Leveson Inquiry

Lord Soley Excerpts

Thursday 24th October 2013 Lords Chamber

Asked by

[Lord Soley]

To ask Her Majesty’s Government what progress they have made towards putting into effect the proposals made by Lord Justice Leveson in his report into the culture, practices and ethics of the British press.

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble (Con)]

My Lords, on 11 October, a final draft of the cross-party charter on self-regulation of the press was published following further discussions by the three main parties. These discussions helped to make the charter more workable. The cross-party charter will be on the agenda for a Privy Council meeting on 30 October.

[Lord Soley (Lab)]

I thank the Minister for that reply. After the 20th anniversary of my Private Member’s Bill in the House of Commons, now reborn as Leveson, this is like travelling at the speed of light, although not everyone would agree with that. What do the Government propose to do if the newspapers decide not to co-operate with the new body? What talks have they had with the newspaper industry about that possibility?

[Lord Gardiner of Kimble]

My Lords, the first thing I will say is that the noble Lord is indeed a patient Lord. However, our purpose is to seek a voluntary process, and we very much hope that the press will, through its independent, self-regulatory body, apply to the recognition panel so that what has happened before does not happen again and we have the right mechanism in place. I emphasise that it is voluntary for the press to apply to the recognition panel. However, as your Lordships know, Parliament has—following through from the Leveson report—made very clear, through the Crime and Courts Act, what the position would be for those who transgressed.