Editors split over call for ombudsman to monitor PCC rulings

Newspaper editors were divided yesterday over the proposal that an independent arbiter should be appointed to monitor the Press Complaints Commission (PCC).

Simon Kelner, editor-in-chief of The Independent and The Independent on Sunday, was fiercely criticised by some rivals for his call to MPs for an ombudsman to hear appeals by the public against PCC decisions.

Mr Kelner was accused by Piers Morgan, editor of the Daily Mirror, of making a "call to actively seek further shackles on our already massively over-manacled press freedom".

Roger Alton, editor of The Observer, criticised as "totally wrong" Mr Kelner's suggestion on Tuesday to the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee that an ombudsman could possibly be set up "under the umbrella" of Ofcom, the communications watchdog. Mr Alton, who was recently appointed to the PCC, quipped that Mr Kelner should be "taken out and shot" for his comments.

Mr Alton said: "We either have self-regulation or we don't. If newspaper editors want more statutory control, then we are all doomed."

Mr Kelner claimed that the PCC lacked transparency and was too "cosy" with the industry. He said the watchdog was not seen as "trustworthy" but the public could not appeal, other than by going to court.

Yesterday, Alan Rusbridger, editor of The Guardian, backed the idea of "another tier" to assess PCC rulings but said it should not be linked to Ofcom. "We support a lot of what Simon had to say in terms of not pretending that absolutely everything in the garden is rosy," he said, but added: "We don't go along with the view of giving Ofcom a role."

The Government indicated in a debate of the Communications Bill this week that it had no intention of introducing any form of statutory regulation.