Press Regulation and the Royal Prerogative

Abstract

On 30th October 2013 the UK government intervened in press regulation through the granting of a Royal Charter under the Royal Prerogative. This short paper argues that this intervention is ultra vires and hence unlawful. My argument can be summarised very simply. The law requires a precedent for the exercise of prerogative power. This intervention represents an unprecedented use of the prerogative. It is therefore unlawful. Section I outlines the law’s hostility to novel prerogatives and the novelty of the Press Regulation Charter. Section II canvasses and rejects what I take to be the three most plausible foundations for the new charter. Section III tackles two sources of scepticism about my argument. Section IV places the argument in a slightly wider context and suggests a lawful way of achieving the aims of the charter.