Government seeks views on press regulation issues

1 Nov 2016 03:29 PM

Government has published a consultation seeking views on two issues relating to the Leveson Inquiry.

This is to make sure the UK has a free and vibrant press but one which is held fully accountable when things go wrong, as set out in the manifesto.

Following events uncovered in the summer of 2011 when evidence emerged of phone-hacking being carried out by parts of the press, there have been major changes to the way newspapers conduct and regulate themselves in the UK. The relationship of the press with the public, police and politicians also has changed. The majority of the recommendations from the first part of the Leveson Inquiry - the inquiry set up in the wake of the phone-hacking - have now been implemented.

Government is therefore seeking views on the following two issues:

Speaking in Parliament, the Culture Secretary Karen Bradley said:

The Government is determined that a balance is struck between press freedom and the freedom of the individual. Those who are treated improperly must have redress. Likewise politicians must not seek to muffle the press or prevent it doing legitimate work, such as holding us to account. And the police must take seriously its role in protecting not only its own reputation, but also those people it is meant to serve.

This is the balance that we wish to strike, and this consultation is the most appropriate and fairest way of doing so.

Changes have been made to the way the press regulates itself in the UK following the Leveson Inquiry:

In addition, the Government has been working to deliver other recommendations from the Leveson Inquiry. This includes:

Government consultation

The consultation seeks views on the way forward for section 40 and the different options:

Government is also seeking views on Part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry, which was designed to look at wrongdoing in the press and the police. The terms of reference for Part 2 were drafted before Part 1 had started. Since then, three police investigations, Operations Elveden, Tuleta and Weeting (including Operation Golding) have investigated a wide range of offences at a total cost of more than £43m.

Given the extent of these criminal investigations, the implementation of the recommendations from Part 1 of the Leveson Inquiry, and the cost to the taxpayer of these investigations and Part 1 (£5.4m) the Government is considering whether undertaking Part 2 is still in the public interest. Some consider that the Leveson Inquiry has succeeded in what it set out to achieve and the media and police have made significant changes to their operations. Others however feel that further work through Part 2 is still required.

Therefore the options Government is consulting on in relation to this matter are:

The Government’s consultation will last 10 weeks, closing on 10 January 2017. Further details are online on the Department’s consultation website.

Accredited media only – DCMS News and Communications team – 020 7211 2210 or out of hours on 07699 751153.