Cameron warns press regulation plans have ‘serious shortcomings’
Prime Minister David Cameron has warned that press regulation plans presented by the industry have ‘serious shortcomings’ as he is forced to defend delays in pushing through a Commons backed alternative.
Progress towards a cross-party Royal Charter, as recommended by last year’s Leveson Report, has stalled in recent months as newspapers submit their own rival plans for a different charter.
This means the Privy Council will not consider the bid until the autumn, after they’ve considered the newspapers proposal next week.
Updating MPs on the sluggish progress Cameron said: “We have to follow the correct legal processes. The legal advice, which we have shared with the leader of the opposition and his deputy, is that we have to take these things in order - we have to take the press's Royal Charter first and then we have to bring forward the Royal Charter on which we have all agreed.
"I think the press's Royal Charter has some serious shortcomings so no, I haven't changed my view."
Lord Justice Leveson himself has confirmed that he will present evidence to the Culture, Media and Sport Committee on 24 July to give his views on whether either of the two proposed charters deliver his vision.
Previous cross-party plans to set up a Royal Charter have received the backing of campaign group Hacked off, but the industry contends that this would curb freedom of the press.