Labour plot new assault on press with meddling Lords despite media freedom curbs being rejected by MPs

LABOUR MPs are still plotting to muzzle the press by teaming up with unelected peers, it emerged today.

Deputy leader Tom Watson said imposing sweeping curbs on the media is "unfinished business" after the Commons voted down new laws on press regulation yesterday.

2

And Ed Miliband vowed that "the battle goes on" despite MPs' support for the free press.

Labour are conspiring with the House of Lords to force a second vote on whether to hold a re-run of the Leveson Inquiry, .

Campaigners want the peers to add an amendment to data legislation calling for so-called "Leveson 2" next week.

The law would then return to the Commons, where Labour believe they can win the support of enough MPs to overturn last night's result.

2

The Leveson 2 amendment was defeated yesterday by nine votes after the DUP sided with the Tories.

After the vote, Mr Watson said: "The Tories betrayed the victims of press intrusion today by rejecting Leveson 2. But for us, on the Labour benches, this is unfinished business."

Mr Miliband, who proposed the amendment, added: "Very disappointed for the victims of phone-hacking and press abuse that we did not win the vote for Leveson 2.

"The battle goes on to keep our promise to them to get the truth they deserve and protection for victims in the future."

And anti-press campaign group Hacked Off said: "This is not the end."

MOST READ IN POLITICS

HOUSING SHAKE-UP

PM to seize control of building rules to get wannabe-homeowners on ladder

SIR KEIR STARMER

This Government is putting people first by backing Britain's builders

FARAGE DOOR

Kemi Badenoch opens the door to working more closely with Reform UK

PINT PLOT

Pints 'could be scrapped for smaller glasses if Labour law passes unchecked'

There are fears a second Leveson Inquiry would result in unfair curbs on the freedom of the press to expose wrongdoing.

The first inquiry took several years and cost taxpayers millions of pounds.

A separate measure proposed by Mr Watson, which would have forced newspapers to pay the costs of anyone who sues them, has now been withdrawn after flopping in the Commons.

We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online politics team? Email us at tips@the-sun.co.uk or call 0207 782 4368 . We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours