Leveson report: state regulation is 'greatest threat to newspapers in 300 years', say Conservative MPs One Liberal Democrat MP, John Hemming, has signed the letter and several Labour MPs, including Kate Hoey, the former sports minister, and Frank Field, a former welfare minister. There is growing speculation that Lord Justice Leveson will recommend a form of state regulation in his report, which was commissioned in the aftermath of the phone-hacking scandal. Mr Cameron has said he is minded to accept the judge's suggestions as long as they are not too "heavy-handed" or "bonkers," but the Cabinet is deeply divided over whether state regulation would endanger free speech. The letter, organised by Conor Burns, a Conservative MP, and David Blunkett, the former Labour Home Secretary, warns that state regulation would lead to newspaper licensing, which was brought in during the English Civil War in 1643 and scrapped 50 years later under William III. It says: "No form of statutory regulation of the press would be possible without the imposition of state licensing - abolished in Britain in 1695. State licensing is inimical to any idea of press freedom and would radically alter the balance of our unwritten constitution. The campaign is a direct rebuttal to George Eustice, the Prime Minister's former press secretary, who orchestrated the letter from Conservative MPs calling for strong press laws. Tonight, Chris Skidmore, one of the 42 MPs who put his name to Mr Eustice's letter, told The Daily Telegraph he has changed his mind and should not have signed up. "The power of the media to chasten and criticise politicians has been good for democracy, and must remain unchallenged," he said. I remain convinced that politicians must be wary of introducing new legislation to regulate the press, especially state regulation backed by statute, because the self interest involved is obvious. Neither should there be any state licensing of newspapers. The letter cautions against bringing in any kind of legal basis for a newspaper watchdog as this would be a form of state regulation "dressed up." It says state regulation of printed newspapers could also move journalism on to websites, which would make it even more difficult to monitor. The MPs and peers say the current system of regulation must be "profoundly" overhauled after some newspapers abused their power and behaved badly. They argue for a "a much improved, genuinely independent regulator" that can levy fines. All newspapers would be bound to obey this watchdog under civil contracts, rather than laws. This plan has been put forward by Lord Hunt of Wirral, the chairman of the Press Complaints Commmission, and Lord Black of Brentwood, chairman of the Press Standards Board of Finance. Tonight Mr Burns said a free press is "the cornerstone of a free society." "Any attempt to dictate to the press through statutory regulation who can and cannot print would be a profound erosion of the right to free speech," he said. The MPs' letter in full With the publication of the Leveson Report on Thursday it is clear that the central issue will be whether the press should, for the first time, be subjected to statutory regulation or have the opportunity to put in place a new system of binding self-regulation. As Parliamentarians, we believe in free speech and are opposed to the imposition of any form of statutory control even if it is dressed up as underpinning. It is redress that is vital not broader regulation. The prospect of drafting legislation may have the dual benefit of exposing the dangers of the statutory regulation and at the same time focus the minds of those seeking to further strengthen the existing tough independent proposals. No form of statutory regulation of the press would be possible without the imposition of state licensing - abolished in Britain in 1695. There are also serious concerns that statutory regulation of the print media may shift the balance to the digital platforms which, as recent events have shown through the fiasco of Newsnight broadcast prompted by Twitter, would further undermine the position of properly moderated and edited print journalism. The press abuse chronicled at Leveson was almost wholly about actions which were against the law. It demonstrated not a sole failure of regulation but rather of law enforcement. However the status quo is not an option. We cannot countenance newspapers behaving as some have in the past. The solution is not new laws but a profound restructuring of the self-regulatory system. Lords Hunt and Black have come forward with a detailed proposal for a much improved, genuinely independent regulator with the power to intervene proactively, to levy substantial fines, and to enforce membership for the first time through a system of civil contracts. They need to deliver on this promised reform. We agree with the report of the Joint Parliamentary Committee which came out against any form of statutory regulation - not least because of the signal it would send to emerging democracies around the world. Public debate will necessarily follow publication of the Leveson report and will be needed to provide confidence in a rigorous tough new system of self-regulation. Such a debate will lead to a speedy way of establishing a new self-regulatory regime that can restore confidence in the press. David Blunkett Conor Burns Stuart Andrew Steve Baker Lord Bell Bob Blackman Nick de Bois Baroness Boothroyd Peter Bottomley Peter Bone Graham Brady Angie Bray Julian Brazier Andrew Bridgen Alun Cairns Baroness Chalker Bill Cash Douglas Carswell Lord Cavendish Geoffrey Clifton-Brown Therese Coffey Damian Collins Earl Courtown Tracey Crouch David Davis Glyn Davies Philip Davies Lord Dobbs Brian Donohoe Stephen Dorrell Lord Eden Lord Fellowes Liam Fox Frank Field Lord Flight Lord Forsyth Mike Freer Lord Glentoran James Gray Robert Halfon John Hemming Gordon Henderson Kate Hoey George Hollingbery Lord Howell of Guildford Margot James Eleanor Laing Phillip Lee Peter Lilley Pauline Latham Julian Lewis Karen Lumley Jason McCartney Karl McCartney Stephen McPartland Baroness Morris David Morris Stephen Mosley Baroness Neville-Jones Brooks Newmark Lord Norton Mark Pawsey Christopher Pincher Mark Reckless John Redwood Lord Renton Lord Risby Baroness Shephard Lord Skelmersdale Graham Stringer Julian Smith Gisela Stuart Graham Stuart Lord Swinfen Justin Tomlinson Lord Trimble The Lord True Andrew Turner Martin Vickers Lord Wakeham Heather Wheeler John Whittingdale Sarah Wollasto Tim Yeo Lord Coe Lord Tebbit