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David Cameron considers royal charter on press backed by legislation David Cameron considers royal charter on press backed by legislation
(about 2 hours later)
David Cameron is considering two pieces of legislation and a royal charter to set up a new press watchdog, it has emerged following a meeting with the Hacked Off campaign group, which represents victims of media intrusion including the Dowler and McCann families. David Cameron is preparing two new press laws and a third piece of legislation to ensure that the government could not interfere in the workings of a new regulator for the industry.
The prime minister's policy adviser Oliver Letwin and culture secretary Maria Miller confirmed to Hacked Off in a meeting on Thursday morning that they propose the creation of a newspaper regulator under a royal charter but said two new laws would be needed to make it work. One law would underpin this chartered body and another would be required to create incentives, such as reduced libel costs, for publishers to join the new regulation regime. The prime minister's policy adviser Oliver Letwin made this clear in a meeting on Thursday with Hacked Off, the campaign group which represents victims of media intrusion including the Dowler and McCann families.
Hacked Off, which has been campaigning for statutory underpinning for the new watchdog, said it was "pleased" that ministers have now conceded that legislation is necessary to ensure the regulator is effective and truly independent. Two laws would be needed to guarantee the effectiveness of a new arbitration arm for the press regulator which would aim to offer an alternative resolution to the high court for privacy and libel claims, according to Letwin.
One law would make it legal to levy exemplary damages on those who lose a libel or privacy action and stay outside the new regulator.
The other would ensure costs were reduced for those who were inside the system. Letwin claimed that these would merely require the adding of two clauses into the courts bill, or another bill, possibly the defamation bill currently going through parliament.
Letwin also shed light, for the first time, on his controversial proposal for a new body set up by royal charter to verify or audit the decision-making by the new press watchdog on a three-yearly basis.
The plan has previously been criticised by Hacked Off and last week the proposal for a royal charter was described as "alarming" by Alan Rusbridger, the editor in chief of the Guardian, during evidence to the Commons culture, media and sport select committee.
Editors who are opposed to statutory underpinning for the new regulator believe the royal charter could give powers to the cabinet through the back door as they sit on the Privy Council, which has the power to hand out, amend and remove charters.
Letwin is understood to have taken this on board and is considering a new bill which would ensure the charter could not be changed by the Privy Council and could only be changed by a "super majority" (perhaps two thirds) vote in the Lords and the Commons.
Hacked Off, which has been campaigning for statutory underpinning for the new watchdog, said it was "pleased" ministers have now conceded that legislation is necessary to ensure the regulator is effective and truly independent.
However, the group said Letwin's proposals did not go far enough and did not offer a permanent solution along the lines proposed by Lord Justice Leveson following his 16-month inquiry into press ethics and culture.However, the group said Letwin's proposals did not go far enough and did not offer a permanent solution along the lines proposed by Lord Justice Leveson following his 16-month inquiry into press ethics and culture.
"We urge ministers now to do as the judge recommended. Instead of engaging in elaborate political manoeuvres that rely on undemocratic royal prerogative, they should introduce a single, straightforward bill to parliament that creates an effective recognition body and at the same time guarantees press freedom," Hacked Off said in a statement."We urge ministers now to do as the judge recommended. Instead of engaging in elaborate political manoeuvres that rely on undemocratic royal prerogative, they should introduce a single, straightforward bill to parliament that creates an effective recognition body and at the same time guarantees press freedom," Hacked Off said in a statement.
"As Gerry McCann has said, this is the very minimum required to protect the public in the future from the kinds of abuses that made the Leveson inquiry necessary.""As Gerry McCann has said, this is the very minimum required to protect the public in the future from the kinds of abuses that made the Leveson inquiry necessary."
Neither Letwin or Miller have yet said publicly they are proposing a royal charter and sources at Thursday's talks with Hacked Off and a meeting with Labour yesterday say they have yet to provide anyone with the details of how this would work.Neither Letwin or Miller have yet said publicly they are proposing a royal charter and sources at Thursday's talks with Hacked Off and a meeting with Labour yesterday say they have yet to provide anyone with the details of how this would work.
However, the proposals are a significant shift for the Tories, who rejected Leveson's recommendation for statutory underpinning within hours of his 2,000 page report being published on 29 November. However, the proposals are a significant shift for the Tories, who rejected Leveson's recommendation for statutory underpinning within hours of his 2,000-page report being published on 29 November.
Newspapers have been lobbying hard to stave off a Leveson law of any kind, arguing that the press is already subject to laws ranging from libel to data protection and computer misuse acts to guard against illegal activities.Newspapers have been lobbying hard to stave off a Leveson law of any kind, arguing that the press is already subject to laws ranging from libel to data protection and computer misuse acts to guard against illegal activities.
A group of 60 editors representing national and regional newspapers and magazines are meeting in central London on Thursday to try to progress their own proposals for what they say is a radical new type of self-regulation with no serving editors involved and the ability to levy fines of up to £1m.A group of 60 editors representing national and regional newspapers and magazines are meeting in central London on Thursday to try to progress their own proposals for what they say is a radical new type of self-regulation with no serving editors involved and the ability to levy fines of up to £1m.
Legislation to create incentives to join the new regulatory body relates to the prospect of reduced libel costs for those who agreed to join the watchdog and comply with an arbitration unit that would offer alternative resolution to high court action in libel and privacy cases. This would require a single clause that could be inserted into the courts bill that would not specifically refer to the press.
The prospect of a royal charter has been condemned by Hacked Off and by editors who think it could be worse than statutory regulation of the press because of the involvement of the Privy Council, which is made up of cabinet ministers and headed by deputy prime minister Nick Clegg.
The Guardian editor-in-chief, Alan Rusbridger, told the Commons culture, media and sport select committee last week that the prospect of a royal charter was "alarming" and could be "worse" than statutory regulation.
Royal charters date back to pre-constitutional monarchy times, before regular sittings of parliament began and have been used to incorporate 900 bodies since the 13th century including cities, universities, hospitals and organisations such as the British Council and the BBC.Royal charters date back to pre-constitutional monarchy times, before regular sittings of parliament began and have been used to incorporate 900 bodies since the 13th century including cities, universities, hospitals and organisations such as the British Council and the BBC.
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