MP claims press plan will spell bad news (From Clacton and Frinton Gazette)
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MP claims press plan will spell bad news
6:00pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News
CLACTON MP Douglas Carswell has described proposals for new press regulations as an "absolute disgrace”.
A cross-party agreement was reached on the proposals after five hours of talks between Cabinet Office Minister Oliver Letwin, Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband on Monday.
Under the terms of the deal, the terms of the new system of independent self-regulation of the press will be set out in a royal charter, rather than by legislation passed by Parliament.
Tory MP Mr Carswell said: “The Gazette will now have to answer not to the local readers who vote for it every week – they will have to account to a group of grandees in London and anyone will be able to make the most vexatious complaints.
“As an MP I constantly have to ask myself what is the Gazette going to say about this but if this goes ahead it will be a lot easier for people like me to avoid answering to your readers.”
