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Nick Robinson
Political editor
Leveson Report: What next for PM?
It should not be acceptable that it (the press) uses its voice, power and authority to undermine the ability of society to require that regulation is not a free for all, to be ignored with impunity. The answer to the question who guards the guardians should not be "no one".
Those words buried deep in the Leveson Report seem to summarise the judge's view.
He attacks the press for behaviour which can "only be described as outrageous" and for "recklessness in prioritising sensational stories almost irrespective of the harm the stories may cause".
He condemns political parties for "too close a relationship with the press in a way which has not been in the public interest" and a "persistent failure" to respond to public concern about the press"
He criticises the police for failing to re-open enquiries into phone hacking and being "wrong and unduly defensive".
However, and you can be sure David Cameron will make a great deal of this :
* he clears the Prime Minister of "anything resembling a deal" with News International
* he praises the former Culture Secretary Jeremy Hunt for his handling of the BSkyB "in every respect bar one" ie asking his special adviser to deal with News International
So far, so much commentary. What of his recommendations?
Leveson tries to bridge the gap between those who argue for self regulation by the press and those who call for a new law. He says that a new press regulatory body would only be independent if it was underpinned by a law - or statute and supervised by OFCOM - the current communications regulator.
I suspect that that will not persuade the Prime Minister. David Cameron is likely to praise Leveson's work and principles but argue that a new independent regulator could and should be set up without a new law.
The Deputy Prime Minister and the Labour leader Ed Miliband are likely to argue that Leveson's proposals should, at least, be the starting point.
The question then is - can a parliamentary majority be formed to defeat the prime minister or will he manage to persuade the press to change its proposals to head off that threat?
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Comment number 72.
trevmuttley30th November 2012 - 19:52
I stopped buying the Sun in the 80s because of the close connection to the Tory party and I didnt like a newspaper telling me which way to vote. Today after the Leveson report and again DC is sitting in bed with the Press with one eye on the next election he needs them on board to act as his spin machine. After what happened over the phone hacking I do not now buy the papers do I miss them NO.
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Comment number 71.
skiturn30th November 2012 - 9:57
WE DO NOT NEED MORE REGS.THERE IS LAW IN PLACE ALREADY ,THE PROBLEM IS THE NONE ACTIVICATION OF THE LAW .THE ONLY TRUE TEST FOR THE NEWS MEDIA IS WHEN JO PUBLIC STOPS BUYING THEM AND THE TRUTH IS JO PUBLIC LAPS UP TAT AND BECAUSE OF THIS A FEW EDITORS WENT A STEP TOO FAR,SO STOP BUYING GET THE CRIMINAL LAW TO WORK AND SEND THE FEW TO GAOL ,THAT WOUL STOP IT IN ITS TRACT.NO NEW LAW NEEDED
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Comment number 70.
The Old Grey Cardigan30th November 2012 - 9:47
David Cameron's response to Lord Leveson's report once again shows how weak and ineffective our leadership is. This Prime Minister and his hapless, ineffective Government is likely to be rated the worst in our political history.
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Comment number 69.
Kate30th November 2012 - 9:19
Can't understand why the British people would want the decision regarding press behaviour to rest with a man who signs his text messages to one of the worst offenders - LOL ??????????
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Comment number 68.
Steve_M-H29th November 2012 - 21:36
66#
Yeahhh, rrrrrrrrrright, course you were..........Not. I know exactly at which end of the wedge you are standing, old chum. The very thin one that has your PW at one end and the likes of Izvestia/Prada at the other and something similar to the French privacy law somewhere along the way.
You'll only get rid of tat if the plebs stop buying the cr*p. An unfortunate byproduct of dumbing them down
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Comments 5 of 72