0:00:00 > 0:00:07forward Digital, culture, media and sport. Secretary Matt Hancock.Thank
0:00:07 > 0:00:11you very much, Mr Speaker. Mr Speaker, with your permission, I
0:00:11 > 0:00:15wish to make a statement on the Leveson Inquiry and its
0:00:15 > 0:00:20implementation and the freedom of the breast. Over many centuries in
0:00:20 > 0:00:24Britain, our press has held the powerful to account and been free to
0:00:24 > 0:00:28report on investigate without fear or favour. These principles underpin
0:00:28 > 0:00:34our democracy and our -- and are integral to our freedom as a nation
0:00:34 > 0:00:40and today in a world of internet and click bait, our press face critical
0:00:40 > 0:00:43challenges that threaten their livelihood unsustainability, with
0:00:43 > 0:00:47declining circulations and a changing media landscape. It is in
0:00:47 > 0:00:52this context that we approach the Leveson Inquiry which was set up
0:00:52 > 0:00:57seven years ago, in 2011, and reported six years ago in 2012, in
0:00:57 > 0:01:02response to events over a decade ago. The Leveson Inquiry was a
0:01:02 > 0:01:07diligent and thorough examination of the culture, practices and ethics of
0:01:07 > 0:01:11our press in response to illegal and improper press intrusion. There were
0:01:11 > 0:01:16far too many cases of terrible behaviour and, having met some of
0:01:16 > 0:01:21the victims, I understand the impact that this had. From the start I want
0:01:21 > 0:01:26to thank Sir Brian for his work the inquiry lasted over a year and heard
0:01:26 > 0:01:32evidence from more than 300 people, including journalists, editors and
0:01:32 > 0:01:35victims. Three major police investigation is examined a wide
0:01:35 > 0:01:40range of offences and more than 40 people were convicted. The inquiry
0:01:40 > 0:01:45and investigations were comprehensive and since it was set
0:01:45 > 0:01:49up, the terms of reference for a part two of the inquiry have largely
0:01:49 > 0:01:53been met. There have also been extensive reforms to policing
0:01:53 > 0:02:00practices and significant changes to press self-regulation. Ipso has been
0:02:00 > 0:02:06established and now regulates 95 % of national newspapers by
0:02:06 > 0:02:09circulation. It has taken significant steps to determine its
0:02:09 > 0:02:16independence as a regulator and in 2016, so Joseph Pilling concluded
0:02:16 > 0:02:20that ipso had largely complied with lovers and's recommendation. There
0:02:20 > 0:02:27have been further improvement since and, I hope, more to come. Ipso
0:02:27 > 0:02:33introduced a low cost arbitration system and it has processed more
0:02:33 > 0:02:38than 40,000 complaints in its first two years of operation and ordered
0:02:38 > 0:02:41multiple front-page corrections or clarifications and newspapers have
0:02:41 > 0:02:45made improvements to their governance frameworks to improve
0:02:45 > 0:02:49internal controls, standards and compliance. One regulator, Impress,
0:02:49 > 0:02:56has been recognised under the Royal charter. The College of policing has
0:02:56 > 0:03:00published a code of ethics and developed national guidance for
0:03:00 > 0:03:05police officers on how to engage with the press and we have
0:03:05 > 0:03:10legislated in the policing and crime act to strengthen protections for
0:03:10 > 0:03:14police whistle-blowers. So it is clear that we have seen significant
0:03:14 > 0:03:19progress from publications, from the police and from the new regulator.
0:03:19 > 0:03:23And the media landscape today is markedly different from that which
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Sir Brian Leveson 2011. The way in which we consume news has changed
0:03:27 > 0:03:34dramatically. Newspaper circulation has fallen by around 30 % since the
0:03:34 > 0:03:36conclusions of the lovers and inquiry and although digital
0:03:36 > 0:03:41circulation is rising, publishers are finding it much harder to
0:03:41 > 0:03:48generate revenue online. In 2015 for every £100 newspapers lost in print
0:03:48 > 0:03:55revenue they gained only £3 in digital revenue. Our local papers in
0:03:55 > 0:03:58particular are under severe pressure. Local papers help to bring
0:03:58 > 0:04:03together local voices and shine a light an important local issues, in
0:04:03 > 0:04:07communities, courtrooms and council chambers and as we devolve more
0:04:07 > 0:04:12power further to local communities, they will become even more important
0:04:12 > 0:04:17and yet over 200 local newspapers have closed since 2005, including
0:04:17 > 0:04:24two in my own constituency. These are the new challenges and there are
0:04:24 > 0:04:29also challenges that were only in their infancy in 2011. We've seen a
0:04:29 > 0:04:33dramatic and continued rise in social media, which is largely
0:04:33 > 0:04:38unregulated, and issues like click bait and fake news and malicious
0:04:38 > 0:04:41disinformation and online abuse threatened high-quality journalism.
0:04:41 > 0:04:47The foundation of a successful democracy is a sound basis for
0:04:47 > 0:04:51democratic discourse and this is under threat from these new forces,
0:04:51 > 0:04:55and that requires urgent attention. These are today's challenges and
0:04:55 > 0:05:01this is where we need to focus, especially as over £48 million was
0:05:01 > 0:05:08spent on a police investigation and inquiry. During the consultation,
0:05:08 > 0:05:1312% of direct respondents were in favour of reopening the Leveson
0:05:13 > 0:05:18Inquiry, with 66% against. We agree and this is the position that we set
0:05:18 > 0:05:23out in the Conservative party manifesto. Sir Brian, who I think
0:05:23 > 0:05:26for his service, agrees that the inquiry should not proceed on the
0:05:26 > 0:05:31current terms of reference but believes that it should continue in
0:05:31 > 0:05:37an amended form. We do not believe that reopening this costly and
0:05:37 > 0:05:42time-consuming public inquiry is the right way forward. So, considering
0:05:42 > 0:05:48all of the factors, I have informed Sir Brian that we are formally
0:05:48 > 0:05:53closing the inquiry.
0:05:53 > 0:05:58We will take action to safeguard the lifeblood of democratic discourse
0:05:58 > 0:06:03and tackle challenges the media face to day but died decades ago. During
0:06:03 > 0:06:10the consultation be found serious concerns with section 40 of the
0:06:10 > 0:06:18crime act. It would exacerbate the problems. Respondents worry it will
0:06:18 > 0:06:25pose further burdens. As one high profile viewer put it he said and I
0:06:25 > 0:06:30quote newspapers are already operating in a tough environment and
0:06:30 > 0:06:34these proposals will make it tougher. They will add to the risk
0:06:34 > 0:06:38of self-censorship. The threat of having to pay both costs no matter
0:06:38 > 0:06:41what the challenge would have the effect of leaving journalists
0:06:41 > 0:06:49questioning every import named and including the most innocuous data.
0:06:49 > 0:06:57Section 40 risks damaging the paper you love and the impact meaning that
0:06:57 > 0:07:01papers will find it difficult to survive. These aren't my words but
0:07:01 > 0:07:06the words of Alistair Campbell talking about the chilling threat of
0:07:06 > 0:07:10section 40. If anybody knows about the threats to the press it is
0:07:10 > 0:07:17Alistair Campbell. Of the 7% of direct respondents only 7% of direct
0:07:17 > 0:07:22respondents favoured full commencement of section 40. By
0:07:22 > 0:07:27contrast, 79% favoured full repeal. Mr Speaker we have decided not to
0:07:27 > 0:07:32comment section 40 of the crime and to seek repeal at the earliest
0:07:32 > 0:07:38opportunity. Action is needed not based on what is in the past but
0:07:38 > 0:07:50what is needed to address today's problems. And the majority are
0:07:50 > 0:07:56Internet safety strategy is looking at online behaviour and would firmly
0:07:56 > 0:08:01tackle the problems of online abuse. The review into sustainability of
0:08:01 > 0:08:08high-quality journalism will address concerns on news on media. It will
0:08:08 > 0:08:11do that in a forward-looking way and respond to the challenges of today
0:08:11 > 0:08:17but the challenges of yesterday. The future of a vibrant press matters to
0:08:17 > 0:08:20us all. There has been a huge response from the public to the
0:08:20 > 0:08:27conservation and I want to thank everyone of the respondents. We have
0:08:27 > 0:08:32considered all the evidence, consulted widely, with regulators
0:08:32 > 0:08:40and publications, and the world has changed since the livers and enquiry
0:08:40 > 0:08:44was established and we have seen a side the lead actress Isaac
0:08:44 > 0:08:49Chamberlain the landscape of the media. The work of the enquiry has
0:08:49 > 0:08:56had a huge impact. We thank Sir Brian for lending his delegation at
0:08:56 > 0:09:01national and local levels. A press to hold the powerful to account is
0:09:01 > 0:09:09an essential component of our journalism. Received a press and a
0:09:09 > 0:09:17media that is robust and independently regulated. The steps I
0:09:17 > 0:09:25have set out today will help give Britain a press to hold the powers
0:09:25 > 0:09:36that are to account.Thank you Mr Speaker. As I have said through you
0:09:36 > 0:09:40before timing is everything in politics. If I'm looking breathless
0:09:40 > 0:09:47and fatigued this morning it is because I have carried a heavy load,
0:09:47 > 0:09:54in the gym, lifting weights, visualising Paul Dacre. For those
0:09:54 > 0:09:59increasing number of colleagues who do not read the Daily Mail any more,
0:09:59 > 0:10:06I refer them to my register of members interests. I think should
0:10:06 > 0:10:15take Mosley issue head-on, and if I thought for one moment he held those
0:10:15 > 0:10:20views contained in the leaflet of 57 years ago I would not have given him
0:10:20 > 0:10:26the time of day. He is a man though who in the face of great family
0:10:26 > 0:10:35tragedy and overwhelming media intimidation just uses emitted
0:10:35 > 0:10:39resources to support the weak against the strong. And on this
0:10:39 > 0:10:44issue I would like to thank the secretary of state or his statement
0:10:44 > 0:10:49is not just in the last half-hour but over and over again. Yeah after
0:10:49 > 0:10:57year. This announcement, conveniently timed to be buried
0:10:57 > 0:11:01under a flurry of snow is a disappointment, a breach of trust,
0:11:01 > 0:11:08and a bitter blow to the victims of press intrusion... But it is not in
0:11:08 > 0:11:15any way a surprise. We know now for certain what we have suspected all
0:11:15 > 0:11:20the time. Conservative Prime Minister David Cameron joined other
0:11:20 > 0:11:23party leaders to say he would keep his promises to the victims of phone
0:11:23 > 0:11:28hacking, he and his party were acting not out of conviction that
0:11:28 > 0:11:35out of weakness and for a breach period of time and for the first
0:11:35 > 0:11:40time ever, there was more to be gained politically by political
0:11:40 > 0:11:47parties from standing up to the tabloid media and bowing down to it.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52And when every Conservative MP then important back this policy including
0:11:52 > 0:11:56the current Prime Minister and the present Secretary of State they did
0:11:56 > 0:12:00not really mean it. They were waiting for winds to change, waiting
0:12:00 > 0:12:06for the fast to die down, waiting for a time when they could as
0:12:06 > 0:12:12quietly as possible break their promises. Today Mr Speaker the time
0:12:12 > 0:12:17has finally come. We knew what the Conservatives really thought when
0:12:17 > 0:12:23successive secretaries and state refused to implement section 40 of
0:12:23 > 0:12:27the crime of Courts act, the part of the Levenson system that would
0:12:27 > 0:12:32provide access to justice for ordinary citizens. While offering
0:12:32 > 0:12:36protections to journalists and newspapers which signed up to any
0:12:36 > 0:12:41Levenson complied self-regulatory body. The papers absurdly cherish
0:12:41 > 0:12:47you heard it as state regulation and point instead to the independence of
0:12:47 > 0:12:51their alternative non-Levenson complied regulation ipso. The
0:12:51 > 0:12:57government still has too scared to make the case for its own policy and
0:12:57 > 0:13:03finally today it is formally capitulating. And they capitulate to
0:13:03 > 0:13:05on the question of whether to complete the investigation into how
0:13:05 > 0:13:13phone hacking happened, and what is happening now? Underlying the phone
0:13:13 > 0:13:18hacking scandal we saw one of the biggest corporate scandals and one
0:13:18 > 0:13:23of the biggest corporate governance failures of modern times. The
0:13:23 > 0:13:26Secretary of State say the terms of reference of levels and to have
0:13:26 > 0:13:33largely been met. But I don't agree. Here are some of the things Levenson
0:13:33 > 0:13:38two was supposed to guess to get. To enquire into the extent of
0:13:38 > 0:13:43illegality at News International. To enquire into the way that police
0:13:43 > 0:13:50investigated allegations into News International and other groups. To
0:13:50 > 0:13:53enquire into corrupt police agreements and Robert investigation
0:13:53 > 0:14:00of complaints. To enquire into the extent of corporate governance and
0:14:00 > 0:14:03management failures at News International and the organisation
0:14:03 > 0:14:08none of these questions have been answered. And by betraying the
0:14:08 > 0:14:13victims of phone hacking in this statement today the Secretary of
0:14:13 > 0:14:18State is trying to ensure that they never will be. So can I ask him if
0:14:18 > 0:14:24it is revealed that the criminality that took place at News of the World
0:14:24 > 0:14:30extended to other newspapers, will he reconsider his position. The last
0:14:30 > 0:14:37thing the Murdoch and other empires wanted was for an enquiry, with
0:14:37 > 0:14:47powers and the axe to gets documents and get their dirty laundry. The
0:14:47 > 0:14:53last thing they wanted was more attention of their methods. At a
0:14:53 > 0:14:56time where it may be revealed that other papers not necessarily the
0:14:56 > 0:14:59ones at the heart of the scandal were also involved in criminality,
0:14:59 > 0:15:07they have been lobbying today, hard, for today's outcome. They would give
0:15:07 > 0:15:11the secretary of state a man who enjoys favourable headlines plaudits
0:15:11 > 0:15:17in tomorrow's leader columns. We already know Paul Dacre and rebut
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Modoc and the Barclay brothers have proved that the secretary of state
0:15:20 > 0:15:28statements, after all they write it. He could have chosen to do the right
0:15:28 > 0:15:32thing. But he chose not to stand up to the tabloid style newspapers
0:15:32 > 0:15:37robbing other Prime Minister in this government. He could have pulled the
0:15:37 > 0:15:47rug from under them, they could pull it from him whenever they choose.
0:15:47 > 0:15:50Let me close with David Cameron's words to the Levenson enquiry in
0:15:50 > 0:16:01June 9012. I will never forget meeting the family in Downing Street
0:16:01 > 0:16:05to run through terms of this enquiry with and to hear what they have been
0:16:05 > 0:16:09through. How it is redoubled, trebled the pain and agony there
0:16:09 > 0:16:15been through over losing Millie. I will never forget that. That is the
0:16:15 > 0:16:19test of all of this. It is not do the politicians or the press feel
0:16:19 > 0:16:23happy with what we get? It's are we really look protecting people who
0:16:23 > 0:16:29have been caught up and thrown to the Wolf by this process. That is
0:16:29 > 0:16:35what the test is. The secretary of state will prosper politically from
0:16:35 > 0:16:41this statement today. But he has failed that test.Thank you Mr
0:16:41 > 0:16:50Speaker. Now of course the case of the victims of press intrusion is an
0:16:50 > 0:16:57incredibly important consideration in making these judgments but I make
0:16:57 > 0:17:01these judgments not based on the register of members interests but on
0:17:01 > 0:17:06the basis of national interests and the issues faced by the victims had
0:17:06 > 0:17:15been looked into in the enquiry, in the three police investigations, and
0:17:15 > 0:17:19the issues of the future of our media include this but are much,
0:17:19 > 0:17:27much broader than it. He stands at the dispatch box and talked about
0:17:27 > 0:17:32the greed of the media but proposals from inside his side of the press
0:17:32 > 0:17:37would lead to a press bettered but not free. We do not love every story
0:17:37 > 0:17:42that is written about us in the press but the idea that the solution
0:17:42 > 0:17:47lies in shackling our free press with the punitive costs of any
0:17:47 > 0:17:55complainant is completely wrong and that the honourable gentleman
0:17:55 > 0:18:00opposite nose and we all know where he is coming from on the issue of
0:18:00 > 0:18:07press freedom, he is tied up with the opponents of press freedom. The
0:18:07 > 0:18:09democratic countries face huge challenges in making sure that we
0:18:09 > 0:18:14have robust but fair discussions in public life and the approach
0:18:14 > 0:18:20proposed by his side of the house would make it even harder. He talks
0:18:20 > 0:18:25about keeping promises and we are keeping promises made to ask
0:18:25 > 0:18:31constituents who elected us on this side on the manifesto to support a
0:18:31 > 0:18:36free press, and he talks about the need to look into the past, but
0:18:36 > 0:18:40there have been investigations and enquiries costing many millions of
0:18:40 > 0:18:45pounds and my judgment is that it is not proportional and in the natural
0:18:45 > 0:18:53interest to follow with millions of pounds more. So the message should
0:18:53 > 0:18:56go out loud and clear from this house that we support every single
0:18:56 > 0:19:03local newspaper in this country, big or small, these publications, and
0:19:03 > 0:19:08that is why we propose real and meaningful solutions for a vibrant
0:19:08 > 0:19:11and free and independent press and we will face up to the challenges
0:19:11 > 0:19:16that we see before us today and I hope the honourable gentleman and
0:19:16 > 0:19:23his party will come to support us in this because we need a strong
0:19:23 > 0:19:33democratic discourse over the future.The secretary of state
0:19:33 > 0:19:37public predecessor spies the select committee that we would feel a full
0:19:37 > 0:19:41response to the commission. We have yet to receive that, can he give me
0:19:41 > 0:19:47a assurance that the members will receive that in good time before his
0:19:47 > 0:19:50appearance in front of the select committee on the 14th of March? I
0:19:50 > 0:19:54have not only made this statement today but also will be publishing
0:19:54 > 0:20:04the full response to the consultation with good details and
0:20:04 > 0:20:08look forward to the select committee to discuss the question narrowly and
0:20:08 > 0:20:13also the wider actions to be taken she plays a full part in and take a
0:20:13 > 0:20:21full basis for discourse in this country.I thank the Secretary of
0:20:21 > 0:20:26State for his statement. The secretary of State will no, I wrote
0:20:26 > 0:20:31to him on the 25th of February seeking an update on the progress of
0:20:31 > 0:20:36this enquiry and asking if and when it would be incremented, I pleased
0:20:36 > 0:20:50it has come to the dispatch box at least today to firefighter.
0:20:50 > 0:20:55Our position has always been that should a UK wide part two of leather
0:20:55 > 0:21:00soon go ahead, this must take into account the distinct legal content
0:21:00 > 0:21:03in Scotland. We believe all individuals should have a right to
0:21:03 > 0:21:07redress when they feel they have been victims of malpractice.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12However, the Scottish Government has no plans to introduce statutory
0:21:12 > 0:21:21today plans to... Are areas that are clearly within devolved competence
0:21:21 > 0:21:26for Scottish Parliament. Can hear sure is going forward that he will
0:21:26 > 0:21:30respect the devolution settlement and respect independence of the
0:21:30 > 0:21:35Scottish legal system? And does he agree that by not doing so he would
0:21:35 > 0:21:38set a dangerous precedent when determining the ability of the
0:21:38 > 0:21:44Scottish Parliament to take decisions in devolved areas?Well,
0:21:44 > 0:21:50Mr Speaker, I agree wholeheartedly with what the SNP spokesman has
0:21:50 > 0:21:55said. It is of course part of the devolution settlement that these
0:21:55 > 0:22:01issues are dealt with in Scotland. And I of course respect the separate
0:22:01 > 0:22:07and distinct legal system in this area. Now he asked about whether we
0:22:07 > 0:22:11would respect that going forward. He will know as well as I do that there
0:22:11 > 0:22:17are amendments put in by the data protection Bill by which we have the
0:22:17 > 0:22:23second reading on Monday. With respect to data protection only
0:22:23 > 0:22:30called for and with wire at Levenson to type enquiry and the commencement
0:22:30 > 0:22:35of section 40 on a UK wide basis. And I look forward to discussing
0:22:35 > 0:22:40with him how we can make sure that we have the respect we need for the
0:22:40 > 0:22:45devolution settlement and for the Scottish press and it is my view
0:22:45 > 0:22:49that the single best way that we can deal with this problem that he
0:22:49 > 0:22:55rightly raises is to dispose with those amendments in their entirety.
0:22:55 > 0:22:58I very strongly welcome my right honourable friend's statement. Does
0:22:58 > 0:23:03he agree that now more than ever newspapers play a vital role in
0:23:03 > 0:23:07holding both government and opposition to account? And he's
0:23:07 > 0:23:11absolutely right that rather than looking backwards at the events of
0:23:11 > 0:23:15ten years ago and adding to the costs of local newspapers, we should
0:23:15 > 0:23:20be supporting newspapers in meeting the challenges of the Internet
0:23:20 > 0:23:25giants.Well, I agree with my right honourable friend wholeheartedly,
0:23:25 > 0:23:31not least because as points out one of the jobs that you have got to do
0:23:31 > 0:23:34when you are Secretary of State is look forward and look at the
0:23:34 > 0:23:38problems that we have today and how we solve them. And the problem that
0:23:38 > 0:23:44he raises about local newspapers isn't a marginal or a side issue.
0:23:44 > 0:23:49Over 200 local papers have closed in the past decade and a bit, including
0:23:49 > 0:23:55local papers in my patch and I do not want to see that. I do not want
0:23:55 > 0:23:58to see that accelerated by the actions of this House and that is
0:23:58 > 0:24:11what would happen if we do not take the course of action
0:24:17 > 0:24:20that we have put forward today. Having spent many hours with the
0:24:20 > 0:24:22Dowling family and with Christopher Jefferies and many others, can I
0:24:22 > 0:24:25just say on behalf of all the victims that many of us will feel
0:24:25 > 0:24:27that the Secretary of State has just shoved another little knife in our
0:24:27 > 0:24:30heart. In all honesty, we had hoped that the promises were real
0:24:30 > 0:24:32promises. Promises that we would get to the truth, not just of the bits
0:24:32 > 0:24:36and pieces that were able to be dealt with as Sir Brian says but the
0:24:36 > 0:24:39elements that were expressly excluded from that original
0:24:39 > 0:24:42investigation, in particular the collusion of the Metropolitan Police
0:24:42 > 0:24:48with the press, which could not be looked at all. And I do find it
0:24:48 > 0:24:52inconceivable that he only talks about the freedom of the press when
0:24:52 > 0:24:57there are of course the feeling that the press is important but too many
0:24:57 > 0:25:00others of us it's also important that politicians should be able to
0:25:00 > 0:25:06speak without fear or favour. And that means we should no longer be
0:25:06 > 0:25:10cowed by press barons, we should be able to do what is right for
0:25:10 > 0:25:13society. Simply ask for the Secretary of State, if everything
0:25:13 > 0:25:17that he said today's true, why on earth did the government make all
0:25:17 > 0:25:25those promises in the past and why did he vote for the legislation?
0:25:25 > 0:25:29Well, the world has changed since 2011 and the truth is that the rise
0:25:29 > 0:25:32of the Internet means that some of the issues that he rightly raises
0:25:32 > 0:25:39about making sure that the debates that we have is a reasonable one and
0:25:39 > 0:25:45not based on abuse and bullying is much, much broader and it is
0:25:45 > 0:25:52tackling the problems of today that is our task now. Now, of course
0:25:52 > 0:25:58there were abuses that were looked into in the enquiry and they have
0:25:58 > 0:26:03been looked into by the police in three investigations with over 40
0:26:03 > 0:26:06criminal convictions since. And the judgment that we have to make is
0:26:06 > 0:26:11what is the best thing to do for the future of this country where the way
0:26:11 > 0:26:16in which we debate politics, make decisions, is under challenge
0:26:16 > 0:26:20because of new technology in a way that it has not been for decades if
0:26:20 > 0:26:24not centuries and getting those solutions right is mission-critical,
0:26:24 > 0:26:29I would suggest, to our future as a liberal democracy and that is where
0:26:29 > 0:26:37we're putting our to.I welcome the Secretary of State's response to the
0:26:37 > 0:26:42consultation and the concerns raised about section 40. Could the
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Secretary of State outline further its potential impact on the
0:26:45 > 0:26:50viability of local newspapers such as the long meeting Chronicle and
0:26:50 > 0:26:57others in my constituency?Well, she mentions three local papers and what
0:26:57 > 0:27:03I would say is because of the nature of section 40 of the crime and
0:27:03 > 0:27:10Courts act, anybody making a complaint will have the costs
0:27:10 > 0:27:16awarded to the newspaper and not to the complainant if they are not a
0:27:16 > 0:27:22member of a Royal Charter approved regulator. And that means that
0:27:22 > 0:27:28anybody making any complaint would effectively be able to stop a
0:27:28 > 0:27:32journalist from pursuing a story, as set out by Alistair Campbell very
0:27:32 > 0:27:36eloquently I thought. And the situation I thought the Reed has
0:27:36 > 0:27:40changed since 2011 because nobody imagined that self regulator in it
0:27:40 > 0:27:46so would come to the fore, which now covers 95% of national newspapers,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49which has a low-cost arbitration system and can require the
0:27:49 > 0:27:54corrections to be put in place. Now it is not perfect and I hope they
0:27:54 > 0:27:58make further progress but nobody imagined that it would be there at
0:27:58 > 0:28:04all and so we have a better system than was in place and that allows
0:28:04 > 0:28:07both for redress but also from local newspapers to thrive as much as
0:28:07 > 0:28:17possible.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22I welcome my honourable friend's statements because I believe that
0:28:22 > 0:28:29whilst newspapers often make the life it intolerable they make in Day
0:28:29 > 0:28:32complacency impossible. I do worry about local newspapers and I welcome
0:28:32 > 0:28:36what you said about section 40 because we used to have three, we
0:28:36 > 0:28:44now have one and we have a very good Internet site but could I ask my
0:28:44 > 0:28:48honourable friend what other things he's going to do to help strengthen
0:28:48 > 0:28:51local newspapers?This is an important question and we are
0:28:51 > 0:28:54working hard on what we can do through this review of the
0:28:54 > 0:28:58sustainability of the press, with which I hope that he and Harlow
0:28:58 > 0:29:05start will engage with to make sure that we support not just from the
0:29:05 > 0:29:08big organisations such as the BBC and big Internet giants but also
0:29:08 > 0:29:11commercial models that work effectively to deliver news locally
0:29:11 > 0:29:21and nationally.I am very disappointed with the statement the
0:29:21 > 0:29:25secretary of State has made today and feel personally let down by the
0:29:25 > 0:29:29comments he has made in answer to some of the questions. I'd like to
0:29:29 > 0:29:35know what is in this for the victims of phone hacking and press abuse?
0:29:35 > 0:29:38What does the Secretary of State say to that dour and Hillsborough
0:29:38 > 0:29:46families and other countless victims of the appalling press abuse? There
0:29:46 > 0:29:51is nothing in this, the promises that were made to them by a
0:29:51 > 0:29:57Conservative Prime Minister and the legislation that was voted on by the
0:29:57 > 0:29:59Secretary of State, times have not changed for the victims and there is
0:29:59 > 0:30:05nothing in this for them. What will he say to them?Well, what I have
0:30:05 > 0:30:11said and what I will say to them is that we have to make sure that the
0:30:11 > 0:30:18media and news industry that we have in the UK can hold the powerful to
0:30:18 > 0:30:23account and can respond to today's challenges. And that means facing
0:30:23 > 0:30:28the country as it is now, including with the stronger press
0:30:28 > 0:30:34self-regulation that we have but also making sure that we take the
0:30:34 > 0:30:38wider context into account, which is that there is an undermining of the
0:30:38 > 0:30:43ability to have an objective and the positive political discussion
0:30:43 > 0:30:48because of the technology that's available. And in that the proposals
0:30:48 > 0:30:54that were set out over five, six years ago, they would make these
0:30:54 > 0:31:04challenges and worse rather than better.I welcome the statement
0:31:04 > 0:31:09today. Does my right honourable friend agree that as the press,
0:31:09 > 0:31:13local press and national press has a critical role in holding politicians
0:31:13 > 0:31:19are powerful to account and state regulation is highly undesirable in
0:31:19 > 0:31:30a democracy.I am concerned by some statements that they seem to think
0:31:30 > 0:31:37that state control of newspapers is a good idea.As a former journalist,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40Secretary of State, I am utterly dismayed by your statement today. I
0:31:40 > 0:31:46value freedom of the press but does the Secretary of State not see the
0:31:46 > 0:31:51sad irony in talking about how they press has helped the powerful to
0:31:51 > 0:31:57account and then closing the door on our opportunity to hold the powerful
0:31:57 > 0:32:03voices of the press to account on behalf of the victims. Victims who
0:32:03 > 0:32:08were promised, promised, the sort of legislation in section 40 that you
0:32:08 > 0:32:13are now turning away from. And frankly, the problems faced by local
0:32:13 > 0:32:16newspapers and the newspaper industry in general are nothing to
0:32:16 > 0:32:22do with leather scent. They are to do with modern technology. So
0:32:22 > 0:32:24wilfully Secretary of State reconsider thinking about the
0:32:24 > 0:32:29victims of this and giving them a chance to raise legitimate concerns
0:32:29 > 0:32:35under section 40?I agree with her that there has been a big change
0:32:35 > 0:32:39because of modern technology and I want to make sure that we have
0:32:39 > 0:32:42high-quality journalism in the future and I want to make sure that
0:32:42 > 0:32:47that can't be undermined by any complainant having costs awarded to
0:32:47 > 0:32:54the newspaper for any complaint. That is no way to organise a system
0:32:54 > 0:33:00of press regulation and instead what we have got to do is make sure that
0:33:00 > 0:33:03we have sustainable business models for high quality journalists so just
0:33:03 > 0:33:07as she had the opportunity to be a journalist in the past, so we have
0:33:07 > 0:33:13that opportunity for people in the future.I also welcome the Secretary
0:33:13 > 0:33:16of State's statements and particularly what he said about
0:33:16 > 0:33:22section 40. I also agree what he says about local press stop is aware
0:33:22 > 0:33:28that publishing company have recently bought a newspaper in my
0:33:28 > 0:33:32constituency... I'm confident about the future?Well, I am absolutely
0:33:32 > 0:33:37delighted to hear it. It is not the national norm to hear that about the
0:33:37 > 0:33:41local press but it does show that there are sustainable business
0:33:41 > 0:33:45models can be found. I'm absolutely delighted about that. And I want to
0:33:45 > 0:33:49do everything I can to make sure that there are sustainable business
0:33:49 > 0:33:53models for high-quality journalism and that includes not adding extra
0:33:53 > 0:34:00costs on to the local press.Rebecca Brooks Amanda Coulson came in front
0:34:00 > 0:34:05of this House and admitted to committing crimes by the bribing
0:34:05 > 0:34:08police officers, such was the scale of their arrogance and the feeling
0:34:08 > 0:34:12that they were so powerful that they could take on Parliament, that they
0:34:12 > 0:34:15have the Metropolitan Police in their pockets. That is the scale of
0:34:15 > 0:34:19where we were at when the Minister voted in favour of the legislation
0:34:19 > 0:34:24that he is now trying to appeal. Has he forgotten what happened to those
0:34:24 > 0:34:30people? The duty of us in this House is to give a voice to people who are
0:34:30 > 0:34:35weak and vulnerable and we as members of Parliament have a duty to
0:34:35 > 0:34:39stand up for them and he has failed to do that today.Well, the
0:34:39 > 0:34:44honourable member makes an extremely powerful case for just how much they
0:34:44 > 0:34:50Leveson Inquiry looked into everything in this area and followed
0:34:50 > 0:34:55by three police investigations. And this is my central point, is that we
0:34:55 > 0:34:59looked into these things as a society. We have a comprehensive
0:34:59 > 0:35:04Leveson Inquiry. We spent £48 million of taxpayer's money doing
0:35:04 > 0:35:08so. As he said, there were criminal convictions as a result and some
0:35:08 > 0:35:12people were jailed and now my job Secretary of State is to look
0:35:12 > 0:35:16forward at what the country needs for the future.Cover Secretary of
0:35:16 > 0:35:24State reassure me that the new regulatory framework is working well
0:35:24 > 0:35:29for victims and is much cheaper and easier than those regulations that
0:35:29 > 0:35:35were in force at the time of Leveson. What Iwhat I can tell the
0:35:35 > 0:35:41House is that we have they knew self regulator. Secondly, that it has
0:35:41 > 0:35:48introduced a low-cost arbitrator in scheme. Thirdly that it requires
0:35:48 > 0:35:49corrections including multiple front-page collections but that we
0:35:49 > 0:37:00would also like
0:37:12 > 0:37:18Unfairly pilloried, could he have explained to the house why he isn't
0:37:18 > 0:37:22any forward the recommendation to further the recommendation on
0:37:22 > 0:37:29amended terms. Accuracy is part of the code against which complaints
0:37:29 > 0:37:36are considered and therefore corrections and apologies can be
0:37:36 > 0:37:41required by outdips regulated newspaper so on the first point
0:37:41 > 0:37:50which is very important, accuracy is a court to the redress. It is
0:37:50 > 0:37:55critical that we have a regulatory system for the press but it is also
0:37:55 > 0:38:00critical that it is is not a regulatory system put in press by
0:38:00 > 0:38:08politicians but rather one put into place by the press themselves.Many
0:38:08 > 0:38:12years ago I was libelled by a newspaper and took them to court and
0:38:12 > 0:38:17won. That was one of the most stressful times in my whole career
0:38:17 > 0:38:23as a member of Parliament. Because he suddenly wake up with the power
0:38:23 > 0:38:26of the great newspaper with the resources and an ability to mount
0:38:26 > 0:38:29costs and bring pressure to you and that was for a member of Parliament.
0:38:29 > 0:38:36Just please think in your democracy minister what this means for an
0:38:36 > 0:38:40ordinary person, one of the constituents taken on by someone
0:38:40 > 0:38:44like the Daily Mail, life traduced, family ruined and with so little
0:38:44 > 0:38:50ability to stand up for themselves and their family. Will he think
0:38:50 > 0:38:54again on this because as far as I can see if you read the Daily Mail
0:38:54 > 0:39:01this week not much has happened. Having firstly of course with libel
0:39:01 > 0:39:10laws critically in this space in the low cost scheme brought in by ipso
0:39:10 > 0:39:12is designed precisely to address this question and making sure that
0:39:12 > 0:39:23works is important.I agree with my right honourable friend about
0:39:23 > 0:39:32section 40. I don't agree with personalised attacks on him but can
0:39:32 > 0:39:37I bring him back to the second part of my honourable friend for Harrow
0:39:37 > 0:39:43East about the amended terms of lives on. Sir Brian Levenson is
0:39:43 > 0:39:46probably one of the most experienced judges in criminal matters in this
0:39:46 > 0:39:51country and identified in detail the issue of criminal collusion between
0:39:51 > 0:39:55corrupt police officers and corrupt journalists. Anyone knows the
0:39:55 > 0:40:00criminal justice system knows that has not gone away and continues.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04Absent of lives and to an revised terms what will the government do to
0:40:04 > 0:40:10expose and deal with it?There have of course been changes to policing,
0:40:10 > 0:40:14not least the code of ethics and national guidance for police
0:40:14 > 0:40:18officers and the changes in the policing and crime act and I
0:40:18 > 0:40:21apologise to my right honourable friend from Harrow that I didn't
0:40:21 > 0:40:28address the second part of this question. We are taking forward the
0:40:28 > 0:40:40need to look at and insurer we have high quality in journalism in this
0:40:40 > 0:40:44country, including the press but also online where a huge amount of
0:40:44 > 0:40:50news is now consumed, and I am happy to talk to him about what he thinks
0:40:50 > 0:40:57needs to be done what I want to do is make sure we address the bones as
0:40:57 > 0:41:03I have said that we still face today Jim Shelton. Our behalf of the
0:41:03 > 0:41:09Democratic Unionist Party, we are listening but we remain concerned
0:41:09 > 0:41:15that the Northern Ireland newsrooms and papers have seemingly got off
0:41:15 > 0:41:20scot-free in the first enquiries the Minister state how the landscape has
0:41:20 > 0:41:23changed and so Brian initiated the reporter where we think we are now
0:41:23 > 0:41:31in light of our concerns? There has been a change, not least in the
0:41:31 > 0:41:35wider media, landscape, that we have talked about but also in terms of
0:41:35 > 0:41:40the redress available and self regulation which is much tougher
0:41:40 > 0:41:45with the introduction of ipso and the ability for people to go through
0:41:45 > 0:41:47arbitration, and so in terms of addressing problems in the press
0:41:47 > 0:41:54going forwards, we have the means of redress now and I hope that will be
0:41:54 > 0:42:08strengthened. Simon, while this celebrate a free press, are we not
0:42:08 > 0:42:14also right to demand a responsible press as well? With freedom comes
0:42:14 > 0:42:23responsibility. I my friend have shared thoughts on whether it is
0:42:23 > 0:42:34responsible to open in a democracy a hand back racially tainted money. On
0:42:34 > 0:42:37the second point he raises a very important question that I am sure
0:42:37 > 0:42:41the honourable gentleman opposite will be thinking heavily about. He
0:42:41 > 0:42:48has now admitted it was a mistake to take this money. On the first point,
0:42:48 > 0:43:00the press in online, take this on responsibly. Though the secretary of
0:43:00 > 0:43:05state agreed to meet the Dowler family, Christopher Jefferies, and
0:43:05 > 0:43:11the McCanns to explain to them while this Conservative government is
0:43:11 > 0:43:16breaking the promise given by Conservative Prime Minister? As I
0:43:16 > 0:43:23said I have already met some of the victims and have already extended an
0:43:23 > 0:43:28invitation to meet the victims and to meet hacked off in order to
0:43:28 > 0:43:33discuss what we're doing today and in the future. Thank you Mr Speaker.
0:43:33 > 0:43:40In my 15 years at the Telegraph I have limited experience of the
0:43:40 > 0:43:44present base commission but I insert your that ipso is a profoundly
0:43:44 > 0:43:48different regulator with barbed ETA powers and more teeth and can I say
0:43:48 > 0:43:52to him that section 40 would have a chilling effect not just on our
0:43:52 > 0:43:57local papers that on one national papers as well and can I say finally
0:43:57 > 0:44:08that's the ace use facing us today, we have better freedom of press and
0:44:08 > 0:44:10our accountability than the alternative course of action that
0:44:10 > 0:44:15the opposition would like to see.My noble friend speaks with great
0:44:15 > 0:44:19authority on this because not only was he a journalist but a journalist
0:44:19 > 0:44:26of technology and so understands the impact of journalism in a personal
0:44:26 > 0:44:31way and I agree entirely with what he has said. On the importance of
0:44:31 > 0:44:37having press that Canberra port without fear and favour it makes
0:44:37 > 0:44:43sure the powerful are held to account, it sounds glib but
0:44:43 > 0:44:47accountability is critical to good decision-making because it is only
0:44:47 > 0:44:50when you can have full accountability for decisions made
0:44:50 > 0:44:53that you have your feet held to the fire and he thinks really hard about
0:44:53 > 0:45:01the courses of action available. Sir Bryan believes the enquiry should
0:45:01 > 0:45:05continue albeit in a different form. The victims who were promised in
0:45:05 > 0:45:10person by David Cameron believe the enquiry would Ginny. Those victims
0:45:10 > 0:45:13have been betrayed today. The Secretary of State today like the
0:45:13 > 0:45:18last one in the last time was that the government overruled the wishes
0:45:18 > 0:45:25of a gut government enquiry judge. I am only looking at this enquiry and
0:45:25 > 0:45:28what I had to do and what I have done today is made a judgment about
0:45:28 > 0:45:31what is in a natural interests of the nation and I entirely understand
0:45:31 > 0:45:40the concerns of the victims in this pursuit.As we have heard from the
0:45:40 > 0:45:45other side of the house, there have been significant changes and the
0:45:45 > 0:45:51enquiry was a significant undertaking and led to a year-long
0:45:51 > 0:45:57look at all these issues and all the concerns of the victims and then
0:45:57 > 0:46:00there were three police investigations and over 14th
0:46:00 > 0:46:06investigations so this hasn't been looked into but looked into to the
0:46:06 > 0:46:11tune of £48 million and therefore I had to take a decision today on what
0:46:11 > 0:46:13is and the national interests for the country and that is what I have
0:46:13 > 0:46:20done. Thank you Mr Speaker. I welcome the statement on section 40
0:46:20 > 0:46:24today which would jeopardise fantastic local papers in my
0:46:24 > 0:46:34constituency. That the member for Argyll and Bute, if the members
0:46:34 > 0:46:40opposite 's proposal were taken forward it would have serious
0:46:40 > 0:46:51consequences.The amendments coming before the house in coming months
0:46:51 > 0:46:57would have gone negative impacts on the devolution settlement that alone
0:46:57 > 0:47:02one to go into. I am happy with the devolution settlement in the area
0:47:02 > 0:47:05and I think it is a good settlement and I look forward to try to ensure