It is becoming increasingly likely that large sections of the British press could stay out of the statute-backed press regulator agreed by MPs this week. The Economist has joined the growing list of titles opposing the Government’s proposed statute-backed regulator. The New Statesman and Spectator and have said they do not plan to join a regulator underpinned by the proposed Royal Charter and Private Eye editor Ian Hislop has also indicated that he is likely to continue his boycott of press regulation.