Early day motion tabled by primary sponsor Austin Mitchell (Labour), on Tuesday, 26 November 2013, in the House of Commons. It is signed by 13 members in total.

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DEFENCE OF PUBLIC INTEREST AND THE PROSECUTION OF JOURNALISTS

That this House recognises the need for journalists to pursue difficult stories in the public interest without fear of prosecution; is concerned about the situation facing journalists who have been arrested and charged in relation to charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office; believes that such charges, levied against individuals who had no role in the authorisation of payments nor responsibility for a workplace culture where such payments were institutionalised and where trade union recognition was not allowed, do nothing to tackle the real issue of corporate responsibility for any alleged wrongdoing; regrets that it is ordinary working journalists who are being targeted, whilst senior executives and the companies themselves escape blame; further regrets that to discount the public interest defence in bringing legal proceedings sets a very damaging precedent for the industry; and therefore calls on the Director of Public Prosecutions to ensure that a consistent and fair approach is taken in regard to such cases.

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Secondary information

Type

Early day motion

Reference

795 

Session

2013-14

Other sponsors

Elfyn Llwyd

John McDonnell

Ronnie Campbell

John Leech

Jonathan Edwards

Subjects

Administration of justice Press

Link

View this Early day motion on www.parliament.uk