Clegg and Cameron set out competing post Leveson visions
Prime Minister David Cameron is on a collision course with his own deputy, Nick Clegg, after airing ‘serious concerns and misgivings’ over Leveson’s wish for parliament to implement a new arm’s length watchdog to oversee another beefed up press watchdog.
Cameron believes this ‘crosses the Rubicon’, removing the detachment of the press from political interference for the first time in Britain’s history and as such is reluctant to countenance it.
For his part Clegg has described the mooted plans as ‘proportionate and workable’, a stance which found echo across the floor in the House of Commons, with ‘unequivocal’ backing from Labour.
Cross party talks have now begun in an effort to reach consensus on the best way to proceed with reports suggesting that Cameron may have buckled and given the green light toward drafting a bill to implement Leveson’s plan.
Labour will then push for a commons vote on the issue in January with Cameron gambling that the press will get its act together and put a new system of self-regulation in place before then.
Cameron said: “The danger is that this would create a vehicle for politicians, whether today or some time in the future, to impose regulation and obligations on the press, something Lord Justice Leveson himself wishes to avoid.
"I believe there may be alternative options for putting in place incentives providing reassurance to the public and ensuring the Leveson principles of regulation are put in place, and these options should be explored.”