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David Cameron should implement Leveson in full, says Labour | David Cameron should implement Leveson in full, says Labour |
(7 months later) | |
The Labour party has called on the government to implement the full Leveson report amid "a growing impatience" for a new press regulator in the wake of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. | The Labour party has called on the government to implement the full Leveson report amid "a growing impatience" for a new press regulator in the wake of the News of the World phone-hacking scandal. |
Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader and shadow culture secretary, said in a Commons debate on Wednesday that Lord Justice Leveson's November report on the future of press regulation, including a proposal for statutory underpinning for a new industry watchdog, was vital to ensure "what the press did to the Dowlers, the McCanns and Abigail Witchell's families can never happen again". | Harriet Harman, the Labour deputy leader and shadow culture secretary, said in a Commons debate on Wednesday that Lord Justice Leveson's November report on the future of press regulation, including a proposal for statutory underpinning for a new industry watchdog, was vital to ensure "what the press did to the Dowlers, the McCanns and Abigail Witchell's families can never happen again". |
"It must be the full Leveson report, not Leveson lite," she added. | "It must be the full Leveson report, not Leveson lite," she added. |
She criticised the Conservative party's plans to establish a new regulator backed by a royal charter, saying there was nothing in the proposals published on Wednesday which prevented a future government interfering in regulation of the press, something that would threaten its independence after hundreds of years of freedom. | She criticised the Conservative party's plans to establish a new regulator backed by a royal charter, saying there was nothing in the proposals published on Wednesday which prevented a future government interfering in regulation of the press, something that would threaten its independence after hundreds of years of freedom. |
"Through the privy council, ministers would be able to tamper with the royal charter at any time," said Harman. | "Through the privy council, ministers would be able to tamper with the royal charter at any time," said Harman. |
The Labour party also said it is unhappy with the press having a saying in the appointments process for the new watchdog. | The Labour party also said it is unhappy with the press having a saying in the appointments process for the new watchdog. |
In response, the culture secretary, Maria Miller, declared that Harman "can take it from the Conservative party that we would never want to tamper with a royal charter". | In response, the culture secretary, Maria Miller, declared that Harman "can take it from the Conservative party that we would never want to tamper with a royal charter". |
The culture secretary said the new system, involving fines of up to £1m and exemplary damages for breaches of privacy by the press would make the proposed new regulatory regime among the "toughest in the world". | The culture secretary said the new system, involving fines of up to £1m and exemplary damages for breaches of privacy by the press would make the proposed new regulatory regime among the "toughest in the world". |
Miller said she was pleased to see that the Tory plans for a royal charter were not "wholeheartedly rejected" by Labour and hoped to see progress towards an agreement through cross-party talks due to take place on Thursday. | Miller said she was pleased to see that the Tory plans for a royal charter were not "wholeheartedly rejected" by Labour and hoped to see progress towards an agreement through cross-party talks due to take place on Thursday. |
Jack Straw, the former Labour home secretary, called on Miller to implement Leveson's recommendations on changes to the Data Protection Act and to bring in a new legislation which would make two-year jail sentences mandatory for breaches of these privacy laws. | Jack Straw, the former Labour home secretary, called on Miller to implement Leveson's recommendations on changes to the Data Protection Act and to bring in a new legislation which would make two-year jail sentences mandatory for breaches of these privacy laws. |
Straw said fears that the new data law was aimed at journalists were misplaced as the statute proposed would be accompanied by a public interest defence and the real targets were companies unscrupulously trading in private data. | Straw said fears that the new data law was aimed at journalists were misplaced as the statute proposed would be accompanied by a public interest defence and the real targets were companies unscrupulously trading in private data. |
Miller said the government would be looked at the DPA in the context of upcoming European legislation. | Miller said the government would be looked at the DPA in the context of upcoming European legislation. |
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