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Leveson inquiry should not lead to tough new press laws, says Eric Pickles Leveson inquiry should not lead to tough new press laws, says Eric Pickles
(about 5 hours later)
The government should be very reluctant to bring in tough new laws to regulate newspapers following the publication of the Leveson inquiry, the communities secretary, Eric Pickles, has said. The government should be reluctant to bring in new laws to regulate newspapers following the publication of the Leveson inquiry, the communities secretary Eric Pickles, has said.
Pickles said the press was working towards a way of offering proper recourse for those with legitimate complaints, saying the right of newspapers to expose corruption must be protected. Pickles said the press was working towards a way of offering proper recourse for those with legitimate complaints, saying the right of newspapers to expose corruption must be protected. He added that ministers must be very careful about introducing statutory regulation if Lord Justice Leveson recommends a new independent watchdog to monitor the press.
He added that ministers must be very careful about introducing statutory regulation if Lord Justice Leveson recommends a new independent watchdog to monitor the press.
His remarks were taken as the clearest view yet of his Conservative cabinet colleagues' attitude to the Leveson inquiry.His remarks were taken as the clearest view yet of his Conservative cabinet colleagues' attitude to the Leveson inquiry.
They came on the day it was reported that David Cameron was said to have urged Tory cabinet colleagues at a private meeting last Thursday not to say anything that might be taken as pre-empting the government response to the Leveson inquiry due to report next month. They came on the day it was reported that David Cameron was said to have urged Tory cabinet colleagues at a private meeting last Thursday not to say anything that might be taken as pre-empting the government's response to the Leveson inquiry due to report next month.
In a lengthy Lords debate last Thursday on press regulation, the government spokesman worked hard to be even-handed and did not rule out a form of statutory underpinning as a stopgap.In a lengthy Lords debate last Thursday on press regulation, the government spokesman worked hard to be even-handed and did not rule out a form of statutory underpinning as a stopgap.
The rightwing media are already campaigning hard to oppose any statutory intervention, saying it would represent an unacceptable interference in press freedom.The rightwing media are already campaigning hard to oppose any statutory intervention, saying it would represent an unacceptable interference in press freedom.
Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, said on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that there had to be some kind of statutory underpinning. Her view that the press has failed to reform itself is broadly in line with that of the Liberal Democrats.Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader, said on the BBC's Andrew Marr Show that there had to be some kind of statutory underpinning. Her view that the press has failed to reform itself is broadly in line with that of the Liberal Democrats.
Pickles said: "It is massively important to ensure we have freedom of press in this country. Some of the characteristics of the British press – it is good at exposing corruption and it is good at going to places where other press wouldn't.Pickles said: "It is massively important to ensure we have freedom of press in this country. Some of the characteristics of the British press – it is good at exposing corruption and it is good at going to places where other press wouldn't.
"I think it was Thomas Jefferson who said that for a free society to operate, then the 'river of a free press had to flow without restriction'."I think it was Thomas Jefferson who said that for a free society to operate, then the 'river of a free press had to flow without restriction'.
"I think, given that the press are looking towards finding ways, the end result of offering a good way that people who have a legitimate complaint can find recourse, then that is right."I think, given that the press are looking towards finding ways, the end result of offering a good way that people who have a legitimate complaint can find recourse, then that is right.
"We should be very, very, very reluctant to take on legislation. It's a balance and my view is that we should always balance in favour of a free press." We should be very, very, very reluctant to take on legislation. It's a balance and my view is that we should always balance in favour of a free press."
Lord Black, the peer who represents the views of the newspaper industry, told peers last week it would be possible to bring in a new, tighter form of self-regulation within three months, but statutory legislation would take three years, and might face a legal challenge. Lord Black, the peer who represents the views of the newspaper industry, told peers last week it would be possible to bring in a new, tighter form of self-regulation within three months, but statutory legislation would take three years, and might face a legal challenge.
A spokesman for Hacked Off said the newspaper industry could bring in its voluntary reforms without waiting for the Leveson inquiry if they believed they were the right reforms to introduce. A spokesman for Hacked Off said the newspaper industry could bring in its voluntary reforms without waiting for the Leveson inquiry if they believed they were the right reforms to introduce.