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UN's UNESCO request to hold World Press Freedom Day in London Foreign Office said no - saying it did not have enough notice for event Event may be held in Morocco, where press cannot criticise Monarchy

By David Wilkes

PUBLISHED: 20:37 EST, 2 March 2014 | UPDATED: 20:37 EST, 2 March 2014

The Foreign Office rejected an invitation to stage a prestigious event in Britain celebrating Press freedom prompting suspicion the Government feared further criticism over its Royal Charter on Press regulation.

United Nations agency UNESCO asked to hold its World Press Freedom Day, one of the aims of which is to defend the media from attacks on their independence, in London for the first time this year.

But the Foreign Office said no, saying it had not been given enough notice for the event, which has an expected attendance of 400 to 500 people.

The Foreign Office (building pictured) rejected an invitation to stage a prestigious event celebrating Press freedom, it has been suggested today

Yesterday a source close to the arrangements said: The British are saying the reasons are logistical but it seems obvious this could not be held in Britain without the problems over the Royal Charter being highlighted internationally.

You might well think the Government was afraid it would get a black eye. But they are now facing two black eyes.

UNESCO is now considering holding the event in Morocco, where Press law prohibits criticism of the monarchy and effectively bars independent coverage of taboo subjects such as the military, national security, religion and sexuality.

Excerpt from:
Foreign Office spurned free Press day 'to duck attack on Royal Charter'