There’s more evidence of support for some form of statute-backed regulation of the press, coming from within the newspaper industry itself.

The Press Gazette’s online poll found 51% of respondents in favour of ‘an independent regulator’, set up via legislation, compared to 42% who prefer a reformed system of self regulation. The survey, which does not try to claim the statistical purity of a public opinion poll, is nonetheless an interesting indication of the way the wind is blowing among journalists.Two recent polls have shown that more than three-quarters of the general public are rejecting the failures of self regulation and backing an independent system underpinned by law. Perhaps journalists are increasingly convinced that a new regulator is needed in order to decontaminate the brand.