Instant messaging

Lord Justice Leveson publishes his report at 1.30.  The Prime Minister, the leader of the opposition and the leader of the Liberal Democrats aka the Deputy Prime Minister respond this afternoon.  Is that a sensible way to make policy in the minefield of press regulation.

Speed reading was clearly the order of the day in Downing Street yesterday as ministers cleared their desks to work out what to say on Leveson.  The Coalition Committee has been finally hauled into action.    Nick Clegg is on the phone to the Speaker.

After all a 2000 page report demands an instant response.  Or does it?  Maybe from individuals  whose reputations may not emerge unscathed.  But it is not clear that any good purpose is served by reacting immediately in an inevitably unthought through way to the proposals for the future.

Rather than try to make capital (or not lose it) out of Leveson, wouldn’t it be better for the Prime Minister to stand up and simply say: “I am very grateful to Lord Justice Leveson and his team for the immense amount of work they have put in.  They have produced a long and considered report.  This is an issue which raises important issues on the balance of freedoms between individuals and the press and now deserves serious study.  That is what I and my colleagues will now do as I hope will the party opposite.  In the New Year, we will bring forward proposals – on which we will then consult widely.  Where possible, I am keen to build cross-party consensus.  And I will look to see whether there are issues which would be better resolved by free votes in this House.   I – and my Ministers – like Lord Leveson, will not discuss further today”.

And then Ed Miliband would have no option but to stand up and agree with the Prime Minister that this was too serious a topic to rush to instant conclusions.

Fantasy politics?  Possibly.

Better policy making?  Definitely.