A FREE press is essential in a democracy.  

The press is already regulated and subject to laws of libel, and it has its own regulator IPSO.  

Without investigative journalism there would not have been exposures ranging from the MPs expenses scandal to the recent Cambridge Analytica revelations.  

Celebrities seek publicity and should not be surprised when their peccadilloes are found out and reported upon. 

As for Corbyn’s past meetings with Russians, this is a perfectly reasonable matter for speculation in view of his leadership of a major party.

Your correspondent Howard Price perhaps favours a state controlled press as in totalitarian regimes such as Russia and Egypt?

Robert Spratt

Upton St Leonards