http://hackinginquiry.org/
Ahead of tomorrow’s parliamentary vote
on press regulation, author J.K. Rowling , a Core Participant in the Leveson
inquiry and supporter of the Hacked Off campaign, issued the following
statement today:
Some victims of press abuse felt that Lord Leveson did not go far
enough; I disagree. As an oft-banned writer, a devoted reader of Private Eye
for a quarter of a century and as somebody who venerated the late great Paul
Foot, I could not support anything that hampers the press’s ability to hold
power to account. Lord Leveson’s recommendations seemed reasonable and
proportionate to me, their aim simply to curtail abuses of the press’s own
power.
It goes without saying that what my family has been through – and I
spent two hours re-living those experiences on the stand at the Inquiry – is
less than nothing compared to what was meted out to the McCanns, the Watsons
and the Dowlers: ordinary families who became newsworthy through terrible
personal tragedies, or to Chris Jeffries, who was literally in the wrong place
at the wrong time and found his life forever changed.
I believed David Cameron when he said that he would implement Leveson’s
recommendations ‘unless they were bonkers’. I did not see how he could back
away, with honour, from words so bold and unequivocal. Well, he has backed
away, and I am one among many who feel they have been hung out to dry. Monday’s
vote will make history one way or another; I am merely one among many turning
their eyes towards Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg and hoping that they have the
courage to do what Cameron promised, but which he failed to deliver.
J.K. Rowling’s comments follow
statements by others who gave evidence to the Leveson inquiry, including:
Bob and Sally Dowler: ‘We are very
disappointed to learn that Lord Justice Leveson’s proposals may not now be
taken forward if the politicians choose to ignore the recommendations of LJ
Leveson that were aimed at preventing the sort of abuses that we and so many
others suffered.’
Kate and Gerry McCann: ‘We are in favour
of the freedom of the press; an Independent Self-regulator will guarantee media
freedom and independence. But we want our politicians to protect us, to stand
up for the ordinary victims instead of siding with the wealthy and powerful.’
Christopher Jefferies: “I welcome
tomorrow’s open and democratic parliamentary debate, which I hope will allow
many misconceptions about Lord Leveson’s recommendations to be clarified, and
lead to the establishment of an independent regulator, underpinned by statute,
to monitor press self-regulation.’
The very last day for a real justice to be done
The very last day for silent regret to take form
For if no battle is taken up now we are beaten
To wither and shrink back within the shadows
Where the press will rip us to pieces one by one
