From Hansard for 30 November:
I hardly represent someone who is the "sweetheart" of the press, having had no background in the industry whatever.
That would be Baroness Buscombe, Chair of the Press Complaints Commission. Ho hum.
A computer thinks the following may also be of interest:
- Baroness Buscombe:what should we make of this combination of views?
- What to make of Baroness Buscombe’s speech as chair of the PCC?
- New twist over News of the World phone hacking allegations
- Campaign to improve Editors’ Code of Practice: now with added song
- “Report blows a gaping hole in the News of the World’s line that only a sole rogue reporter was involved in illegal hacking of phones”
The PCC argues that ensuring that the chair (and secretariat) have no background in the industry helps ensures its independence.
Why do you disagree?
Having an understanding of how the industry work makes for better regulation usually.
It's similar with the Electoral Commission. It's right that it's not headed up by someone right out of frontline politics, but the previous very strict rules against having any commissioners or senior staff with party political experience for long periods of time meant they often made decisions that didn't reflect the realities of what they are regulating.