Press freedoms in UK rank among the worst in Europe

PRESS freedom in Britain remains at its lowest ever level after some “worrying” developments over the past year, including the alleged intimidation of journalists by Labour supporters.

The World Press Freedom Index has ranked the UK 40th out of 180 nations for press freedom for the second year in a row, between Trinidad and Tobago and Burkina Faso.

Reporters Without Borders, the organisation that produces the index, highlighted the fact that Laura Kuenssberg, the BBC’S political editor, had to hire bodyguards at a Labour Party conference. It also cited an “alarming” proposal by the Law Commission to make it easier to imprison journalists for obtaining leaked information, and attempts by peers to “hijack” legislation in order to limit press freedom.

Rebecca Vincent, UK bureau director of Reporters without Borders, said: “Maintaining our ranking of 40th out of 180 countries is nothing to be proud of, and puts us in the embarrassing position of having one of the worst records on press freedom in Western Europe. This is unacceptable for a country that plays an important international standard-setting role when it comes to human rights and fundamental freedoms. We must examine the longer-term trend of worrying moves to restrict press freedom, and hold the UK Government to account.”

A spokesman for News Media UK, which represents national, regional and local newspapers, said: “Although disappointing, it is not surprising that the UK languishes in 40th position in the press freedom index as the UK news media industry is under threat.

“We have seen repeated attempts by the House of Lords to hijack legislation, such as the current Data Protection Bill to enforce state-backed press regulation, which would have a chilling effect on investigative journalism.

“This is a grave threat to press freedom and could lead to the closure of newspapers. We call on all politicians to protect media freedom and safeguard a vibrant press in the UK.” Press freedom in the UK ranks below countries such as Estonia, Slovakia, Surinam, Samoa, Namibia, Ghana and Latvia.

It is shocking to discover that in a list of countries enjoying the highest levels of press freedom, the UK is ranked in 40th position, one of the worst in western Europe. In the annual World Press Freedom Index, Britain has fallen 18 places since the list was first published in 2002. A country that prides itself on its liberties has become a more hostile place in which to express views or even run news stories in print.

How has it come to this? The organisation Reporters Without Borders blames a continued heavy-handed approach by politicians towards the press. It highlighted several worrying moves, including a proposal by the Law Commission to replace the Official Secrets Act with an updated “Espionage Act” that could make it easy to jail journalists as “spies” for obtaining leaked information. It also pointed to the experience of the BBC’S political editor, Laura Kuenssberg, who was assigned bodyguards to cover the Labour Party conference following abuse and threats.

Although the Government has decided not to proceed with Coalition plans to impose punitive damages on newspapers even when they get stories right, residual powers to do just that still exist in the Data Protection Bill now before Parliament.

We need to put this in some proportion. In many countries, journalists run a great personal risk in seeking out the truth. Reporters are harassed, jailed and even killed for making disobliging comments or exposing corruption. None the less, since the Leveson Inquiry, some politicians have not given up their campaign for some form of statutory press regulation. If they ever get their way, we will fall further down the list.