During Prime Minister’s Question Time last Wednesday was fortunate to be called to ask the first question of the session where I made the point directly to the Prime Minister that the current situation regarding press responsibilities and regulation cannot continue effectively un-checked. Too many innocent individuals, who have not sought fame and were often facing life-altering tragedies, like the Dowler or McCann families, have been appallingly abused by some sections of the national newspaper industry.
I welcomed the Prime Minister’s answer back to me acknowledging those who have been victims and stating that the status quo cannot continue. I also support the Prime Minister’s call for immediate all-party talks on the way forward.
The principle of the Leveson Report is independent self-regulation of the press and I fully support that principle.
I have, for your interest, outlined below the Prime Minister’s stance on each specific recommendation:
· The Press and the Police. Lord Justice Leveson makes a number of recommendations including national guidance on appropriate gifts and hospitality record-keeping of contact between very senior police officers and journalists and a 12-month ‘cooling-off’ period for senior police officers being employed by the press. These are designed to break the perception of an excessively cosy relationship between the press and the police.
PM’s Response: The Government supports these recommendations.
· The Press and Politicians. This is the first government ever to publish details of meetings between senior politicians and proprietors, editors or senior executives, as Lord Justice Leveson recommends. He also recommends disclosing further information on the overall level of interaction. This would apply to all parties.
PM’s Response: The Government accepts this recommendation.
· The Press and the Public. Lord Justice Leveson says: The Press Complaints Commission is ‘neither a regulator nor fit for purpose to fulfil that responsibility.’ Lord Justice Leveson sets out proposals for independent self-regulation organised by the media. He details the key “requirements” that an independent self-regulatory body should meet, including independence of appointments and funding, a standards code, an arbitration service, and a speedy complaint-handling mechanism – crucially – with the power to demand up-front apologies and impose million-pound fines. These are the Leveson principles. They are the central recommendations of the report. If they can be put in place, we truly will have a regulatory system that delivers public confidence, justice for the victims, and a step-change in the way the press is regulated in our country.
PM’s Response: The Prime Minister accepts these recommendations.
I will closely follow the all-party talks that are taking place and I believe from this the right balance can be struck between the importance of media freedom in a democracy (the press has not been regulated by the Government for over 300 year now in this country) and the responsibilities of national journalists, editors and newspaper owners not to abuse their position and be held accountable, with redress, when they do.
Henry Smith MP