PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS' SOURCES

Early day motion 1720, tabled 22 June 2009 by John McDonnell (Labour). Signed by 35 members.

That this House regrets that many police forces fail to recognise the importance of a journalist's right to protect his or her sources; believes that the protection of confidential sources is internationally recognised as one of the basic principles of press freedom and attempts to force journalists to disclose information to the security services undermine the confidence and candour with which sources will talk to journalists and damages the ability of the press to hold people in positions of power to account; and therefore calls on the Government to issue guidance to police forces across the UK to remind them of the need to respect press freedom.

Signatures by party: Labour 18, Liberal Democrat 8, Conservative 2, Plaid Cymru 2, Social Democratic and Labour Party 2, Independent 1, Respect 1, Scottish National Party 1.