GMB congress calls for toothless Press Complaints Commission to give way to independent regulator with proper powers to end press abuses

7 July 2011

GMB has written to members on the hacking scandal to advise them on how they can play a part in getting the changes demanded by Congress last month.

GMB consider that Parliament must now act in the wake News of the World hacking scandal to put in place statutory regulation of the press as self regulation has manifestly failed. GMB consider that Parliament must conclude that the Press Complaints Commission response to the latest revelations that it was misled by News International is ultimate proof that self regulation is a fig leaf.

GMB demands that Parliament should act now and not wait for outcome of police investigation or for outcome of any independent enquiry to replace the Press Complaints Commission. Legislation can be amended in the light of the findings of these bodies later.

GMB Congress last month in Brighton debated three motions on the media in Britain. Tom Watson MP spoke on one on phone hacking. (See notes to Editors for motion and Tom Watson's speech can be accessed from video recording of GMB Congress GMB Congress Day 1 - Sunday 5th June 2011 (Tom Watson MP)). Motion 232 called for the Press Complaints Commission to be replaced with a genuinely independent body with powers to enforce proper redress for misreporting and other press abuses.

The text of motion 232 on a "A FAIR, OBJECTIVE PRESS is as follows:

This Congress notes that, with a few notable exceptions, the press has never showed support to the Labour and Trade Union Movement. Over the past 30 years or so, this has changed from simple opposition to vitriolic and personal attacks. At the same time, the press support for the Tory Party, especially its right wing elements, has become more pronounced and sycophantic.

A free independent press, with objective reporting and presenting a plurality of views, is an essential part of a democratic society.

However, the British press is not objective, nor does it cover a wide range of views. Unlike the trade unions it vilifies, the press is self regulated.

To redress this imbalance, Congress calls for:

1.Replacement of the press complaints commission with a genuinely independent body, with powers to enforce proper redress for misreporting

2.An automatic right of reply for individuals and organisations

3.Access to the press for all political parties, except fascists, to allow for a wide range of views to be aired and debated."

Roy Dunnett speaking for the Central Executive Council (CEC) of the GMB said "The motion reflects the bias against the labour movement in the national print media and some regional print media and radio stations.

GMB fully supports the concept of total freedom for the press save for the constraints of restricting incitement; a biased national media is a price that has to be paid for freedom of the press.

However GMB considers that when the press maligns individuals and misreports the news there should be a body that insists on corrections and a right to reply. The Press Complaints Commission, a self-regulatory body, is toothless, and operates in the interests of the right-wing press barons, not the public.

The right-wing press misrepresents trade unions and working people. Additionally, innocent people's lives have been destroyed by mis-reporting or unfair exposure by sensationalist press reports and other invasions of people's privacy. CECfully support the proposals in the motion"

Kamaljeet Jandu GMB National Officer for Equality said "This morning GMB has written to our members on the hacking scandal to advise them on how they can play a part in getting the changes demanded by Congress last month.

Our message n lang=EN-GB >"said "Dear GMB member, Like me I am sure you are outraged and appalled at the latest revelations of phone hacking by the News of the World.

The News Of The World hacked Milly Dowler's mobile while she was missing. This not only gave her family & friends false hope that she would be found safe, but also destroyed potential evidence. We are asking you to join with us to show your concern over this action.

For users of Facebook please click on <Blink Boycott News Of The Worldand join the campaign.

Or you can Join Tom Watson MP – fight against the News of the World sickness...

If you don't use facebook, take email action now - Trade Unionists against News of the World sickness...

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