Cross-party talks on Leveson Report still unresolved

CROSS-PARTY talks on UK press regulation in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry broke up yesterday with the parties no closer to reaching an agreement.

Officials said Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour failed to come to an agreement on the main sticking point, that any new watchdog must be backed up in law.

Key differences also remain over the data protection reforms. The talks will resume next week.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokeswoman said: “The Prime Minister and the Culture Secretary have been clear that they do not feel that statutory underpinning is necessary to achieve a tough independent self-regulator as outlined by the Leveson principles.”