Burnham-On-Sea’s MP has this week said the press must not be free to bully or abuse innocent people as she signed a petition from the campaign group ‘Hacked Off’ in support of the Leveson report on media standards.
Tessa Munt, pictured outside Parliament, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “It is important to have a free press – to hold the powerful to account and not be subject to political interference – but the press cannot be free to bully innocent people, ruin lives or abuse grieving families.”
“It is important that those who feel they have been mistreated by powerful newspaper barons know there is someone who is prepared to stand up for them.”
“My Lib Dem colleagues and I would far prefer an independent watchdog to whom people can turn – one who will make the newspapers listen – because currently, it is too easy for newspapers to ignore their own rules.”
The ‘Hacked Off’ campaign was formed in 2011 by the Media Standards Trust and is calling for a free and accountable press. More details are available here.
