That this House regards freedom of speech as a precious component of democracy; therefore believes that the Sunday Express and all other newspapers should be free to decide the authorship and content of their publications, subject to the law; supports the public service broadcasting obligations of the BBC in ensuring the impartiality of presenters of current affairs programmes, noting the distinction between a critic paid by the BBC to give opinions and a presenter paid by the BBC to field opinions and that the latter must remain publicly impartial; further notes that with regard to the article by Robert Kilroy-Silk in the 4th January edition of the Sunday Express, the BBC investigation is about impartiality and the Commission for Racial Equality referral of the article to the Police is to investigate whether it constitutes incitement to racial hatred; supports the freedom of the press but also believes that it is right to have laws against incitement to racial hatred, paedophilia and exploitative pornography which necessarily introduce some limits to freedom of speech and expression; notes that the rise of Nazi fascism in Germany was assisted by propaganda which dehumanised and vilified Jewish people as a race and believes that the present day use of similar tactics in relation to any ethnic or religious group, for example blaming Arab people in general for the events of 11th September, should be condemned.

That this House regards freedom of speech as a precious component of democracy; therefore believes that the Sunday Express and all other newspapers should be free to decide the authorship and content of their publications, subject to the law; supports the public service broadcasting obligations of the BBC in ensuring...

That this House deplores the racist comments directed at Arab people, made in the 4th January edition of the Sunday Express by BBC presenter, Mr Robert Kilroy-Silk, branding over 200 million ordinary individuals as 'suicide bombers, limb amputators, women repressors'; views with contempt his abhorrent contention that Arab states and their populace 'murdered more than 3,000 civilians on 11th September and then danced in the hot, dusty streets to celebrate'; and calls upon the BBC to consider Mr Kilroy-Silk's position within the Corporation.

That this House deplores the racist comments directed at Arab people, made in the 4th January edition of the Sunday Express by BBC presenter, Mr Robert Kilroy-Silk, branding over 200 million ordinary individuals as 'suicide bombers, limb amputators, women repressors'; views with contempt his abhorrent contention that Arab states and...

That this House notes with concern the summary dismissal of Ian Walker, Executive Editor of the Sunday Express and the attempted demotion of Amanda Platell, Executive Editor of the Sunday Express only weeks after the newspaper revealed details of the Right honourable Member for Hartlepool's trips to Brazil and his friendship with Reinaldo Aliva da Silva; further notes that the proprietor of the Sunday Express, Labour Peer and former advisor to the Right honourable Member for Hartlepool, exerted pressure on the editors of the Sunday Express to water down their story; further notes that a senior journalist from the Sun newspaper was dismissed after comments he made on television about the Right honourable Member for Hartlepool and that the Chancellor of the Exchequer's Press Secretary was forced to resign after he allegedly revealed details of the loan from the honourable Member for Coventry North West to the Right honourable Member for Hartlepool; calls on the Government to support an open and free Press; and hopes there will be no further resignations from the Sunday Express.

That this House notes with concern the summary dismissal of Ian Walker, Executive Editor of the Sunday Express and the attempted demotion of Amanda Platell, Executive Editor of the Sunday Express only weeks after the newspaper revealed details of the Right honourable Member for Hartlepool's trips to Brazil and his...

That this House asks the Prime Minister to establish an inquiry into the possibility that improper pressure to sack editors or journalists has been applied by Government or Labour spin doctors to newspaper proprietors needing Department of Trade and Industry ministerial approvals; believes the article 'Surely, Lord Hollick is not going to try to please Mr Mandelson again' by Stephen Glover in The Spectator, 21st November deserves investigation, confirmation or denial as to whether the Prime Minister, his chief press spokesman or the Secretary of State or his helpers had any formal or informal contact with those responsible for The Express on Sunday about the staffing of the paper; notes the speculation linking the parent group of Express newspapers with Arsenal Football Club; and, remembering the exercise by the DTI of regulatory and competition responsibilities over the proposed link between Manchester United and Sky, calls on the Prime Minister to transfer DTI responsibilities relating to the interests of Lord Hollick and the owners of Express newspaper to another member of the Cabinet during the inquiry.

That this House asks the Prime Minister to establish an inquiry into the possibility that improper pressure to sack editors or journalists has been applied by Government or Labour spin doctors to newspaper proprietors needing Department of Trade and Industry ministerial approvals; believes the article 'Surely, Lord Hollick is not...