Monday 3 December 2012

Leveson needs implementing - letter to MP

FromNic Vine <leveson@nicvine.com>
Greenwich
London SE10
ToNick Raynsford MP


SubjectPlease implement the Leveson report in full as promised
Message
I am appalled at the Prime Minister's apparent betrayal of our trust.
It looks as though he is being bent by the winds of the press,
when what he should do is have the courage to lead a cross-party consensus.

Before Lord Justice Leveson’s report into press behaviour was published
the leaders of all three main political parties said publicly and privately
 to victims of press abuse that his recommendations should be taken
forward on a cross party basis. They also said that they would implement
them as long as they were proportionate and workable.

Lord Justice Leveson has recommended self-regulation of the press,
with its effectiveness and independence (from industry and politcians)
guaranteed by law. This is NOT the same as regulation by law.
If self-regulation has no legally-backed guarantee, it will lack the independence
and teeth that are the hallmark of the current failed system of self-regulation
and those for the past 70 years.

As your constituent I urge you to write to the Prime Minister asking him to
back Lord Justice Leveson’s recommendations in full as he said he would,
and to have the courage to lead a cross-party consensus to achieve a lasting
legacy of sustainable press regulation. Let's find a way to do it, rather than
find reasons to not do it.

Yours sincerely, Nic Vine Greenwich London SE10

(You can find Hacked Off on Facebook and on twitter, @hackinginquiry)
(You can sign the petition at  http://hackinginquiry.org/)

Gap again - poor show

So here we are with a 7 month gap ... it's not that I have nothing worthwhile to say - far from it - so why the silence?  

I suppose I was working flat out, and my wife and I were sailing our new (old) yacht, and there are so many jobs to do, people to see, books to read, even TV to watch - all good excuses and poor reasons.  Oh and I'm attempting to write a book - my work on that sits ju-ust above writing blogs down in the dim, dark recesses of my prioritised list of lists.  

I shall re-prioritise ... I shall put something into this blog every week - a blathering on whatever is tweaking what's left of my grey cells at the time.