Politicians now have the power to interfere with the Press, which should worry us all. The Queen rubber-stamped a Royal Charter, which will regulate an industry that has no faith in it, and understandably so. The cross-Party deal was flung together during a late night meeting over pizza at which the Press was not even present. I know that many, especially some MPs, wish to see the Press muzzled, but it's not until such a basic freedom is threatened that people begin to realise what is happening. As a former journalist of some 17 years, I am alarmed at this development, although not surprised by it. The phone-hacking scandal, which is already a criminal offence, was unfortunately hijacked by aggrieved politicians and campaigners, like the pressure group Hacked Off, to push for more regulation of the Press. The majority of newspapers want nothing to do with this Royal Charter and I hope they continue to resist it. Many of us have been unfairly represented by the Press, but I would rather that than take this first Orwellian step to curb those who often expose corruption and wrong-doing at the highest level. If we are to challenge press freedom for the first time in 300 years, then everyone must sign up to it. This is a bad day for our country and it brings into question the wisdom of our political class.