PRESS COMPLAINTS COMMISSION AND THE DAILY EXPRESS

Early day motion 1199, tabled 5 December 2005 by Austin Mitchell (Labour). Signed by 41 members.

That this House notes the recent failure of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC) to uphold a complaint against the Daily Express over its 'Bombers are all spongeing asylum seekers' headline; believes that the PCC and its Chair, Christopher Meyer, have failed to uphold the highest standards of accuracy in journalism; further believes the PCC is failing to address the concerns of journalists and members of the public about unethical journalism and the threat it poses to social cohesion within communities; and therefore urges the Government to make the PCC a public authority for the purposes of the Freedom of Information Act 2000.

Signatures by party: Labour 33, Liberal Democrat 6, Plaid Cymru 1, Respect 1.