If Section 40 were ever enacted, publishers would be forced to sign up to a state-backed regulator or to pay both sides of their legal costs if they were sued. This would undermine the role of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), who – as the largest regulator of magazine media and specialist publishers in the UK – we believe effectively upholds press standards whilst also allowing the press to maintain independence from the state.

By fulfilling its manifesto commitment of repealing Section 40, the Government is removing unnecessary and burdensome regulatory uncertainty. This provides the businesses that keep the publishing ecosystem running with much-needed security, which is particularly welcome at a time when the sector is responding to rapid change in emerging technology and digital information services.