By James Kirkup, Political Editor

Politicians’ “repressive” plans to regulate the press will undermine the   country’s international standing and the reputation of the Queen, free   speech groups have warned.

In a personal appeal to the Queen, media freedom campaigners warned against   plans to use a Royal Charter to back new rules for British newspaper   journalists drawn up by politicians.

Using the monarch’s authority to regulate the press will weaken Britain’s   authority over human rights in the Commonwealth, the campaigners say in a   letter to the Queen.

It has been signed by media freedom groups from around the world, including   the World Press Freedom Committee, the International Press Institute and the   Inter American Press Association

They are worried by plans by politicians to impose a new system of regulation   following last year’s Leveson Inquiry into wrongdoing by tabloid   journalists.

After the inquiry, politicians and the newspaper industry put forward   differing proposals for regulation, to be backed with a Royal Charter. The   industry plan for regulation independent of the state would expose   newspapers to £1 million fines.

Described as the toughest regulatory regime in the free world, it was rejected   by ministers sitting on the Privy Council.

The three main political parties proposed a system underpinned by statute,   compelling newspapers to submit to the new regime.

Publications that refuse to participate will be faced with “exemplary” damages   in the event of libel cases.

The new rules are “a set of repressive statutory controls being imposed on the   press against its will”, the letter said. “It breaches the fundamental   principle that politicians must never get involved in editorial content   regulation.”

The new rules will harm both Britain and the Queen, the letter said.

“If the UK moves to control the press through the force of law then it will   have a terrifying knock-on effect throughout the Commonwealth and much of   the developing world where Britain has a key leadership role,” it said.

Addressing the Queen personally, the groups warn that using a Royal Charter to   implement the rules “will make it infinitely worse because of the respect in   which you personally, and the Crown institutionally, are held throughout the   world,” they said.

“And it is your name, Your Majesty, that will regrettably be taken in vain,”    they add. The free speech groups have also commissioned a survey that   suggests public doubts about the politicians plan.

The Survation poll shows that seven in 10 voters agree there is a risk that   politicians could use the new rules to dampen media criticism of politicians.

Sixty-two per cent of people agreed that politicians should not have the final   say over changes to press regulation. The steering group for the UK   newspaper and magazine industry has said that the politicians’ proposals   remain deeply flawed, describing the plan as “a charter written by   politicians, imposed by politicians and controlled by politicians.”

Some politicians have also expressed reservations.  Nick Boles, a Conservative   minister, described the politicians’ charter as the most troubling thing the   Coalition has done since taking office.

The politicians’ charter is expected to be approved by the Privy Council on   Oct 30.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/10400899/Press-curbs-will-damage-Queens-standing.html