Leading media lawyers have told Press Gazette that the central plank of the Government’s proposed statute-backed press regulator may breach European law.

Four legal experts have said they believe that the threat of exemplary damages would not stand up to a challenge under the Article 10 right to freedom of expression enshrined in European law and the Human Rights Act.

Under an amendment to the Crime and Courts Bill passed by the Commons last Monday, publishers of “news-related material” would be protected from the threat of exemplary damages in civil trials provided that they are a member of the industry regulator set out in the Royal Charter.