Press Regulation And Exemplary Damages

A regulator will be established by Royal Charter (a formal document granted by the Queen, on the advice of ministers, used to establish the terms of a body). In order to placate those who were seeking a true statutory underpinning for the Regulator, the Charter can only be amended by a two-thirds majority in both Houses of Parliament. This entrenchment will be enshrined in an amendment to the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Bill.

The Regulator will have jurisdiction over newspapers, magazines and websites "containing news-related material" (whatever that means), but crucially there will be no strict compulsion to sign up to the Regulator's rules. Amongst the Regulator's powers will be the right to ensure that publications issue prominent apologies to victims of press misconduct, and the ability to issue fines of up to £1 million where the law is breached.

The deal has been hailed in some circles as a...