Nathan Sparkes, Hacked Off Policy Manager, commenting on the Conservative manifesto said:

“The Conservative manifesto published today, which promises to repeal part of the Leveson framework and suppress the second part of the inquiry, confirms the coverage-for-policy bargain struck between press executives and the leadership of the Tory Party. There is no evidential or other reasonable basis for the Tory Party’s position, which is opposed by every other major party in Parliament. It is disappointing to see today's Tory Party, which has historically sought to uphold British sovereignty and the rule of law, become reduced to the bidding of newspaper proprietors and executives. Hacked Off are in touch with a number of Conservative MPs who believe in the values of free speech and accountability which the Leveson system represents, and we hope the Conservative Party Leadership will listen to them, working journalists and the victims of press abuse and reconsider their position. As it stands, Conservative policy tacitly endorses police corruption, newspaper illegality and the absence of ethical regulatory standards across the newspaper industry - a position few candidates for any party would wish to defend.”

ENDS

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NOTESHacked Off is the campaign for a free and accountable press, and we work with the victims of press abuse to achieve those aims.