David Cameron accused of 'ripping heart and soul' out of Leveson probe
principles to change the current system but that he had "serious concerns and misgivings" over bringing in laws to underpin any new body.
Cameron threatened to veto the central recommendation of the Leveson Inquiry as new press laws would "cross the Rubicon" and undermine the centuries-old principle of free speech.
He urged the House of Commons, a "bulwark of democracy", to think "very, very carefully" about such a move.
The findings of the official inquiry were backed by Clegg and Labour leader Ed Miliband who are now expected to join forces in an attempt to push through new press laws.
The issue could present the biggest crisis yet faced by the Coalition.
But British Culture Secretary Maria Miller denied there is a big split in the cabinet, insisting there are merely "issues of implementation".
Cameron believes this process will only serve to highlight how difficult it is to try to legislate in a complex and controversial area while Labour and the Lib Dems think it will demonstrate the opposite.
Speaking on BBC Breakfast, Miller said: "Our concern is that we simply don't need to have that legislation to achieve the end of objectives and in drafting out this piece of legislation what we are going to be demonstrating is that it wouldn't be a simple two-clause bill.
" In a series of interviews, she said new laws setting up a press watchdog could ultimately stop newspapers properly reporting parliament and holding politicians to account in future.
"It provides a legislative framework for government to put in place things that
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