The industry’s trade associations, through the Press Standards Board of Finance, applied on October 30 for an injunction to prevent that afternoon’s meeting of the Privy Council sealing the Government’s rival Royal Charter pending hearing of the industry’s case for judicial review.
It became apparent, say the trade associations, during the hearing that, without giving warning to the industry or its counsel, the Court had decided to treat the case as an application for permission for judicial review, as well as for an injunction. It dismissed both.
Lord Black of Brentwood, Chairman of the Press Standards Board of Finance said: "The imposition by the Privy Council of a Royal Charter on our industry raises hugely significant questions about a free press, a free society and the quality of our democracy. Quite apart from the threat to press freedom in the UK, it will have terrible reverberations across the Commonwealth and the developing world. The stakes are extremely high.
“We do not believe that a hastily convened hearing for an emergency injunction application is an appropriate venue for giving proper consideration to these vital issues. We are confident our appeal will succeed.”
