Advertisement

We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

Boris Johnson meets US President Donald Trump last year DPA/PA Images

'Sinister and sad': Downing Street accused of Trump-like tactics after journalists banned from Brexit briefing

Number 10 was due to give a briefing on Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans.

MEMBERS OF THE UK’s media staged a walkout at Downing Street this morning after senior journalists from some of the UK’s major news organisations were ordered to leave before a briefing on Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans.

One of those present described Downing Street’s actions as “sinister and sad”.

Selected journalists were invited to the British Prime Minister’s residence for a briefing from officials, but correspondents from organisations who were not on Downing Street’s hand-picked list also tried to get in.

According to those present, when political correspondents arrived inside Number 10 they were asked their names and told to stand on opposite sides of the entrance hall – either side of a rug.

The Independent’s political editor Andy Woodcock said Number 10’s director of communications Lee Cain then invited those on one side to enter and told those on the other to leave.

When his actions were questioned he told reporters: “We are welcome to brief whoever we want whenever we want.”

The journalists excluded included outlets viewed as left-wing or critical of the Government, but the briefing was due to involve senior civil servants – who are supposed to be politically impartial.

In protest at the treatment of colleagues from rival organisations, all journalists who were present chose to walk out rather than receive the briefing.

The Guardian’s deputy political editor Rowena Mason said that among those who refused the briefing and walked out were the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, ITV’s Robert Peston and journalists from the Daily Mail, Telegraph, the Sun, Financial Times and Guardian.

The Daily Mirror’s political editor Pippa Crerar said: “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.”

The PA news agency and other agencies were not invited and were not present when the walkout happened.

‘Tactics imported from Trump’

It is the latest sign of the strained relationship between Number 10 and political journalists.

The Prime Minister’s Brexit day “address to the nation” was filmed by Downing Street, rather than a crew from a TV network as would usually be the case, leading to criticism from broadcasters.

Lobby correspondents – the political journalists based in Westminster – have also seen their regular briefings moved from Parliament to 9 Downing Street, raising fears about the prospect of Number 10 banning reporters.

Shadow culture secretary Tracy Brabin said: “Press freedom is a cornerstone of our democracy and journalists must be able to hold the Government to account.

“It is concerning that Boris Johnson seems to be resorting to tactics imported from Donald Trump to hide from scrutiny.”

Responding to a point of order raised by Brabin, deputy Commons speaker Dame Eleanor Laing said lobby journalists should be “treated with respect”.

She said: “Of course I agree with her, everyone will agree with her, that accredited lobby journalists are indeed part of our parliamentary community and so, of course, must be, should be, and normally are treated with respect.”

Michelle Stanistreet, general secretary of the National Union of Journalists, said it was a “very alarming incident”.

She said: “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.”

Readers like you are keeping these stories free for everyone...
A mix of advertising and supporting contributions helps keep paywalls away from valuable information like this article. Over 5,000 readers like you have already stepped up and support us with a monthly payment or a once-off donation.

View 48 comments
Close
48 Comments
This is YOUR comments community. Stay civil, stay constructive, stay on topic. Please familiarise yourself with our comments policy here before taking part.
Leave a Comment
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Not_Rod_Ten©
    Favourite Not_Rod_Ten©
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:06 PM

    All those dinosaurs will have died for nothing if the electric car wins

    42
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute M
    Favourite M
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:12 PM

    Ok explain.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Not_Rod_Ten©
    Favourite Not_Rod_Ten©
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:19 PM

    The self sacrifice of those great extinct animals and plants will be in vain if I can’t use them to power my V8

    42
    See 1 more reply ▾
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute George Salter
    Favourite George Salter
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 1:06 PM

    Off by a couple of hundred million years. Good effort though…

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute new phone who dis?
    Favourite new phone who dis?
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 11:56 AM

    This is how far technology has come yet I still can’t get a text back…

    33
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Beachmaster
    Favourite Beachmaster
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:12 PM

    2018….. Consumers being warned about Chinese cars catching fire while charging.

    25
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Cathal McDonald
    Favourite Cathal McDonald
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 11:56 AM

    It looks shite

    19
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute GameOverMan
    Favourite GameOverMan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:47 PM

    Another totally impractical space-age design that we’ll never see on the roads. Why do we keep dreaming up this kind of car? Surely by now we know that the futuristic look is just a sci-fi fantasy.

    16
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute John Collins
    Favourite John Collins
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:46 PM

    Looks rubbish. Old cars are way better.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Edward Cullen
    Favourite Edward Cullen
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 1:51 PM

    Nothing in the article about power or weight.

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Dean Anderson
    Favourite Dean Anderson
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:56 PM

    Oh yeah this car will be a runaway success definitely. It’ll be up there with the DeLorean in no time at all. Wow I cant wait to buy one it looks so practical and cool and everyone is gonna want one. This is definitely a red letter day in motoring history… zzzzzz

    10
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute bacoxy
    Favourite bacoxy
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:02 PM

    Faraday so close!

    7
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Wilson I'mSorry
    Favourite Wilson I'mSorry
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:45 PM

    A hidden front for VW perhaps

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Gary
    Favourite Gary
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:36 PM

    We have Faraday future and Tesla electric, will it be Volta or Maxwell next, or maybe Ampere, Gauss, Coulomb or Davy.

    5
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute dowthebow
    Favourite dowthebow
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:51 PM

    Already have the volt, mitsi I think

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Uncle Denise
    Favourite Uncle Denise
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:10 PM

    That tail looks great on the car

    4
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Mark Sheridan
    Favourite Mark Sheridan
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 12:58 PM

    There show casing things that they will use on there everyday cars when production starts. I think the phone in the steering wheel is a very simple but great idea. Some cars these days are like a cockpit of an airplane with that many buttons, climate control, Music system’s, GPS and god knows what else. Most of which is already on a smartphone in one way or another and usually people with them know how to use them.

    3
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute reece plunkett
    Favourite reece plunkett
    Report
    Jan 6th 2016, 3:08 AM

    Good luck getting that over the ramps in ireland

    2
    Install the app to use these features.
    Mute Colm O'Leary
    Favourite Colm O'Leary
    Report
    Jan 5th 2016, 4:13 PM

    I’m just waiting for the apple i-car to be released.

    2
Submit a report
Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
Thank you for the feedback
Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.

Leave a commentcancel

 
JournalTv
Video Player is loading.
Current Time 0:00
Duration 0:00
Loaded: 0%
Stream Type LIVE
Remaining Time 0:00
 
1x
    • descriptions off, selected
    • captions off, selected
      Next upNext up:
      News in 60 seconds