PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PRESS FREEDOM (9 April 2000)

That this House is concerned at the assault on independent journalism represented by the attempt to intimidate The Guardian, The Observer and the reporter Martin Bright, by obtaining orders under the Police and Criminal Evidence Act 1984 to force them to surrender information relating to contacts with David Shayler, which was either in the public domain or has been supplied to ministers by Mr Shayler himself; notes that the newspapers and Mr Bright have been notified that they could face charges under the Official Secrets Acts relating to contacts with Mr Shayler and that, while a research student, Julie Ann Davies, who had worked on a Channel 4 programme on Mr Shayler, has also been detained and interrogated by Special Branch officers without charges being brought, all to suppress legitimate enquiries in the public interest; further notes that the NUJ Code of Conduct requires that journalists do not divulge confidential sources of information; further notes that charges laid under the Official Secrets Acts against former Sunday Times journalist Tony Geraghty, over a book he had co-written about intelligence operations in Northern Ireland, had to be withdrawn after public protest, while charge against his co-author Nigel Wylde have been dropped; and suggests that ministers should restrain proceedings against journalists and ensure that the orders against The Guardian, The Observer and Mr Bright are withdrawn, and that no charges are laid against them or Ms Davies under the Official Secrets Acts.

Sponsored by:
Austin Mitchell (Labour)