Newspaper regulation plans on hold as Privy Council fails to agree way forward
Plans to regulate Britain’s newspaper industry have been hit by further delays after the Privy Council convened to arbitrate on which of two competing frameworks should be used failed to agree to either of them.
The body is due to meet tomorrow but is understood to have rejected out of hand a regulatory proposal put forward by the industry. Complicating matters however is the fact that the Council is unable to reach agreement on whether to back an alternative royal charter backed by parliament.
Political fault lines have emerged between Conservative leader David Cameron, who backs the industry led initiative and his Lib Dem and Labour counterparts who are supportive of a royal charter backed by parliament.
This lack of census will see any final decision delayed until a follow up meeting on 30 October.
The latest developments come as Lord Leveson prepares to face questioning before two parliamentary select committeeson Wednesday and Thursday.