Letter: Press abuses can harm democracy as much as curbs

Sir: The UK stands alone among modern democracies in Europe and the Commonwealth in having no special constitutional provisions for free speech. Furthermore, the UK is the only country in the 27-member Council of Europe that does not entrench the right to freedom of expression and information in its law, either through inclusion in its constitution, or by incorporating the European Convention on Human Rights, or both.

The Calcutt inquiry is, therefore, looking at press freedom and responsibility in a vacuum, and to introduce any legislation that restricts freedom of the press when the balance is already loaded against investigative journalism would be a retrograde step. What is desperately needed in the UK is a Bill of Rights that would enshrine the right to free speech and access to information. This would provide the necessary condition for considering leglislation to protect personal privacy.

Yours faithfully,

FRANCES D'SOUZA

Director

Article 19

London, SE1

11 January