LOCAL newspaper editors across the country have resoundingly rejected the idea of holding a new ‘Leveson-style’ inquiry into all media, describing it as an attack on your right to know the truth.

In an anonymous survey of editors conducted by the News Media Association (NMA), an overwhelming 92 per cent of respondents said they didn’t think another inquiry of its kind should take place.

The remaining eight per cent said they were not sure, meaning not one single local newspaper editor quizzed on the issue thought the inquiry should go ahead. On Wednesday MPs are set to vote on an amendment to the Data Protection Bill tabled by Ed Miliband, which would establish a new statutory inquiry into all media organisations, drawing in all broadcast, print or online media and journalists and inevitably resulting in more measures damaging to free speech.

Meanwhile, a separate amendment by Tom Watson MP, deputy leader of the Labour Party, would introduce draconian costs sanctions into the data protection regime, requiring publishers to pay all the claimants’ costs of legal actions brought against them as well as their own, win or lose.

Despite modifications purporting to exempt local papers, the cost sanctions would still impact on 85 per cent of the local press.

So editors would have to contemplate the prospects of crippling legal costs every time they handled any information relating to a living individual, whether an elderly couple celebrating their golden wedding anniversary, or the subject of a major investigation.

Newspapers and magazines would be regularly and repeatedly punished by those with an axe to grind, simply for telling the truth.

Local editors believe the Section 40-style cost sanctions in the Data Protection Bill would seriously damage the industry.

Andy Martin, editor of the Daily Echo said: “The local editors survey has made it very clear that local newspaper editors believe that another lengthy inquiry into the media should not proceed on the basis that it would be harmful to the sector.

“Local media is already trying to grapple with some serious challenges and the last thing the industry needs is for time, resource and talent to be diverted into dealing with a costly and unnecessary inquiry.”

“The first part of the Leveson Inquiry spawned the draconian Section 40 costs shifting provisions and a further inquiry would undoubtedly create yet more restrictions of free speech.

“MPs must resoundingly reject these amendments in order to stand up for freedom of speech and a strong sustainable local press sector.” Dorset MPs including Sir Chris Chope, Conor Burns and former journalist Richard Drax have consistently spoken up for the local media and against any further moves that would hamper its ability to do its job.