Press Malpractice

Part of Culture, Media and Sport – in the House of Commons at on 16 April 2026.

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Photo of Ian Murray Ian Murray The Minister of State, Department for Culture, Media and Sport, Minister of State (Department for Science, Innovation and Technology)

We recognise that incidents of undue attention and harassment from the media cause significant distress to the public. We will always defend media freedom, but with this freedom comes big responsibilities. Publishers must operate ethically and within the bounds of the law. The Secretary of State has met families who have experienced press intrusion. We are now carefully considering the next steps to determine how to ensure that public trust and accountability in news media is maintained and improved.

Secretary of State

Secretary of State was originally the title given to the two officials who conducted the Royal Correspondence under Elizabeth I. Now it is the title held by some of the more important Government Ministers, for example the Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs.