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| Royal charter for press regulation expected next week | Royal charter for press regulation expected next week |
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| The government will publish its long-awaited royal charter setting up a "verifier" to oversee a new press regulator next week, forcing Labour to decide whether it is going to accept this compromise or hold out for the form of regulation recommended by Lord Leveson in his report. | The government will publish its long-awaited royal charter setting up a "verifier" to oversee a new press regulator next week, forcing Labour to decide whether it is going to accept this compromise or hold out for the form of regulation recommended by Lord Leveson in his report. |
| Labour is divided on its response and the issue became complicated by peers voting, earlier this week, to introduce a Leveson-style arbitration system into the defamation bill. | Labour is divided on its response and the issue became complicated by peers voting, earlier this week, to introduce a Leveson-style arbitration system into the defamation bill. |
| There have been suggestions that the government may drop the defamation bill rather than risk allowing a Leveson-style system to go to a vote. | There have been suggestions that the government may drop the defamation bill rather than risk allowing a Leveson-style system to go to a vote. |
| The defamation bill has yet to reach its report stage or third reading later this month – in practice it is unlikely to get to the Commons until March. The delay gives the parties more time to reach a compromise, government sources said. | The defamation bill has yet to reach its report stage or third reading later this month – in practice it is unlikely to get to the Commons until March. The delay gives the parties more time to reach a compromise, government sources said. |
| Labour sources said it would be extraordinary for David Cameron to abandon the defamation bill reforms to avoid elected MPs being given a chance to vote on Leveson legislation inserted into the bill. | Labour sources said it would be extraordinary for David Cameron to abandon the defamation bill reforms to avoid elected MPs being given a chance to vote on Leveson legislation inserted into the bill. |
| Peers led by Lord Puttnam voted on Tuesday by 272 to 141 to put the Leveson arbitration system into the bill. Leading peers have said they are willing to discuss the details of the measure with the government to make it legally foolproof. | Peers led by Lord Puttnam voted on Tuesday by 272 to 141 to put the Leveson arbitration system into the bill. Leading peers have said they are willing to discuss the details of the measure with the government to make it legally foolproof. |
| It is clear the Liberal Democrats would prefer to accept the royal charter proposal drafted by Oliver Letwin if it is the only way to secure all-party support for reform. Liberal Democrats fear if there is no compromise, there will be no reform. | It is clear the Liberal Democrats would prefer to accept the royal charter proposal drafted by Oliver Letwin if it is the only way to secure all-party support for reform. Liberal Democrats fear if there is no compromise, there will be no reform. |
| The Lib Dem leader in the Lords, Lord McNally, said he was concerned the defamation bill might be hijacked. He said: "One of my fears over the past two years, and certainly since the Leveson inquiry was set up, has been that this discrete bill dealing with defamation would be engulfed by the Leveson tsunami". | |
| He added: "There is no doubt in my mind that we are dealing with one of the most serious challenges to political parties and to parliament in the past 70 years. I have never been in any doubt that how we respond to Leveson will be a test of how each and every one of us carries out our responsibilities in this parliament." | He added: "There is no doubt in my mind that we are dealing with one of the most serious challenges to political parties and to parliament in the past 70 years. I have never been in any doubt that how we respond to Leveson will be a test of how each and every one of us carries out our responsibilities in this parliament." |
| He also expressed frustration at the way in which the Leveson recommendation has been handled. He said: "The media still have a long way to go before there is any sense of trust in what they are doing to rectify the harm that they have done to our body politic." | He also expressed frustration at the way in which the Leveson recommendation has been handled. He said: "The media still have a long way to go before there is any sense of trust in what they are doing to rectify the harm that they have done to our body politic." |
| He said he hoped Puttnam's move would alert party leaders "to the question of trust that hangs over their intent … I am as frustrated as anybody that two months have passed since publication of the Leveson report. There is a strong case for getting things moving. There is a value in all three parties putting their cards on the table. This is not a time for secret diplomacy." | He said he hoped Puttnam's move would alert party leaders "to the question of trust that hangs over their intent … I am as frustrated as anybody that two months have passed since publication of the Leveson report. There is a strong case for getting things moving. There is a value in all three parties putting their cards on the table. This is not a time for secret diplomacy." |
| He added: " If there is no agreement and we cannot achieve the tripartite agreement that I believe is the prize, we certainly would be in favour of legislation in this area." /> |