A distinguished judge has been elected as the first chairman of the UK’s new press regulator.
The Rt Hon Sir Alan Moses was the unanimous choice of a panel of esteemed colleagues to become the inaugural head of the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).
IPSO will replace the Press Complaints Commission next month and Sir Alan will also join the selection panel to appoint the rest of the board.
The “tough” new regulator will have the ability to undertake investigations into serious breakdowns in standards in the British press and will be completely independent from the publishing industry.
Last night, Sir Alan said he was delighted at the appointment and would work hard to establish fair rules for both the public and the press after a period of unrest in the media industry.
“The public and the press are entitled to a successful system of independent regulation. I recognise it is a big responsibility to achieve this,” he said.
“I believe that such a system should be designed to protect the public against a repetition of the breakdown in standards in some parts of the newspaper industry in recent times.
“At the same time it should affirm and encourage the vital role of a free and fearless press.
“I shall do my best to guide the development of clear, simple but fair rules in an area where there are difficult questions and there are no easy answers.”
Sir Alan has served as a Lord Justice of Appeal since 2005 and has a distinguished career in law spanning more than 40 years.
He has been a member of the Court of Appeal in a number of cases relating to the press and freedom of expression, and as a High Court judge has presided over criminal and civil cases in the public eye.
Ex-Whitehall mandarin, Sir Hayden Phillips – who chairs the IPSO selection panel – said he was “delighted” to have him on board.
“Sir Alan’s qualities meet all of the criteria my panel judged were most relevant in appointing a chair,” he said.
“He is person of experience and integrity, of independence and vigour, and also personable, approachable, and always open to consider new ideas.”