“The Press Complaints Commission should be disbanded. By failing to uphold its commitment to journalistic accuracy and enforce its own Code of Practice' the PCC has demonstrated that it is unwilling' unable and unfit to regulate newspapers. We need a new press regulator with principles and teeth'” said human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
He was commenting on the PCC’s rejection of 25'000 complaints against the Daily Mail over its “inflammatory' inaccurate and insensitive slurs” against gay pop star Stephen Gately and the gay community.
“Jan Moir’s commentary on the death of Stephen Gately was factually inaccurate on three points. His death was not unnatural or lonely' as she suggested. There is no evidence for Ms Moir’s claim that ‘happy-ever-after’ gay civil partnerships are a ‘myth.’ These were false' cheap jibes at Stephen' his partner and the lesbian and gay community.
“The PCC nevertheless rejected a complaint about these inaccuracies by Stephen’s civil partner' Andrew Cowles.
“In a free and democratic society' Ms Moir is entitled to her sneering opinions but she is not entitled to make untrue allegations.
“If Jan Moir had made similar comments about a black or Jewish person' and disparaged their race and community. the PCC would have ruled against her. She may well have been arrested and charged with inciting racial hatred. Why is the PCC adopting double standards on homophobia?
“Jan should not be censored' sacked or prosecuted but the PCC should have rebuked her for the false allegations she made. Although the rest of what she said was distasteful and had a whiff of homophobia' in a democracy she has right to say it.
“The failure to rule against inaccuracy brings the PCC into disrepute.
It’s another nail in the coffin of this discredited' feeble institution. The PCC is past its sell-by date. It should be replaced by an independent statutory body with real power and principles'” said Mr Tatchell.
Read the “pathetic” PCC ruling here:
www.pcc.org.uk/news/index.html?article=NjIyOA==
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