As David Cameron put it: "Politics is about delivering change." His decision to break off talks on press regulation with the other party leaders and go for a vote on a Royal Charter is a gamble.
As David Cameron put it: \"Politics is about delivering change.\" His decision to break off talks on press regulation with the other party leaders and go for a vote on a Royal Charter is a gamble.
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Cross-party agreement on an issue so fundamental to our democracy is desirable and earlier this week looked possible. Though a Royal Charter might require a one-clause amendment (to ensure future ministers could not pervert it), it appears to avoid the elephant trap of state regulation, while achieving the objectives laid down by Lord Leveson last November. In retrospect, it is a pity all three party leaders nailed their colours to the mast on the issue of statutory underpinning when the ink on the Leveson Report was barely dry. It made compromise more difficult, especially when Labour and the Liberal Democrats believe they are supported by both public opinion and a majority in the Commons.
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Cameron is right on press regulation
As David Cameron put it: "Politics is about delivering change." His decision to break off talks on press regulation with the other party leaders and go for a vote on a Royal Charter is a gamble.
Cross-party agreement on an issue so fundamental to our democracy is desirable and earlier this week looked possible. Though a Royal Charter might require a one-clause amendment (to ensure future ministers could not pervert it), it appears to avoid the elephant trap of state regulation, while achieving the objectives laid down by Lord Leveson last November. In retrospect, it is a pity all three party leaders nailed their colours to the mast on the issue of statutory underpinning when the ink on the Leveson Report was barely dry. It made compromise more difficult, especially when Labour and the Liberal Democrats believe they are supported by both public opinion and a majority in the Commons.
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We moderate all comments on HeraldScotland on either a pre-moderated or post-moderated basis. If you're a relatively new user then your comments will be reviewed before publication and if we know you well then your comments will be subject to moderation only if other users or the moderators believe you've broken the rules, which are available here.
Moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Please be patient if your posts are not approved instantly.
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