AddThis SmartLayers

IPSO boss rules out seeking Royal Charter recognition

Independent Press Standards Organisation chairman Sir Alan Moses has ruled out the prospect of it seeking recognition under the government’s Royal Charter on press regulation.

Speaking at a House of Lords Communications Committee hearing this week, Sir Alan said the members of IPSO, which include most regional press publishers, had “set their face against” the idea.

“The question as to seeking recognition as to IPSO’s point of view is irrelevant because none of those members of the press who have signed up contractually want to belong to a regulator that seeks recognition,” he said.

“They have taken a theological objection to the charter so there’s no point independently from our members in seeking recognition that they have set their face against.”

In theory, publishers could be subjected to “exemplary damages” in libel cases unless they belong to an “approved” regulator under the Charter.

However Sir Alan told the committee he thought this unlikely to happen in practice.