Leveson Inquiry Update

Baroness Jay of Paddington Excerpts

Thursday 1st March 2018 Lords Chamber

[Lord Keen of Elie]

We consider that the present arrangements, particularly those reflected in IPSO, are working well with regard to the press.

[Baroness Jay of Paddington (Lab)]

My Lords, is it not the case that, as I am sure everyone around the House has demonstrated this afternoon, there is a great change in the media? The Minister has said several times that since 2011 things have changed in a great many ways. But are he and the Government really confident that the measures he has outlined this afternoon will be sufficient to deal with the questions which were raised again by the noble Baroness, Lady Hollins, given that of course the digital media are in some senses much worse even than the press in how they use personal abuse and personal statements about individuals to act in an entirely unacceptable way?

[Lord Keen of Elie]

The noble Baroness makes a very good point. That is why we are taking forward the digital charter, so that we can have an overarching programme of work to agree the norms and rules for that online world, as well as for the printed press.