LEDBURY'S MP, Bill Wiggin, recently met with actor Hugh Grant to discuss press regulation ahead of the remaining stages of the Data Protection Bill.

Mr Wiggin had previously spoken in Parliament of his disappointment at the Government’s decision to abandon the recommendations of the Leveson inquiry, while Mr Grant is a member of Hacked Off, the campaign for an accountable press.

Bill Wiggin MP also offered his reaction to an announcement from the Independent Press Standards Organisation, stating they are to implement a compulsory low-cost arbitration scheme.

Mr Wiggin said: “I have been campaigning for a compulsory low-cost arbitration scheme ever since the Leveson Inquiry. The problem is that the so called ‘compulsory’ scheme is actually voluntary.

"Newspapers are under no obligation to sign up, newspapers do not have to be members of IPSO and IPSO is not an approved regulator. Any newspaper who is not signed up to the scheme, or who decides to leave IPSO, has no obligation to provide low-cost arbitration to victims of press abuse. This announcement is therefore utterly meaningless without the legislation to enforce it."

He added: "I welcome IPSO’s newly prompted commitment to low-cost arbitration, and want it to be compulsory for all members. I hope all their members sign up voluntarily and then remain in the scheme, but this does not change the need to legislate in order to protect the rights of the vulnerable to low-cost arbitration.

"This is a step in the right direction, but until it is compulsory for all cases against all newspapers, but I am worried that it is still simply a sidestep by the media to avoid being forced to provide access to justice for the most vulnerable victims of press abuse.”