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Phone-hacking victims reject newspapers' charter proposal Phone-hacking victims reject newspapers' charter proposal
(4 months later)
Some of the most prominent victims of phone-hacking have written to the culture secretary, Maria Miller, urging her to reject the royal charter proposed by the press industry, saying that it is unacceptable for "those responsible for the damage to our lives and the lives of others [to] seek to shrug off responsibility and once again write their own rulebook".Some of the most prominent victims of phone-hacking have written to the culture secretary, Maria Miller, urging her to reject the royal charter proposed by the press industry, saying that it is unacceptable for "those responsible for the damage to our lives and the lives of others [to] seek to shrug off responsibility and once again write their own rulebook".
Miller is holding a consultation on whether the press industry's royal charter should be considered formally first by the Privy Council as opposed to one initially drawn up by the government with the support of Labour. The consultation ends this week, and government departments, as well as the Privy Council secretariat, will now take a further two weeks to decide its next step. Miller now has to decide if the industry's royal charter meets the criteria.Miller is holding a consultation on whether the press industry's royal charter should be considered formally first by the Privy Council as opposed to one initially drawn up by the government with the support of Labour. The consultation ends this week, and government departments, as well as the Privy Council secretariat, will now take a further two weeks to decide its next step. Miller now has to decide if the industry's royal charter meets the criteria.
The Press Standards Board of Finance (PressBof) petitioned the Privy Council with its version of the charter on 30 April, and has made some adjustments to its proposals partly in a bid to win over the Financial Times, Independent and Guardian.The Press Standards Board of Finance (PressBof) petitioned the Privy Council with its version of the charter on 30 April, and has made some adjustments to its proposals partly in a bid to win over the Financial Times, Independent and Guardian.
In their letter, some of the most prominent victims of press misconduct including J K Rowling, Gerry and Kate McCann, and Sheryl Gascoigne say they object to the draft Royal Charter drawn up by the PressBof on behalf of the newspapers, saying "it demonstrates once again the press industry thinks it is above the law".In their letter, some of the most prominent victims of press misconduct including J K Rowling, Gerry and Kate McCann, and Sheryl Gascoigne say they object to the draft Royal Charter drawn up by the PressBof on behalf of the newspapers, saying "it demonstrates once again the press industry thinks it is above the law".
They also claim it lacks any democratic legitimacy, pointing out the Leveson-compliant royal charter for self-regulation by the press has the backing of the main political parties. "We were subject to intrusion, bullying, harassment, intimidation, libel and other forms of abuse by some newspapers, and they were allowed to get away with it for a very long time because of the lax, self-regulatory system in place."They also claim it lacks any democratic legitimacy, pointing out the Leveson-compliant royal charter for self-regulation by the press has the backing of the main political parties. "We were subject to intrusion, bullying, harassment, intimidation, libel and other forms of abuse by some newspapers, and they were allowed to get away with it for a very long time because of the lax, self-regulatory system in place."
They add that the prime minister had said he wanted the new system of regulation to enjoy the support of the victims, citing David Cameron's evidence to Leveson on 14 June that "the test of the system is: is it going to provide proper protection to ordinary families who… get caught up in these media maelstroms and get completely mistreated?"They add that the prime minister had said he wanted the new system of regulation to enjoy the support of the victims, citing David Cameron's evidence to Leveson on 14 June that "the test of the system is: is it going to provide proper protection to ordinary families who… get caught up in these media maelstroms and get completely mistreated?"
In their letter the victims claim: "There is no legitimate reason for the industry to be given a veto on a system which the public so urgently needs and which has been fairly and reasonably designed."In their letter the victims claim: "There is no legitimate reason for the industry to be given a veto on a system which the public so urgently needs and which has been fairly and reasonably designed."
They add the initiative is "an attempt by a small number of newspaper proprietors to continue to run the system for their own ends, claiming it has been led by Associated Newspapers, News International and the Telegraph Group, who have for many years dominated the discredited system of regulation run by the PCC".They add the initiative is "an attempt by a small number of newspaper proprietors to continue to run the system for their own ends, claiming it has been led by Associated Newspapers, News International and the Telegraph Group, who have for many years dominated the discredited system of regulation run by the PCC".
The victims also claim the PressBoF Charter "dilutes one of … Leveson's core recommendations, the creation of a cheap arbitration panel to resolve disputes and save parties the burden of legal costs".The victims also claim the PressBoF Charter "dilutes one of … Leveson's core recommendations, the creation of a cheap arbitration panel to resolve disputes and save parties the burden of legal costs".
The letter states the "PressBof charter does not make any provision for directing (or even requiring) apologies at all … this would enable newspapers to continue burying … apologies in the back of a newspaper, having defamed an innocent person on the front page."The letter states the "PressBof charter does not make any provision for directing (or even requiring) apologies at all … this would enable newspapers to continue burying … apologies in the back of a newspaper, having defamed an innocent person on the front page."
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