Tories book place at the table for Salmond’s panel on press standards

The Conservatives have announced they will take part in the expert panel set up by the First Minister to discuss the implications of the Leveson report into press standards.

Alex Salmond said he hopes the group, which will examine Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendation for regulation of the press to be underpinned by 
legislation, will be in place by the end of next week.

The aim is to have its own report published within about three months.

Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson has said she will take part but has called for the panel’s remit to be clearly set out.

All of Holyrood’s political parties are now on board.

Ms Davidson said: “The panel’s job could easily become the production of a blueprint for legislation rather than being limited to the legitimate function of 
examining the practicalities and problems of introducing new law.

“We have therefore decided to participate in the process, because the dangers of that happening will increase unless someone is prepared to test any assumption that a new system of press regulation must have legal underpinning.”