News publishers have launched a bid to stop rival press regulator Impress getting official approval from the Press Recognition Panel set up by the Government.

Members of the News Media Association argue that Impress breaches 20 of the recognition criteria which the Panel must judge it against under the Royal Charter on press regulation.

Most significantly they say it fails the central test, of independence, because it is almost entirely funded by one wealthy donor: the press reform campaigner Max Mosley.