MP DAVID Chaytor has given his Parliamentary support to journalists who refuse to disclose their sources.
The Bury North MP has put forward an Early Day Motion regretting that reporters face contempt of court proceedings for defending their professional code of conduct.
Mr Chaytor's move comes after Bury man Steve Panter, a reporter on the Manchester Evening News, was found to be in contempt.
Mr Panter had refused to reveal his source for a story in which the MEN named a man suspected of the IRA bombing of Manchester.
Manchester Crown Court has now referred the case directly to the Attorney General for a decision on whether Mr Panter should face trial for contempt.
Mr Chaytor's motion, which has been signed by 12 other MPs, says: "This House commends the actions of those journalists who refuse to disclose sources of information; regrets that they may face contempt of court proceedings for defending their professional code of conduct; and calls on the Government to seek urgent clarification of the implications of Section 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights in respect of the protection of journalists' sources of information."
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