The findings of the Leveson Inquiry should be supported as long as they are "proportionate", Nick Clegg told MPs.

The Deputy Prime Minister said "business as usual" was not acceptable as he backed a cross-party approach to setting up a new system of press regulation.

He said there should be "independent" forms of recourse, sanction and accountability but the "raucous" nature of the press should be protected.

Standing in for David Cameron at Prime Minister's Questions, Mr Clegg said: "The status quo has failed. The model of self-regulation has not worked when things have gone awry."

Answering questions from deputy Labour leader Harriet Harman, he said: "We must maintain a free, raucous, independent press. It's what makes our democracy what it is."

Ms Harman called on the Government to convene cross-party talks when Lord Justice Leveson's report was published.

"We need a proper system to protect people from being, as the Prime Minister said, thrown to the wolves," she said.