The Conservative Party has reiterated its opposition to state regulation of the press and vowed not to bring forward Leveson 2 as part of commitments published today in its 2024 Manifesto.

Launched this morning (Tuesday 11 June 2024), the manifesto described the party as ‘a strong defender of freedom of speech and freedom of the press’ and, as such, the Conservatives remained opposed to any state regulation or control of the press, it said.

Alongside a pledge to ‘promote international media freedom’, the party also said that it would introduce a new complaints process for the BBC as well as look to ensure that the Corporation represented the ‘perspectives of the entire nation’.

It said: ‘The Conservative Party is a strong defender of freedom of speech and freedom of the press. We oppose state regulation and control of the press, including any attempt to bring forward Leveson 2 or re-open the Royal Charter on self-regulation of the press. We were proud to deliver the Freedom of Speech Act to protect free speech and open debate in our universities.’

‘The BBC should represent the perspectives of the entire nation with diversity of thought, accuracy and impartiality as its guiding principles. We will carefully consider the findings of the Funding Review ahead of the next Royal Charter and ensure it upholds these principles. We will introduce a new complaints process for the BBC so the BBC does not mark its own homework.’

The Conservative Party’s position on Leveson 2 is in stark contrast to the Liberal Democrat Party which yesterday vowed to proceed with part 2 of the Leveson Inquiry as well as its support for what it described as ‘Leveson-compliant’ press regulation. The Liberal Democrat Party also vowed to introduce a comprehensive ‘Anti-SLAPP Law’ which it said would ‘provide additional protection for free speech’ as well as protect the BBC, S4C, BBC Alba and Channel 4 as independent, publicly owned, public service broadcasters.

The Conservative Party Manifesto can be read in full here.