust and senior executives must "take responsibility".
There have been claims that murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone was hacked when she went missing in 2002, and that the families of the Soham murder victims Holly Wells and Jessica Chapman and relatives of UK armed forces personnel killed in action may also have been targeted.
The Metropolitan Police say they are seeking to contact 4,000 possible targets whose details have been found during the Operation Weeting investigation into phone hacking at the newspaper.
The government plans to announce the remit of two inquiries into the issue before Parliament's summer recess but Mr Miliband and other senior politicians have said the prime minister should go further and set up a judge-led inquiry immediately.
'Restoring reputation'
In a speech in London, the Labour leader said: "For too long, the political class have been too concerned about what people in the press would think and too fearful of speaking out. We must all bear responsibility for that, my party has not been immune from it, nor has the current government."In a speech in London, the Labour leader said: "For too long, the political class have been too concerned about what people in the press would think and too fearful of speaking out. We must all bear responsibility for that, my party has not been immune from it, nor has the current government."
He said politicians must now lead "the call for change". While defending the right to a "free and buccaneering press", he said newspapers "must reform in order to protect and restore their reputation".
"Our newspapers are part of our way of life. But they must reform in order to protect and restore their reputation."
Mr Miliband has already called for a judge-led inquiry into events and for Rebekah Brooks - who was editor of the News of the World at the time it is alleged murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone was hacked into - to resign as chief executive of News International, the newspaper's parent company.Mr Miliband has already called for a judge-led inquiry into events and for Rebekah Brooks - who was editor of the News of the World at the time it is alleged murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone was hacked into - to resign as chief executive of News International, the newspaper's parent company.
But he said in his speech that "wholesale reform of our system of regulation" was now needed.But he said in his speech that "wholesale reform of our system of regulation" was now needed.
"The Press Complaints Commission has totally failed. It failed to get to the bottom of the allegations about what happened at News International in 2009."The Press Complaints Commission has totally failed. It failed to get to the bottom of the allegations about what happened at News International in 2009.
"Its chair admits she was lied to but could do nothing about it. It was established to be a watchdog. But it has been exposed as a toothless poodle. It is time to put it out of its misery. "The PCC has not worked. We need a new watchdog. There needs to be fundamental change.""Its chair admits she was lied to but could do nothing about it. It was established to be a watchdog. But it has been exposed as a toothless poodle. It is time to put it out of its misery. "The PCC has not worked. We need a new watchdog. There needs to be fundamental change."
He said that his "instincts" were that self-regulation should continue but with a new body with board members with "greater independence" from those they regulate, proper investigative and enforcement powers".He said that his "instincts" were that self-regulation should continue but with a new body with board members with "greater independence" from those they regulate, proper investigative and enforcement powers".
Coulson roleCoulson role
The Labour leader has said the prime minister has "serious questions" to answer about his decision to hire Mr Coulson - who resigned as NoW editor in 2006 after the paper's royal editor and a private investigator working for the paper were jailed for phone hacking.The Labour leader has said the prime minister has "serious questions" to answer about his decision to hire Mr Coulson - who resigned as NoW editor in 2006 after the paper's royal editor and a private investigator working for the paper were jailed for phone hacking.
Mr Coulson, who left his No 10 role in January, has always denied he sanctioned or was aware of the practice while he was editor.Mr Coulson, who left his No 10 role in January, has always denied he sanctioned or was aware of the practice while he was editor.
In his speech Mr Miliband said: "Putting it right for the prime minister means admitting the appalling error of judgement he made in hiring Andy Coulson, apologising for bringing him into the centre of the government machine and coming clean about what conversations he had with Andy Coulson before and after he was appointed about phone hacking."In his speech Mr Miliband said: "Putting it right for the prime minister means admitting the appalling error of judgement he made in hiring Andy Coulson, apologising for bringing him into the centre of the government machine and coming clean about what conversations he had with Andy Coulson before and after he was appointed about phone hacking."
Mr Cameron said he took "full responsibility" for the decision to hire Mr Coulson, saying he had decided to "give him a second chance".Mr Cameron said he took "full responsibility" for the decision to hire Mr Coulson, saying he had decided to "give him a second chance".
"People will be able to judge whether that was the right thing to do," he said. "People will be able to judge whether that was the right or the wrong thing to do," he said.
He made clear that he had sought assurances from Mr Coulson about his past activities at the News of the World before recruiting him but that the "second chance had not worked out".He made clear that he had sought assurances from Mr Coulson about his past activities at the News of the World before recruiting him but that the "second chance had not worked out".
Sky bidSky bid
Asked about the future of Rebekah Brooks, Mr Cameron said it was not his job to "pick and choose" who ran newspapers. But he said he understood that Mrs Brooks had offered her resignation and that "I would have accepted it".Asked about the future of Rebekah Brooks, Mr Cameron said it was not his job to "pick and choose" who ran newspapers. But he said he understood that Mrs Brooks had offered her resignation and that "I would have accepted it".
The BBC's Political Correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said this was the closest that Mr Cameron - who has been accused of having too close a relationship with senior figures at News International - had come to saying she should stand down.The BBC's Political Correspondent Gary O'Donoghue said this was the closest that Mr Cameron - who has been accused of having too close a relationship with senior figures at News International - had come to saying she should stand down.
On the issue of the proposed takeover of BSkyB by News Corporation, News International's parent company, Mr Cameron said the government had to follow the proper processes.On the issue of the proposed takeover of BSkyB by News Corporation, News International's parent company, Mr Cameron said the government had to follow the proper processes.
MPs from all parties have urged the culture secretary to delay a decision on whether to approve the deal until further investigations have taken place.MPs from all parties have urged the culture secretary to delay a decision on whether to approve the deal until further investigations have taken place.
Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has written to Ofcom calling on the regulator to investigate whether BSkyB is "fit and proper" to hold a broadcasting licence.Simon Hughes, deputy leader of the Liberal Democrats, has written to Ofcom calling on the regulator to investigate whether BSkyB is "fit and proper" to hold a broadcasting licence.