Post-Leveson Update: Where Are We, 1 Year On?

TO ALL TO WHOM THESE PRESENTS SHALL COME, GREETING!

These cheery words open the Royal Charter devised by the UK political parties as a means of responding to the Leveson recommendations concerning standards in the press, which received assent this week (30 October 2013) at a meeting of the Privy Council.

Regulars will recall that the Charter was the product of the 18th March 2013 deal between the politicians, which emerged from the wrangling which followed the publication of Lord Justice Leveson's proposals in November 2012.

To recap, the Royal Charter provides for the creation of a so-called 'recognition body' to approve and oversee a new press regulatory body. But the Charter does not itself create a press regulation body – it merely puts in place the framework, and sets out 'recognition criteria' for any new regulatory body. Key elements are independent appointments and funding of the body; formulation of a new and robust press standards code; the prospect of