The Culture Secretary tells Channel 4 News that, despite the government accepting the Leveson principles, it has grave concerns about implementing the recommendations.
Maria Miller told Jon Snow:
“The government has accepted in full the Leveson principles, we’re moving forward to see how we put them in practice.
“When we look at the practical way we implement the recommendations, that’s where we feel there are questions to be asked – around data protection, around how the role of Ofcom might work.”
“We have grave concerns and that’s why tonight we’ve started cross party talks. I’m glad to say those talks went well.”
“The concern we have is that once statutory underpinning is in place, you could get into legislation that could do so much more.”
But she admitted: “We know the status quo is not an option.”
Broadcaster Anne Diamond told Channel 4 News: “I almost thought it was too good to be true when I heard the Leveson recommendations…but without the law we get no change. It’s the press marking their own homework.
“I feel a sense of betrayal. It wasn’t easy to go in front of Leveson. So many people went through that. All of those months, all that anguish and without statutory underpinning, its all for nothing”
The Sun’s Associate Editor Trevor Kavanagh said: “It was a bleak report from our point of view. Almost all of it, we agreed with. We’ve spent a great deal of time and money trying to get to the bottom of the offence caused. We’ve learnt big lessons.
“But once you go down the route of law, it is a one way track. There’s no way back.”
Of today’s political response, Mr Kavanagh said: “With the greatest respect to Lord Justice Leveson he has come up with a recommendation – that recommendation needs to be discussed in parliament.
… I recognise everything that Anne has said about the ordeals and I understand fully the need for reform. I disagree with the notion that there should be statutory underpinning.”