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John Prescott's resignation from privy council welcomed by Hacked Off John Prescott's resignation from privy council welcomed by Hacked Off
(2 months later)
Campaign group Hacked Off, which was involved in the late-night negotiations with political leaders that produced the cross-party royal charter on press regulation, has welcomed Lord Prescott's decision to quit the privy council in protest at its "highly political" role in the debate about press regulation.Campaign group Hacked Off, which was involved in the late-night negotiations with political leaders that produced the cross-party royal charter on press regulation, has welcomed Lord Prescott's decision to quit the privy council in protest at its "highly political" role in the debate about press regulation.
"He is expressing the frustration felt by very many people, including victims of press abuses, at the stalling of much-needed change on grounds related to the supposed procedures of this obscure body," a spokesman for the group said."He is expressing the frustration felt by very many people, including victims of press abuses, at the stalling of much-needed change on grounds related to the supposed procedures of this obscure body," a spokesman for the group said.
It is believed this is the first time a member of the privy council, set up to advise the monarch, has resigned on a point of principle.It is believed this is the first time a member of the privy council, set up to advise the monarch, has resigned on a point of principle.
The move reflects Prescott's anger at the way plans to reform press regulation are, he believes, being watered down following intense lobbying by newspaper groups.The move reflects Prescott's anger at the way plans to reform press regulation are, he believes, being watered down following intense lobbying by newspaper groups.
His resignation means he will drop the "right honourable" title. It will also have constitutional experts reaching for their history books. Disgraced ministers John Profumo, John Stonehouse and Jonathan Aitken all resigned the right honourable title. More recently, former Labour environment minister Elliot Morley was stripped of the status after his conviction for fraudulently claiming more than £30,000 in expenses. Chris Huhne resigned last year after admitting to having perverted the course of justice in 2003.His resignation means he will drop the "right honourable" title. It will also have constitutional experts reaching for their history books. Disgraced ministers John Profumo, John Stonehouse and Jonathan Aitken all resigned the right honourable title. More recently, former Labour environment minister Elliot Morley was stripped of the status after his conviction for fraudulently claiming more than £30,000 in expenses. Chris Huhne resigned last year after admitting to having perverted the course of justice in 2003.
But Prescott's resignation is a political gambit designed to reignite the debate over the future of press regulation in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal that led to the closure of the News of the World in 2011.But Prescott's resignation is a political gambit designed to reignite the debate over the future of press regulation in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal that led to the closure of the News of the World in 2011.
His decision to quit, revealed in a letter to the clerk of the council, Richard Tilbrook, posted on Friday, is likely to overshadow its meeting on Wednesday. In the letter, Prescott says he is resigning because he believes the government now favours the rival royal charter proposal backed by Pressbof, the body representing most newspaper and magazine publishers.His decision to quit, revealed in a letter to the clerk of the council, Richard Tilbrook, posted on Friday, is likely to overshadow its meeting on Wednesday. In the letter, Prescott says he is resigning because he believes the government now favours the rival royal charter proposal backed by Pressbof, the body representing most newspaper and magazine publishers.
This is despite David Cameron telling parliament last week that the Pressbof proposals had "serious shortcomings".This is despite David Cameron telling parliament last week that the Pressbof proposals had "serious shortcomings".
But Prescott writes: "After a number of statements made to parliament this week, including one from the prime minister, it is clear that the government intends to give priority in consideration to the press industry's Pressbof charter rather than one agreed unanimously by parliamentarians."But Prescott writes: "After a number of statements made to parliament this week, including one from the prime minister, it is clear that the government intends to give priority in consideration to the press industry's Pressbof charter rather than one agreed unanimously by parliamentarians."
He adds: "I believe that the privy council is being used in a highly political way to block real and much-needed press regulation. I cannot stand by and be party to this."He adds: "I believe that the privy council is being used in a highly political way to block real and much-needed press regulation. I cannot stand by and be party to this."
Critics of the Pressbof proposals believe they do not go far enough in ensuring a robust and independent oversight of the press.Critics of the Pressbof proposals believe they do not go far enough in ensuring a robust and independent oversight of the press.
In his column in this week's Sunday Mirror, Prescott expresses his concern that the issue of press regulation will drag on until the next general election. He also suggests the privy council's apparently political role in the affair threatens to drag the monarchy into a conflict with parliament.In his column in this week's Sunday Mirror, Prescott expresses his concern that the issue of press regulation will drag on until the next general election. He also suggests the privy council's apparently political role in the affair threatens to drag the monarchy into a conflict with parliament.
Prescott says in his letter that "having examined all the details, including legal advice, I am of the view that a combination of government ministers and press barons have combined to delay the implementation of parliament's royal charter, by procrastination and half-truths."Prescott says in his letter that "having examined all the details, including legal advice, I am of the view that a combination of government ministers and press barons have combined to delay the implementation of parliament's royal charter, by procrastination and half-truths."
The damning claims of collusion will be fiercely rejected by the government. The culture spokesman, Lord Gardiner, told parliament last week that it was right that the rival Pressbof proposal was subjected to "due process".The damning claims of collusion will be fiercely rejected by the government. The culture spokesman, Lord Gardiner, told parliament last week that it was right that the rival Pressbof proposal was subjected to "due process".
But Prescott said: "The privy council must put parliament and the victims' views first, before the press, when considering legislation."But Prescott said: "The privy council must put parliament and the victims' views first, before the press, when considering legislation."
The Hacked Off spokesman said: "Victims only accepted the use of the opaque, medieval royal charter process very reluctantly, as it was clearly second best to a straightforward piece of legislation.The Hacked Off spokesman said: "Victims only accepted the use of the opaque, medieval royal charter process very reluctantly, as it was clearly second best to a straightforward piece of legislation.
"It now appears that their fears were well-founded."It now appears that their fears were well-founded.
"The decision to put the press barons' charter through ahead of the parliamentary one is, as Lord Prescott says, a political move by sections of the government who want to buy time for their friends in the press."The decision to put the press barons' charter through ahead of the parliamentary one is, as Lord Prescott says, a political move by sections of the government who want to buy time for their friends in the press.
"The policy of all parties in both houses of parliament is clear and settled. If a small group of newspaper editors and proprietors, who are not even representative of the industry as a whole, are able to drag the cross-party agreement into a ditch at this stage, it will be an affront to democracy."The policy of all parties in both houses of parliament is clear and settled. If a small group of newspaper editors and proprietors, who are not even representative of the industry as a whole, are able to drag the cross-party agreement into a ditch at this stage, it will be an affront to democracy.
"It is unprecedented in modern times for a privy councillor to resign as an act of protest. We hope that the government now recognises the strength of feeling and takes steps to act urgently, before the hacking trials start in September.""It is unprecedented in modern times for a privy councillor to resign as an act of protest. We hope that the government now recognises the strength of feeling and takes steps to act urgently, before the hacking trials start in September."
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