Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe. Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out. Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press" Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy. Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants. The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision. She concluded: "The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe. Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out. Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press" Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy. Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants. The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision. She concluded: "The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe. Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out. Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press" Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy. Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants. The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision. She concluded: "The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe. Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out. Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press" Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy. Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants. The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision. She concluded: "The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
Nothing there to change my mind. Spinning is just going with the flow.
I’ve spent 40 years reporting from Westminster. I’ve never seen anything like this before Boris Johnson will discover he has fewer friends as a result of following the Donald Trump playbook on how to work with the press
In 38 years as a Westminster journalist, the last 21 for The Independent, I have witnessed many bouts of arm-wrestling as politicians of different hues tried to tame the media beast and tilt the balance of this tense relationship in their favour. Today, relations have sunk to their lowest ebb in my time. On Monday, Downing Street excluded several non Conservative-supporting outlets, including The Independent, from a briefing about the UK-EU trade deal talks. The invited journalists rightly boycotted it in solidarity.
Some readers, and some No 10 aides, will doubtless think the widespread media coverage of this storm in an egg cup is self-serving. But it matters. The decision crossed a line.
The 150-year old lobby of some 250 Westminster-based journalists knew the writing was on the wall.
As well as making it harder for the media to question the government, the move raised fears that No 10 would soon herd the journalists into sheep and goats, excluding those who do not toe the line from briefings on its home ground. It took only a few weeks to happen.
The parallels with Donald Trump’s attacks on the “fake news media” are inevitable – and accurate.
Johnson might be riding high now. But it won’t last; it never does. Events, whether in foreign fields or closer to home, will blow the best political operation in the world off course. When that happens, Team Boris will need the traditional media more than it thinks it does now. As Monday’s walkout by the approved media showed, Johnson will discover he has fewer friends as a result of following the Trump playbook now, and that the pen is mightier than the sword.
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe. Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out. Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press" Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy. Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants. The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision. She concluded: "The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
Nothing there to change my mind. Spinning is just going with the flow.
Lobby journalists in walkout over 'selective' Government briefings barring some titles
Political journalists have staged a walkout after Downing Street attempted to brief a select group of journalists this afternoon and excluded others. News agency PA, the Mirror and i newspapers, and Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites were all barred entry, according to reports. The walkout came just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his vision for a trade deal with the European Union at a press conference in Greenwich, London, this morning.
Journalists were then reportedly separated from each other by officials with Number 10 communications director Lee Cain refusing entry to those not already invited, resulting in a mass walkout by reporters. BBC and ITV political editors Laura Kuenssberg and Robert Peston were among those invited to the briefing who walked out, it is understood.
Mirror Political editor Pippa Crerar tweeted: “I felt deeply uncomfortable being left to stand on one side of the room while colleagues’ names were read out one-by-one and they joined the group who were deemed ‘acceptable’ by No 10. Sinister and sad.”
Lobby chairman Jason Groves confirmed the walkout, telling Press Gazette it is “fair to say relations are strained” between political journalists and Johnson’s new administration. The Downing Street press office has not issued an official comment, but said there would be further discussion of the matter at the planned afternoon Lobby briefing today.
Over the past few weeks the Lobby has raised “significant concerns” over the change of venue, not least that the Government could block journalists it doesn’t favour from attending briefings. Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said “political journalists were right to act in solidarity and walk out” in what was a “very alarming incident”. She added: “Government officials should not be attacking freedom of the press this way. As ministers are now regularly refusing to be accountable for their actions by boycotting certain programmes and journalists, this represents another very dangerous step. “Johnson’s government must stop this paranoia and engage with all the press, not just their favourites.” Johnson barred a Mirror journalist from his campaign battle bus during last year’s general election campaign, thought to be a result of the paper’s left-leaning political stance. There are 15 daily newspapers, seven Sunday newspapers, 12 news agencies and online-only news websites, three magazines, six news channels, and a number of local newspapers and foreign news outlets in the Lobby today.
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe. Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out. Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press" Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy. Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants. The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision. She concluded: "The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
Nothing there to change my mind. Spinning is just going with the flow.
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
My Lords, I declare an interest as the mother of a journalist. Will the noble Earl take back to No. 10 the fact that this House clearly did not believe that Statement? Both sides of the Chamber were laughing at the Statement that has just been given to us. Will he take back the message that, in a democracy, a free press does not have to express loyalty to the Government? In fact, it is their job to critique it.
Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport) My Lords, Downing Street’s director of communications, Lee Cain, said: “We are welcome to brief whoever we want whenever we want”. But does the noble Earl not agree that this democratically elected Government are not welcome to ban whatever news outlet or journalist they want whenever they want? What were the criteria for this smaller meeting and where was the transparency? When does a smaller meeting shrink so much that it becomes Dominic Cummings or some other special adviser on his or her own?
Viscount Hailsham Conservative My Lords, I apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Bonham-Carter. Unfortunately, I am deaf in one ear and I do not always spot where people are speaking from. I hope that she will forgive me. I must ask my noble friend: if the facts were so clear and in accordance with precedent, why did several respectable journalists from respectable organisations feel they had to leave as a protest?
Baroness Andrews Deputy Chairman of Committees, Deputy Speaker (Lords) My Lords, we are lucky in this House to have a Minister who has the trust of the House, but we are in a situation where trust and transparency are at grave peril for all manner of different reasons, and not just in this country. It behoves the Government at this time to act in as trustworthy and transparent a manner as possible. In the interests of transparency, can the Minister provide a list of those journalists who were invited? Can he tell us whether they were indeed technical and specialist journalists? I would have thought that, if one is doing a technical and specialist briefing, it is more important to get the generalists inside the circle to understand these complex matters. Does he have a list, or did No. 10 compile a list, of people who were not invited and for what reason?
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe. Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out. Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press" Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy. Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants. The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision. She concluded: "The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
Can’t quote on the previous one, as yours was so long.
So a nice fresh one. Most of the media are scum bags, looking to further their careers with the controversial. It’s very odd to have a hundred odd journalists at a press conference, any press conference,when there’s also live tv there.Granted some are freelance. What do they think they’re going to get, an exclusive? They all get the same info,then just need to add their angles and agendas. If it’s not controversial, they will try there hardest to make it that way. Surely they aren’t so gullible as to think Politicians are going to act on all they’ve promised? Gives the journalists something to do for their cheques I suppose. Does get very boring though.
WW2 lasted 6 years. Iraq was invaded in 2003 , and the fall out is ongoing. Explain to me the justification of the invasion and no accountability thereafter.
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
I am not sure you really understand the argument.
The Government voluntarily has two lobby briefings per day while Parliament is sitting.
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe. Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out. Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press" Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy. Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants. The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision. She concluded: "The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
Why do the media seem to think the Government need to enlighten them on all issues,it’s not the Premier league, they’re not under contract. I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat. I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe. Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out. Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press" Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy. Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants. The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision. She concluded: "The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
Comments
Premier league, they’re not under contract.
I wouldn’t tell them diddly-squat.
I’d be more concerned about the impending gloom the Coronavirus is going to have on the world economy. Watch this space.
Cabinet Office asked about journalists' access to lobby briefings
Shadow Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Minister, Tracy Brabin, asked ministers about the barring of certain journalists from official Government briefings.
Yesterday, journalists staged a walkout at Number 10 when Government officials barred the political editors of certain publications from attending a briefing on future trade deals from the Prime Minister's advisor on Europe.
Those excluded included Press Association news agency, the Mirror and i newspapers, as well as the Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites. In solidarity, the editors of outlets allowed into the briefing also walked out.
Tracy Brabin MP asked if the Cabinet Office would make a statement on why this happened.
Tracy Brabin MP: "damages a free and vital press"
Responding on behalf of the Opposition, Shadow DCMS Minister, Tracy Brabin, told the House that the ability of journalists to have "access to briefings without favour" was a "long-standing tradition" that was necessary for a democracy.
Ms Brabin highlighted press reports that it was a special advisor – the Prime Minister's communications director – who refused entry to certain political editors. She quoted the advisor as saying "we're welcome to brief whoever we like, whenever we like" when challenged. The Shadow Minister said that it was against the code for special advisors and civil servants.
The Shadow Minister added that it was "not an isolated incident", and that this had also happened at last week's briefing on Huawei. She asked the Minister to detail the selection criteria for journalists allowed to the briefings and who was responsible for making the decision.
She concluded:
"The Government's behaviour […] brings into question the integrity of future Government/media briefings and the conduct of its special advisors, and damages a free and vibrant press."
https://www.parliament.uk/business/news/2020/february/cabinet-office-asked-about-journalists-access-to-lobby-briefings/
Spinning is just going with the flow.
Boris Johnson will discover he has fewer friends as a result of following the Donald Trump playbook on how to work with the press
In 38 years as a Westminster journalist, the last 21 for The Independent, I have witnessed many bouts of arm-wrestling as politicians of different hues tried to tame the media beast and tilt the balance of this tense relationship in their favour.
Today, relations have sunk to their lowest ebb in my time. On Monday, Downing Street excluded several non Conservative-supporting outlets, including The Independent, from a briefing about the UK-EU trade deal talks. The invited journalists rightly boycotted it in solidarity.
Some readers, and some No 10 aides, will doubtless think the widespread media coverage of this storm in an egg cup is self-serving. But it matters. The decision crossed a line.
The 150-year old lobby of some 250 Westminster-based journalists knew the writing was on the wall.
As well as making it harder for the media to question the government, the move raised fears that No 10 would soon herd the journalists into sheep and goats, excluding those who do not toe the line from briefings on its home ground. It took only a few weeks to happen.
The parallels with Donald Trump’s attacks on the “fake news media” are inevitable – and accurate.
Johnson might be riding high now. But it won’t last; it never does. Events, whether in foreign fields or closer to home, will blow the best political operation in the world off course. When that happens, Team Boris will need the traditional media more than it thinks it does now.
As Monday’s walkout by the approved media showed, Johnson will discover he has fewer friends as a result of following the Trump playbook now, and that the pen is mightier than the sword.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/boris-johnson-journalist-press-briefings-lobby-walkout-media-politics-a9316576.html
Lobby journalists in walkout over 'selective' Government briefings barring some titles
Political journalists have staged a walkout after Downing Street attempted to brief a select group of journalists this afternoon and excluded others.
News agency PA, the Mirror and i newspapers, and Huffpost UK, Politics Home and Independent websites were all barred entry, according to reports.
The walkout came just hours after Prime Minister Boris Johnson set out his vision for a trade deal with the European Union at a press conference in Greenwich, London, this morning.
Journalists were then reportedly separated from each other by officials with Number 10 communications director Lee Cain refusing entry to those not already invited, resulting in a mass walkout by reporters.
BBC and ITV political editors Laura Kuenssberg and Robert Peston were among those invited to the briefing who walked out, it is understood.
Mirror Political editor Pippa Crerar tweeted: “I felt deeply uncomfortable being left to stand on one side of the room while colleagues’ names were read out one-by-one and they joined the group who were deemed ‘acceptable’ by No 10. Sinister and sad.”
Lobby chairman Jason Groves confirmed the walkout, telling Press Gazette it is “fair to say relations are strained” between political journalists and Johnson’s new administration.
The Downing Street press office has not issued an official comment, but said there would be further discussion of the matter at the planned afternoon Lobby briefing today.
Over the past few weeks the Lobby has raised “significant concerns” over the change of venue, not least that the Government could block journalists it doesn’t favour from attending briefings.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said “political journalists were right to act in solidarity and walk out” in what was a “very alarming incident”.
She added: “Government officials should not be attacking freedom of the press this way. As ministers are now regularly refusing to be accountable for their actions by boycotting certain programmes and journalists, this represents another very dangerous step.
“Johnson’s government must stop this paranoia and engage with all the press, not just their favourites.”
Johnson barred a Mirror journalist from his campaign battle bus during last year’s general election campaign, thought to be a result of the paper’s left-leaning political stance.
There are 15 daily newspapers, seven Sunday newspapers, 12 news agencies and online-only news websites, three magazines, six news channels, and a number of local newspapers and foreign news outlets in the Lobby today.
Johnson is himself a former journalist.
https://www.pressgazette.co.uk/lobby-journalists-walkout-selective-government-briefings-barred-titles/
Baroness Jones of Moulsecoomb
My Lords, I declare an interest as the mother of a journalist. Will the noble Earl take back to No. 10 the fact that this House clearly did not believe that Statement? Both sides of the Chamber were laughing at the Statement that has just been given to us. Will he take back the message that, in a democracy, a free press does not have to express loyalty to the Government? In fact, it is their job to critique it.
Baroness Bonham-Carter of Yarnbury Liberal Democrat Lords Spokesperson (Culture, Media and Sport)
My Lords, Downing Street’s director of communications, Lee Cain, said:
“We are welcome to brief whoever we want whenever we want”.
But does the noble Earl not agree that this democratically elected Government are not welcome to ban whatever news outlet or journalist they want whenever they want? What were the criteria for this smaller meeting and where was the transparency? When does a smaller meeting shrink so much that it becomes Dominic Cummings or some other special adviser on his or her own?
Viscount Hailsham Conservative
My Lords, I apologise to the noble Baroness, Lady Bonham-Carter. Unfortunately, I am deaf in one ear and I do not always spot where people are speaking from. I hope that she will forgive me.
I must ask my noble friend: if the facts were so clear and in accordance with precedent, why did several respectable journalists from respectable organisations feel they had to leave as a protest?
Baroness Andrews Deputy Chairman of Committees, Deputy Speaker (Lords)
My Lords, we are lucky in this House to have a Minister who has the trust of the House, but we are in a situation where trust and transparency are at grave peril for all manner of different reasons, and not just in this country. It behoves the Government at this time to act in as trustworthy and transparent a manner as possible. In the interests of transparency, can the Minister provide a list of those journalists who were invited? Can he tell us whether they were indeed technical and specialist journalists? I would have thought that, if one is doing a technical and specialist briefing, it is more important to get the generalists inside the circle to understand these complex matters. Does he have a list, or did No. 10 compile a list, of people who were not invited and for what reason?
and on and on and on
It would seem to be everybody except you?
https://www.theyworkforyou.com/lords/?id=2020-02-04b.1723.0
That would be a good starting point.
So a nice fresh one.
Most of the media are scum bags, looking to further their careers with the controversial.
It’s very odd to have a hundred odd journalists at a press conference, any press conference,when there’s also live tv there.Granted some are freelance.
What do they think they’re going to get, an exclusive?
They all get the same info,then just need to add their angles and agendas.
If it’s not controversial, they will try there hardest to make it that way.
Surely they aren’t so gullible as to think Politicians are going to act on all they’ve promised?
Gives the journalists something to do for their cheques I suppose.
Does get very boring though.
Iraq was invaded in 2003 , and the fall out is ongoing.
Explain to me the justification of the invasion and no accountability thereafter.
The man deserves an Oscar.
The Government voluntarily has two lobby briefings per day while Parliament is sitting.