Contrary to the tone of some of the reports in today's press, the Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg, yesterday reaffirmed his commitment to the Royal Charter approved by all parties in Parliament in March and acknowledged the impatience of many MPs that it should be implemented.Responding to a question about the Charter in the Commons from Labour’s Chris Bryant, he said: ‘I certainly stand by my support for that, as I think everyone does across all sections in the House.’ And to Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes he said: ‘He [Hughes] like many people who voted on 18 March for the cross-party royal charter, is impatient to get on with it. I understand that.’Clegg also spoke of the need first to examine ‘reasonably and objectively’ the draft Charter put forward by PressBoF, and said that process was now under way.Here are the exchanges:Simon Hughes (Bermondsey and Old Southwark) (LD): In the interest of victims of press intrusion and many others, will the Deputy Prime Minister confirm that the charter for press regulation agreed by this House and all parties will be put to the Privy Council at the earliest possible opportunity for agreement?Deputy Prime Minister: Of course I can confirm that we will do so at the earliest possible opportunity, but first we need to respect the processes of the Privy Council, as my right hon. Friend knows. Another, rival charter has been submitted for consideration at the Privy Council. We need to ensure that it is properly examined objectively and is not subject to undue interference. That process is now under way. He, like many people who voted on 18 March for the cross-party royal charter, is impatient to get on with it. I understand that. Our support for the royal charter voted for on 18 March remains, but we must also ensure that things are done objectively and reasonably in the Privy Council.And:Chris Bryant (Rhondda) (Lab): But Ministers tabled a motion on 18 March stating that the royal charter would go to the May Privy Council. Did they not know that they would be beaten to it by the press barons of this country? Why can it not go to the July meeting of the Privy Council? If not in July, why can the Deputy Prime Minister not have a special meeting in August or September, or whenever? The House decided. Why should others circumvent the will of this House?The Deputy Prime Minister: I hear the hon. Gentleman's frustration, but he will recall that on 18 March there was only one royal charter in play: the royal charter that we adopted on a cross-party basis-Ian Lucas (Wrexham) (Lab): The one we voted for.Deputy Prime Minister: Yes, with an overwhelming majority in this House. I certainly stand by my support for that, as I think everyone does across all sections in the House. However, another royal charter has since been put forward for consideration in the Privy Council. Whether the hon. Member for Rhondda (Chris Bryant) likes it or not, we must allow objective consideration of that additional royal charter.Brian Cathcart is Executive Director of Hacked Off.