Paparazzi harassment of Prince William’s girlfriend Kate Middleton was condemned as “appalling” by Commons Leader Jack Straw today.
Mr Straw praised News International for a self-imposed ban on using paparazzi shots of Miss Middleton and urged other news groups to follow suit.
And he was sympathetic to a call from a senior Tory MP for a debate on whether current curbs on press intrusion are adequate.
News International has confirmed it will not publish future paparazzi pictures of Miss Middleton – a decision which affects The Sun, the News of the World, The Times, The Sunday Times and free newspaper thelondonpaper.
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Lawyers for Miss Middleton are attempting to use persuasion rather than legal action to help protect her.
Interest in the woman predicted to be a future Queen has escalated in recent weeks following rumours that she and William are set to wed.
During exchanges in the Commons, Sir George Young, (NW Hampshire), demanded: “Are you as appalled as I am at the daily scenes of harassment by the paparazzi of an ordinary citizen of this country?”
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And he continued: “Will you arrange for an early debate so the House can reflect whether adequate powers are available to deal with this wholly unacceptable behaviour?”
Mr Straw replied: “I am indeed absolutely appalled by these scenes.”
“I will, if I may, commend News International for saying they are going to have nothing to do with the photographs,” he added.
“But I think we need to hear from all the other newspaper groups in this country and others abroad that they are going to ban this practice.”
Mr Straw said it was an “important issue” and pledged to try and find time for a debate
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