The Data Protection Bill threatens the freedom of the press, according to industry body the News Media Association.

The NMA claims that amendments to the Data Protection Bill tabled last week “shift the balance away from freedom of expression and towards privacy”.

Lib Dem peers Lord Clement-Jones and Lord McNally proposed amendments that would remove IPSO’s Editor’s Code of Practice from the list of standards that journalists have to be signed up to should they wish to be protected when using private information in public interest stories.