Speaking during the debate on the Leveson Inquiry, Harriett Baldwin praises the work of local newspapers such as the Worcester News and the Malvern Gazette and questions the PM about the recommendations for increased transparency. Harriett Baldwin (West Worcestershire) (Con): The Prime Minister rightly started with the victims, many of whom were victims of the News of the World. We should bear in mind that the News of the World no longer exists, and that not all newspapers are like the News of the World. I am thinking of, for example, my local paper, the Worcester News, and the Malvern Gazette. What paragraph 135 of the executive summary effectively says is that, in the constituency of Witney, were the Prime Minister’s agent to have a personal dinner with someone who happened to work for the local paper, it would have to be recorded. What does the Prime Minister think of that particular recommendation? The Prime Minister: Let me begin by responding to what my hon. Friend said first. In paragraph 19 of the summary, Lord Leveson makes a special point about Britain’s regional newspapers. He says that “their contribution to local life is truly without parallel.” He praises their role, and says how little they have been involved in the sort of damaging culture and practices to which the rest of the report refers. As for my hon. Friend’s second point, we must look very carefully at the recommendations for increased transparency. I think, frankly, that transparency is important. The public want to know what is the relationship between politicians on the one hand and the press on the other. If they can see how often you are meeting and whom you meet, they can see whether you have a balanced, proper, sensible relationship with the press or not. We have put transparency in place. I hear murmurings from Labour Members, but in 13 years they did not do a single thing about it. | Hansard