Today’s budget commits the Government to abolishing VAT for online publications, including newspapers.Hacked Off Director Kyle Taylor said:

“Instead of providing qualified and targeted tax relief for e-books and other deserving online publications, the Government has today announced that relief will apply to the same newspapers which continue to wreak havoc in the lives of innocent people. “Weeks after the death of Caroline Flack, this announcement provides a bumper tax break to the very same companies which subjected Ms Flack to months of abusive and intrusive coverage. It is an insult to all the victims of press abuse. “This state handout of millions of pounds to the Murdochs and other media owners comes as several of these publishers face extensive litigation. These publishers should be investigated and reformed; not handed a wad of public cash.”

ENDSFor press enquiries contact: sara@hackinginquiry.org and 07554 665 940NOTESHacked Off is the campaign for a free and accountable press, and we work with the victims of press abuse to achieve those aims