Pages tagged "Press Freedom"
The Truth that Makes Us Free
The following is a guest post by the Rev Dr Peter Mullen, Hon. Chaplain of The Freedom Association.
It was the day when Ed Miliband finally went off his head. Fortunately, this happened in the House of Commons and the sage Jacob Rees-Mogg was on hand to calm him down. As all socialists do, the Labour party was aiming to curtail the freedom of the press in yesterday’s debate about what has become known as “Leveson Mark II.” Under new proposals, newspapers would have been legally obliged to pay the costs of mischievous litigants – even when the court had found against them. Tom Watson, Labour’s deputy leader, was the man all set formally to propose these new strictures on the press. Can you imagine the results if members of The House of Commons had passed this iniquitous Bill? Rogues, scoundrels, anyone with a vested interest or crudely on the make or to settle personal scores would have been able to make all manner of false claims – that is to lie to the court – and yet still have his costs paid after the court had judged he was telling lies
The free press is under threat once again as MPs prepare to vote today
MPs are currently debating and will today vote on amendments to the Data Protection Bill that are designed to muzzle the free press. Around 90 per cent of publications have decided not to register with the state approved regulator, IMPRESS. There are many reasons for this, one being that IMPRESS is largely bankrolled (through two trusts) by free press hater Max Mosley. But the main reason is because the state should not have a say in regulating newspapers.
As a result, 90 per cent of publications have decided to register with IPSO - a self-regulatory body that has the power to order retractions and impose fines. The fact that IPSO is not state approved is important to remember when considering the amendment from Deputy Labour Leader, Tom Watson.
From the Press Gazette:
Read moreThe privileged elite and the freedom of the press
The following is a guest post by the Rev Dr Peter Mullen, Hon. Chaplain of The Freedom Association.
I’m not starry-eyed about the British newspapers. How could I be when I’ve read them and written for them all my working life? If ever I harboured any illusions, these were quickly dispelled back in the late 1980s when I was lucky enough to land myself a proper job in Fleet Street. Sir David English gave me a freelance contract on the Daily Mail to write op-ed pieces, travel articles and book reviews. And it really was Fleet Street in those days: the Daily Mail building was two minutes’ walk from St Bride’s, the wedding cake church so named after its unusual tower. I had a grand old time. I joined Scribes’ journalists’ drinking club and spent hours in The Cheshire Cheese,once a favourite watering-hole of Dr Johnson, where I talked Old Leeds with Keith Waterhouse and cricket with Ian Wooldridge. I interviewed Daniel Barenboim in Munich and John Arlott in Alderney and I had dinner with Anthony Burgess and his wife in the West End. The first feature I was asked to write was about the Lockerbie disaster.
Peers vote to bankrupt the free press
On the day we have announced a new eighth principle of a free society - a free press and other media - Peter Mullen has written a timely article about those Peers who voted yesterday to restrict press freedom.
If, along with millions of others, you enjoy reading your local paper every morning, make the most of it because you might not have a local paper for much longer. For last night the House of Lords scandalously voted to restrict press freedom yet further. The vote was on an amendment to Section 40 of the Government's Data Protection Bill which will make newspapers face huge bills in data protection disputes.
Under this proposal, newspapers not signed up to a state-supported regulator would have to pay their opponent's legal costs, even if they were successful in court.
Read moreA new Puritan Commonwealth?
The following is a guest post by the Rev Dr Peter Mullen, Hon. Chaplain of The Freedom Association.
We have complete freedom of speech in this country. It’s just that we’re not allowed to say anything. Our politicians are forever boasting of our freedoms and telling us what a wonderful country we are privileged to live in – unlike Johnny Foreigner in any number of dictatorial regimes abroad.But this week the government has threatened – not for the first time – to invoke Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013.
What’s that when it’s out?
Just about the most unjust and iniquitous piece of legislation you could imagine in the worst of your Orwellian nightmares. Section 40 will force newspapers to pay the legal costs of those who sue them – even when a newspaper wins the court case against its accuser.
This is beyond outrageous.
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