Britain approves new press regulation system Wed Oct 30,2013

Britain approved a new system of regulating its press on Wednesday Oct 30,2013, a move newspapers said was draconian and threatened freedom of speech but which former victims of press excess described as long overdue.

Privy Council grants press regulation

The Privy Council, whose active members must be government ministers, meets in private to formally advise the Queen to approve "Orders" which have already been agreed by ministers.
This latest Privy Council meeting, held at Buckingham Palace, was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt, Culture Secretary Maria Miller and the Liberal Democrat Justice minister, Lord McNally of Blackpool.


The government says it wants to stamp out a scandal-hungry culture in parts of the press highlighted in a lengthy judge-led inquiry. Findings included the involvement of one newspaper in hacking into a murdered schoolgirl's mobile phone.

"It'll protect freedom of press and offer redress when mistakes are made," Britain's ministry of culture said on its official Twitter feed.

The development paves the way for a new industry regulator, makes it easier for people who feel they have been wronged by the press to have their complaints heard, and will allow the new press watchdog to levy fines of up to 1 million pounds.

Media organisations will be free to sign up or stay outside the new system of regulation

All three main political parties, including Prime Minister David Cameron's ruling Conservatives, back the new rules

Court of Appeal judges refused newspaper publishers an urgent injunction to stop ministers seeking the Queen's approval for the charter.