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Press regulation: Lord Puttnam says editors are demanding 'right of kings' Press regulation: Lord Puttnam says editors are demanding 'right of kings'
(6 months later)
Lord Puttnam has accused newspaper editors resisting the government's deal on press regulation of living in a bygone era where they believe they are "kings of their own country".Lord Puttnam has accused newspaper editors resisting the government's deal on press regulation of living in a bygone era where they believe they are "kings of their own country".
The Labour peer gave his qualified support to the 11th-hour deal struck on Monday by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to create a powerful new press regulator designed to prevent a repeat of the phone-hacking scandal.The Labour peer gave his qualified support to the 11th-hour deal struck on Monday by David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg to create a powerful new press regulator designed to prevent a repeat of the phone-hacking scandal.
He was critical of the resistance being shown by a shell-shocked newspaper industry, which is concerned about issues including a loss of power to veto appointments to the body that will replace the Press Complaints Commission.He was critical of the resistance being shown by a shell-shocked newspaper industry, which is concerned about issues including a loss of power to veto appointments to the body that will replace the Press Complaints Commission.
"We are dealing with relatively old-fashioned mindset of newspaper editors used to being kings of their own country," he said in an interview at the Advertising Week Europe conference in London. "Effectively what they are asking for, and it is not an overstatement, is the right of kings. The last person to really claim what the papers are asking for is Charles I and it really didn't do his health any good at all.""We are dealing with relatively old-fashioned mindset of newspaper editors used to being kings of their own country," he said in an interview at the Advertising Week Europe conference in London. "Effectively what they are asking for, and it is not an overstatement, is the right of kings. The last person to really claim what the papers are asking for is Charles I and it really didn't do his health any good at all."
Puttnam warned that now Cameron has "crossed the Rubicon" with the decision on press regulation he would have to face down the publishers resisting the agreement.Puttnam warned that now Cameron has "crossed the Rubicon" with the decision on press regulation he would have to face down the publishers resisting the agreement.
"[Cameron] is going to have a very big decision to make if a group of newspapers decide not to participate in something that government has decided is necessary," he said. "Do you step back and say what we are creating here is a state within a state and let the law decide on a case by case basis, or do you say that cant happen because for me that would immediately cross any prime minister's Rubicon.""[Cameron] is going to have a very big decision to make if a group of newspapers decide not to participate in something that government has decided is necessary," he said. "Do you step back and say what we are creating here is a state within a state and let the law decide on a case by case basis, or do you say that cant happen because for me that would immediately cross any prime minister's Rubicon."
He added: "You cannot have one group of organisations or people within a state deciding that they can challenge the law, but having challenged the law they have got to obey it".He added: "You cannot have one group of organisations or people within a state deciding that they can challenge the law, but having challenged the law they have got to obey it".
Puttnam, who was chair of the committee responsible for creating broadcasting regulator Ofcom, said that he was still not happy with the shotgun process behind the formation of the proposed new press regulator.Puttnam, who was chair of the committee responsible for creating broadcasting regulator Ofcom, said that he was still not happy with the shotgun process behind the formation of the proposed new press regulator.
"I do not like at all the idea of a Royal Charter," he said. "I do not like not going through parliament, properly scrutinising and putting to the vote.""I do not like at all the idea of a Royal Charter," he said. "I do not like not going through parliament, properly scrutinising and putting to the vote."
Interviewer Tom Bradby, ITV News's political editor, asked if he was happy with the outcome given what David Cameron called an underpinning that amounted to a "dab of statute".Interviewer Tom Bradby, ITV News's political editor, asked if he was happy with the outcome given what David Cameron called an underpinning that amounted to a "dab of statute".
"Probably," he said. "It is a dab of statute to apply a penalty to those newspapers who decide not to sign up"."Probably," he said. "It is a dab of statute to apply a penalty to those newspapers who decide not to sign up".
Puttnam, who propelled the deal between the three main parties by introducing a House of Lords amendment to the defamation bill last month, said that he remained a firm believer in freedom of expression.Puttnam, who propelled the deal between the three main parties by introducing a House of Lords amendment to the defamation bill last month, said that he remained a firm believer in freedom of expression.
"I passionately believe in free press, my dad was at AP for most of his working life," he said. Weirdly I'm in a position that I put an amendment down that made quite a stir, possibly influenced Monday night's decision"."I passionately believe in free press, my dad was at AP for most of his working life," he said. Weirdly I'm in a position that I put an amendment down that made quite a stir, possibly influenced Monday night's decision".
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