No deal amid Leveson Inquiry talks

Cross-party talks on press regulation in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry broke up with the parties still no closer to reaching an agreement.

Officials said Conservatives, Lib Dems and Labour have failed to come to an agreement on the main sticking point - that any new watchdog must be be backed up in law.

Key differences also remain over the data protection reforms recommended by Lord Justice Leveson in his 2,000-page report on press ethics.

Culture Secretary Maria Miller hosted the talks, which will resume next week when they will focus on the draft legislation drawn up by the Government.

A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokeswoman said: "Cross-party talks this morning were constructive, but key points of difference remain.

"The Prime Minister and the Culture Secretary have been clear that they do not feel that statutory underpinning is necessary to achieve a tough independent self-regulator as outlined by the Leveson principles.

"We remain of that view, and feel that the case for statutory regulation has not been made. We also have unresolved concerns about how any 'verifying body' would work, as well as concerns around data protection."