Mosley’s £3m for Press watchdog

THE Press regulator bankrolled by Max Mosley’s millions is to receive a further £2.85million from his family.

The new deal will keep state-recognised Impress afloat until 2022 despite it regulating only a small number of niche publications.

It comes eight months after Impress was criticised for accepting Mr Mosley’s money when his violent and racist past was exposed by the Mail.

An election pamphlet published by Mr Mosley – saying ‘coloured immigrants’ spread ‘terrible diseases like leprosy’ and should be sent ‘home’ – was unearthed from a 1961 by-election campaign involving his father Sir Oswald Mosley’s political party, Union Movement.

Following the revelations the Labour Party announced it would not accept any further donations from the tycoon, who had already given £540,000. Granted state recognition in 2016, Impress has received nearly £1million a year from a charity backed by a trust set up in the name of Mr Mosley’s son, Alexander. It will now receive six further payments of £475,000 between next October and April 2022 to cover its costs.

Impress regulates just over 100 titles, mainly local or trade press.

Despite repeated threats of legal sanctions if they do not join a stateapproved regulator, no national newspapers belong to Impress. Most, including the Daily Mail, are regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation.

Impress boss Jonathan Heawood said: ‘We’re grateful to all our members and donors for their commitment to Impress. With this renewed support, we can move into the next phase of our development.’