Editorial Freedom

HC Deb 18 February 1975 vol 886 cc1097-9

18. Mr. McCrindle

asked the Secretary of State for Employment how many com- munications he has received on the subject of editorial freedom in connection with amendments of the law since 11th October 1974.

Mr. Foot

My hon. Friend and I have received about 100 communications from about 75 sources, suggesting various forms of proposed statutory safeguards.

Mr. McCrindle

Has the Secretary of State seen the suggestion by Lord Goodman that the only person who is convinced that he is introducing a new charter of liberty for the British Press is the right hon. Gentleman himself? Is there any chance that the Secretary of State is likely to repent at later stages of the Bill, or does he propose to continue as the self-appointed defender of a freedom of the British Press which is not agreed to by the whole of Fleet Street?

Mr. Foot

The House came to a healthy conclusion on the matter in the recent debate. On Third Reading the House gave its verdict, which happened to concur with my view on the matter. I am gratified by its conjunction. It is most ill-advised of the hon. Gentleman or anyone else, including Lord Goodman, to cast aspersions on the charter for the freedom of the Press which is being discussed in another place. Progress is being made with that proposal. For anybody in any quarter to cast aspersions on it is most misguided, because I believe that that is the real way to protect the freedom of the Press.

Mr. Cryer

Will my right hon. Friend arrange to investigate the editorial policies of the Daily Express which, in adopting cheque book journalism, is restricting access to the right hon. Member for Walsall, North (Mr. Stonehouse) and, in the terms of one of the more recent victims of that newspaper's cheque book attitude, is behaving like the KGB? Will he ensure that when the referendum starts, freedom of the Press will be given to those who want to get out of Europe as well as to those who want to stay in?

Mr. Foot

I have one or two other matters on my mind at the moment without cleaning up the Augean stables in the Daily Express offices. I am not starting on that, even at the invitation of my hon. Friend, and no one would be more persuasive than he in doing so. I believe that we are making good progress with the Bill. The sooner it is on the statute book, the better for all concerned.

Mr. Hayhoe

Is the Secretary of State aware that, in the opinion of many who are well able to judge, it is he who is misguided on the subject of Press freedom? Will he, even at this late stage, help to facilitate an amendment to the legislation in the House of Lords which would be acceptable in all parts of the House? Is he aware that it would be totally wrong to assume that the vote following his emotive and passionate speech the other night is the end of the matter? It certainly is not.

Mr. Foot

In my opinion, the proper place to decide the whole question is this House of Commons, the elected representative of the people of this country. As I said in the debate, I hope that their Lordships will not poke their noble noses into this matter.