Caroline Nokes
Main Page: Caroline Nokes (Conservative - Romsey and Southampton North) UK-USA Trade Agreements (Parliamentary Scrutiny)
Caroline Nokes ExcerptsWednesday 30th April 2025
(2 days, 15 hours ago)
Commons ChamberRead Full debate UK–USA Trade Agreements (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Bill 2024-26 View all UK–USA Trade Agreements (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Bill 2024-26 Debates Read Hansard Text Watch Debate
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David Davis (Goole and Pocklington) (Con)
On a point of order, Madam Deputy Speaker. Today’s Daily Telegraph says that it has been reprimanded by the Independent Press Standards Organisation for reporting on remarks made in this Chamber by the then Communities Secretary Michael Gove. IPSO asserted that the Telegraph should not have reported without having first given a right of reply to the group that the remarks related to.
Press freedom is a cornerstone of democracy, and for centuries the right to freely report on the proceedings of this House have been protected in British law. Those freedoms allowing the press to report without any hindrance or conditionality were secured as long ago as 1771 by John Wilkes. While IPSO may think it is being responsible, its reprimanding of the Telegraph undermines those fundamental rights. Will you, Madam Deputy Speaker, ask the House authorities to speak with the Independent Press Standards Organisation to remind it that the British press has an absolute right to report on what is said here in this Chamber without any hindrance or conditionality?
Madam Deputy Speaker (Caroline Nokes)
I thank the right hon. Member for his point of order and for notice of it. He has put his point on the record. Without commenting specifically on the IPSO ruling, because I understand that the issue was not straightforwardly about the reporting of what was said in this House, I do of course support the principle that being able to report on what is said here is extremely important.