“A Diverse and Independent Media is vital Locally and Nationally” – Fiona Hyslop
Local Constituency MSP for Linlithgow, Fiona Hyslop has said that a diverse and independent media is vital and that the Scottish Government will not introduce plans requiring the press in Scotland to sign up to a state approved regulator. However Fiona warns that any plans pushed for by Westminster must consider the impact the will have north of the border.
Fiona said;
“A diverse and independent media is vital to sustaining a flourishing democracy. Press Regulation and the court system are devolved matters and the Scottish Government have no plans to require publishers to pay for the court costs even if they win a defamation case in court, as has happened in Westminster.
“A move to regulate the press in this way as planned at Westminster could put local newspapers like the West Lothian Courier or the Linlithgow Gazette at risk of viability and so it is essential that the UK Government consider the impact their decisions may have on the press in devolved countries.
“Scotland did not introduce statutory measures to incentivise participation in the regulatory system as happened in Westminster several years ago, and I can confirm that we have no plans to do so.”
ENDS