Crunch vote on Data Protection Act could destroy local press

The Prime Minister says it is important for the Government to resist amendments to the Data Protection Act which could “undermine our free press”.

West Bromwich MP Tom Watson is one of the key drivers for the legislation which could mean the closure of hundreds of local newspapers.

Express & Star Editor Keith Harrison has been a vocal critic of the plans and said: “If passed, this legislation would mean we would have to pay the costs of people who sue us, no matter how ludicrous their case.

• Express & Star comment: MPs must not kill off the press

“Win or lose, newspapers would have to pick up the lawyers’ bill for the other side. It is patently unfair and would result in newspapers being reduced to little more than community noticeboards for fear of being sued in a lose-lose situation.”

The only way to avoid the costs would be to sign up to a state regulated watchdog. At present this is Impress, the controversial Max Mosley-backed organisation that has attracted no newspapers of note.

The Prime Minister said it would be “unnecessary and disproportionate” to require publishers to sign up to an approved regulator or face potentially massive costs in court cases, even if they win.

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband has tabled an amendment to the Data Protection Bill to establish a new statutory inquiry into the media.

And a second amendment, tabled by Mr Watson, would see publishers not signed up to a state-supported regulator pay their own and their opponent’s legal costs in data protection cases, even if they win.

Mrs May’s spokesman told reporters: “We would hope that when MPs come to consider these amendments, they will look at the strength of the case that we’ve put forward.”

The spokesman said that Mrs May told Cabinet that it was “very important for the Government to resist amendments which could undermine our free press”.

The Government remains committed to a voluntary system of press self-regulation, Mrs May told Cabinet. It was “unnecessary and disproportionate” to require the press to sign up to a system which has already been outright rejected by the majority of publications, she said.

South Staffordshire MP Gavin Williamson has said: “Section 40 would destroy the local press and take away a local voice for so many people around the country.”