Royal charter ‘wrong’ for press watchdog

TORY proposals for a press regulator backed by Royal charter would put too much power in the hands of ministers and be an inappropriate role for the monarch, Labour has said.

Senior peer Baroness Jones of Whitchurch said Labour remains willing to force a Commons vote on proposals for a new system in response to the Leveson Inquiry, if cross-party talks falter and stressed the need for 
progress before the end of the month.

Junior business minister, Viscount Younger of Leckie, said Culture Secretary Maria Miller “will not shy away” from a press law as a last resort if a system of self-regulation cannot be made to work.

“The Prime Minister has said he does not believe that statutory legislation is necessary to achieve the principles outlined by Leveson,” he said.