The press’s refusal to sign up to the Royal Charter put in place by the Coalition to oversee press regulation bodies runs the risk that a future government will introduce “some hideous statutory regulation”, Prime Minister David Cameron has warned.
His comments came in an interview with Spectator editor Fraser Nelson, reported in a blog on the magazine’s website.
Fraser reported that Mr Cameron had described the politicians’ charter as an elegant and voluntary compromise – and had warned that the alternative might be compulsory statutory regulation enforced by an illiberal Labour government.
He quoted Mr Cameron as saying: “I believe there’s a great opportunity here to put this difficult and painful issue to bed. If the press set up their regulator I hope, in time, they will make that regulator compliant with – will be able to then seek recognition under – the charter recognition body.
“If that then happens, we’ll have in place a system that I think will settle this issue because we would have achieved what Leveson wanted which is independent self-regulation by the press, but not marking its own homework, having itself checked, and only having the body checked as it were by the charter.”
Fraser said he put it to Mr Cameron that what he was saying differed from the comment by Culture Secretary Maria Miller in November, when she agreed with told Andrew Marr that nothing else needed to happen if the new press regulator, Ipso, worked.
Mr Cameron responded: “What she’s saying is that it’s now down to the press,. We’ve done our bit, we have put in place a royal charter.
“We’ve given you, the press, an opportunity to put this issue to bed I would think for 50 to 100 years if you want to.
“Now, if you choose to set up your self-regulator but say ‘we’re not going to seek recognition’, that is your choice.
“Personally I think that is a mistake because you’re missing the opportunity to settle this and you’re risking that some future, less liberal, less enlightened government at the time of the next press crisis will hitch you with some hideous statutory regulation which I prevented.”
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Cameron really is a fool isn’t he. He first entangles himself in Rupert Murdoch’s tentacles, is found out, panics, and seeks the high moral ground by authorising an unnecessary inquiry into the Press which now threatens 300 years of press freedom. He has the judgment of a mentally disabled gnat. How he ever became Prime Minister is beyond me.
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As someone who generally leans towards the right in politics, I have to agree with Onlooker’s comment about David Cameron. I have had a pretty poor opinion of many politicians over the years but for sheer lack of political nous/judgement, Cameron really does take the biscuit.
Sadly, the other members of the current dismal trio at the summit of British politics, Clegg and Milliband, are little better.
We have perhaps never had a greater need of a truly free and unfettered press, national and regional.
More strength to those leading the industry who seem determined to stand up to the appalling coalition of slimy and incompetent politicians, obstructive civil servants and unpleasant celebrities, who are united in an assault on our free press.
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Oh great, so now it’s our fault for not playing ball on press regulation?
This is so twisted you almost have to admire Cameron – he creates a spurious inquiry to divert attention from the fact that he had half of the News of the World staff (including Coulson) working in his own press office – lets loose the Hacked Off hounds of hell – belatedly realises he’s backed himself into a corner – comes up with a harebrain charter idea – then blames the Press for not adhering to it, while pretending to be a champion of press freedom ..
He says: “You’re risking that some future, less liberal, less enlightened government at the time of the next press crisis will hitch you with some hideous statutory regulation which I prevented.”
– Yes that’s exactly why we have been saying all along that any form of political intervention in the way the press is regulated is dangerous.
“Hideous statutory regulation” ? That’s just what we’ve already got, Mr C….
Amanda Brodie
Chairman, Professional Practices Board,
Chartered Institute of Journalists
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