Political journalists boycott No 10 briefing

[Twosugars]

Political journalists have boycotted a briefing at No 10 Downing Street after one of Boris Johnson’s aides banned selected reporters from attending.

The walkout took place after a confrontation inside No 10 in which Lee Cain, Johnson’s most senior communications adviser, tried to exclude reporters from the Mirror, i, HuffPost, PoliticsHome, Independent and others.

Reporters on the invited list were asked to stand on one side of a rug in the foyer of No 10, while those not allowed in were asked by security to stand on the other side.

After Cain told the banned journalists to leave, the rest of the journalists decided to walk out collectively rather than allow Downing Street to choose who scrutinises and reports on the government.

Among those who refused the briefing and walked out were the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, ITV’s Robert Peston and political journalists from Sky News, the Daily Mail, Telegraph, Sun, Financial Times and Guardian.

The briefing was due to be given by government officials, who are meant to be neutral rather than political, but it did not happen because of the walkout.

The tactics from No 10 mirror those of Donald Trump in the US, who has been known to try to exclude journalists from reporting on his activities, and represents an escalation of Johnson’s tensions with the media, which have been increasing in recent weeks.
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/feb/03/political-journalists-boycott-no-10-briefing-after-reporter-ban

[Cherie]

Good for them

[Liam-]

Good, the road this government is going down with the media is awful

[Niamh.]

:clap1:

[arista]

United.
That's nice of the Press that were accepted

[user104658]

Trying to pull a Trump and being told where to stick it. It's the sensible move for any journalist; if they're excluding your peers today, you can't guarantee it won't be you left out in the cold tomorrow.

[arista]

He should
Try again,

[Cherie]

Trying to pull a Trump and being told where to stick it. It's the sensible move for any journalist; if they're excluding your peers today, you can't guarantee it won't be you left out in the cold tomorrow.

I would imagine most of them know each other socially and are friends as well, its a small pool at the end of the day, nice to see some solidarity in this day and age

[arista]

I would imagine most of them know each other socially and are friends as well, its a small pool at the end of the day, nice to see some solidarity in this day and age


Yes many have jumped TV News Channels
And Papers.

So they are all mates.

[Twosugars]

Why was it tried at all? Does he think this is like trump swamp?

[Twosugars]

He should
Try again,

Try what?

[Tom4784]

Good, Boris and the rest of the Tories are probably trying to emulate Trump and the republicans so I'm glad it's backfiring on them already. Limiting which press gets to report on the government is the power move of a dictator.

[arista]

Try what?

The PM Johnson.

[arista]

He needs to keep his cards
close to his chest.

To many Left Wing
Journalists are Trouble Makers

[Twosugars]

He needs to keep his cards
close to his chest.

To many Left Wing
Journalists are Trouble Makers

Omfg :facepalm:

[Twosugars]

So much for uniting the country

[arista]

Omfg :facepalm:

https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1224361979630047233/gSpZi1zK?format=jpg&name=small

[arista]

https://pbs.twimg.com/card_img/1223970517050437632/Ot5hRyad?format=jpg&name=small

[Livia]

It's a fine, fine day when journalists imagine themselves on the moral high ground.

[Twosugars]

It's a fine, fine day when journalists imagine themselves on the moral high ground.

Is that what you took away from this?
No comment on what your government is trying to do here? Exclude some media from information?
Doesnt it worry you?
Is that what a democratic government claiming to govern for all should do?
All you've got is a sarky comment on morality of the press?
Maybe you could spare a sarky comment on morality of the former journalist who leads the government? You know, the one who was sacked twice for lying, who tried to have someone beaten up, who is a serial philanderer? No comment on his morals and his attempt at dictatorial information politics worthy of a tin pot dictatorship not a "global outward looking" Britain?

[Tom4784]

Tories have a literal cult following, I swear. It's scary how people will hear this and instantly frame it as someone else's fault.

This is how democracy dies.

[user104658]

It's a fine, fine day when journalists imagine themselves on the moral high ground.

It's a terrifying day when the journalists actually HAVE the moral high ground :umm2:

[Ammi]

...Lee Cain Jong Un...?...’we’ll only have the nice pics please and the people who like us...’...is that how Britain is made great../..I don’t think so...

[arista]

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/660/cpsprodpb/4782/production/_110760381_ffd92420-5972-4fc3-bff2-ba49cc1d3a50.jpg

[user104658]

BoJo (and the Tories let's face it) really does NOT want to lose the trash rags... The section of the GBP that handed them their majority hangs on every word. If The Sun decides he's a baby murdering vampire they'll be whittling stakes by lunch time.

[Liam-]

The gammon turning on Piers Morgan because he’s defending the media is a wonderful sight, however, as much as it pains me, he’s actually in the right this time

[arista]

The gammon turning on Piers Morgan because he’s defending the media is a wonderful sight, however, as much as it pains me, he’s actually in the right this time

Yes of course as he also has a battle
that No Conservative MP's can appear
on GMBHD itv
while he is on.

A battle going on with Pres Sec.
Mr. Cain
in Downing Street.

[Livia]

Didn't I see Laura Kuenssberg ask Boris a question on the news last night? Has her boycott finished already?

[Alf]

Get em' Boris.

[arista]

Didn't I see Laura Kuenssberg ask Boris a question on the news last night? Has her boycott finished already?

No it was recorded
a day back , I think.

When they put that on the Lazy BBC News
it would help if they put "yesterday"

[arista]

Laura is a Long time Mate of Johnson
(did a one on one docu with him, when he was under T. May)
and was invited in with SkyNews
and the Telegraph etc.

But they all stand together
as Peston of ITV
was a long time BBC worker

[arista]

Get em' Boris.


Yes Alf
but we do not want to be like
Turkey or Russia
do we?

[Kizzy]

He needs to keep his cards
close to his chest.

To many Left Wing
Journalists are Trouble Makers

You are really starting to worry me arista..

We all know why he's done this, did I suggest there would be a lurch to the right post majority and post brexit?

Fair play to the others for highlighting this, what is he plotting that he only wants a right wing spin on that's worrying me..

I'm surprised the guardian was in with those allowed in, maybe they aren't as left leaning as we think? Hmm

[Kizzy]

Is that what you took away from this?
No comment on what your government is trying to do here? Exclude some media from information?
Doesnt it worry you?
Is that what a democratic government claiming to govern for all should do?
All you've got is a sarky comment on morality of the press?
Maybe you could spare a sarky comment on morality of the former journalist who leads the government? You know, the one who was sacked twice for lying, who tried to have someone beaten up, who is a serial philanderer? No comment on his morals and his attempt at dictatorial information politics worthy of a tin pot dictatorship not a "global outward looking" Britain?
Amen!!

[arista]

You are really starting to worry me arista..

We all know why he's done this, did I suggest there would be a lurch to the right post majority and post brexit?

Fair play to the others for highlighting this, what is he plotting that he only wants a right wing spin on that's worrying me..

I'm surprised the guardian was in with those allowed in, maybe they aren't as left leaning as we think? Hmm

No Johnson PM
has to not get ,the wrong headlines
as the EU is watching it all.

[Tom4784]

You don't need to take people's freedoms when they'll willingly hand them over. Tory voters will gladly do just that, it seems.

If Boris is trying to control which parts of the press get coverage depending on if they'll give him the spin he wants then that's a bad sign for our freedoms. If you're cheering on Boris for this, you are cheering on the erosion of our rights. Anyone who is cheering this on can stop pretending to care about the military and the sacrifices made for our freedoms when people are willingly cheering on those sacrifices being rendered in vain by the actions of this government.

It's a slippery slope and the Tories and their supporters are greasing that slop even further.

[Kizzy]

No Johnson PM
has to not get ,the wrong headlines
as the EU is watching it all.

We are also watching... there are no such things as wrong headlines, the briefings from the govt should be free for all media, if we have a free press which is of course the cornerstone of democracy.

[Kizzy]

You don't need to take people's freedoms when they'll willingly hand them over. Tory voters will gladly do just that, it seems.

If Boris is trying to control which parts of the press get coverage depending on if they'll give him the spin he wants then that's a bad sign for our freedoms. If you're cheering on Boris for this, you are cheering on the erosion of our rights. Anyone who is cheering this on can stop pretending to care about the military and the sacrifices made for our freedoms when people are willingly cheering on those sacrifices being rendered in vain by the actions of this government.

It's a slippery slope and the Tories and their supporters are greasing that slop even further.
Untill of course it's their lives impacted but by then it will be too late.
They came for the ( insert minority here) and I did nothing....

[Tom4784]

Untill of course it's their lives impacted but by then it will be too late.
They came for the ( insert minority here) and I did nothing....

Nah, even when it starts to effect them, it'll be the fault of Labour or Remainers or any other scapegoats they can name. They won't turn their backs on their Tory Messiahs any time soon.

[Twosugars]

No Johnson PM
has to not get ,the wrong headlines
as the EU is watching it all.

Do we have free media or not?

We are talking about official briefings here not some whispered inside info.

Its government's duty to provide information to all free media.

If government doesn't want something reported as confidential then they should keep their mouths shut.

You are purposefully confusing two different things here.

[arista]

We are also watching... there are no such things as wrong headlines, the briefings from the govt should be free for all media, if we have a free press which is of course the cornerstone of democracy.


Of Course
I posted the one Front Page on it.

But Everything matters
and EU deal on the end of December this year
is locked in law
so its top of his List

[arista]

Do we have free media or not?

We are talking about official briefings here not some whispered inside info.

Its government's duty to provide information to all free media.

If government doesn't want something reported as confidential then they should keep their mouths shut.

You are purposefully confusing two different things here.

Yes we do
We are not like Turkey or Russia
who close TV Stations and Publications

[Twosugars]

Of Course
I posted the one Front Page on it.

But Everything matters
and EU deal on the end of December this year
is locked in law
so its top of his List


That has nothing to do with anything

[Twosugars]

Yes we do
We are not like Turkey or Russia
who close TV Stations and Publications

That will be the next step

[arista]

That has nothing to do with anything


Dom and Johnson
are getting Brexit Deal sorted this year
no one can stop it.

It has everything to do with shutting out
Left Wing Publications and Media.

[Kizzy]

Of Course
I posted the one Front Page on it.

But Everything matters
and EU deal on the end of December this year
is locked in law
so its top of his List


And why would a left wing perspective scupper a trade deal?

[arista]

That will be the next step

No it will not

Johnson PM just blocks who he talks to
Like Corbyn did.

[arista]

And why would a left wing perspective scupper a trade deal?


It can slow everything down
The New Trade Deal is Complex

[Tom4784]

Except he's not, he's trying to select who gets updates that all Media are entitled to, Arista.

He's trying to curb press freedom.

[Twosugars]

No it will not

Johnson PM just blocks who he talks to
Like Corbyn did.

Tell that to BBC


This is government for all citizens not some private enterprise
Media represents all sections of society.

This is disenfranchisement of left wing citizens.

Not governing for all just a few

Shame on you for defending this grab on democratic freedom of the press

[Kizzy]

There is no suggestion that the pm is being boycotted either... of course journalists will still continue to question and report, it was the politics journalists briefings that were questioned.
Fair play to Laura K and Co, as least they appreciate the need for a level playing field.

[arista]

Tell that to BBC


This is government for all citizens not some private enterprise
Media represents all sections of society.

This is disenfranchisement of left wing citizens.

Not governing for all just a few

Shame on you for defending this grab on democratic freedom of the press

Laura is with the BBC
and a mate of Johnson PM.

So The BBC are invited in
with SkyNews
itv News
Telegraph etc.

[arista]

There is no suggestion that the pm is being boycotted either... of course journalists will still continue to question and report, it was the politics journalists briefings that were questioned.
Fair play to Laura K and Co, as least they appreciate the need for a level playing field.


Of Course for years Laura worded with Peston
when he was on BBC
now he is on ITV1HD News and his show.

[Twosugars]

Laura is with the BBC
and a mate of Johnson PM.

So The BBC are invited in
with SkyNews
itv News
Telegraph etc.

Missing the point again
I was talking about bbc charter up for renewal.

[arista]

Missing the point again
I was talking about bbc charter up for renewal.

Not this year

[bots]

this is going to happen more and more frequently. Anyone that takes a stand against the fake news peddled by Boris and his team will be excluded. Boris is not a saviour, boris can barely summon the energy to get out of bed in the morning

[Kizzy]

It can slow everything down
The New Trade Deal is Complex

The countries we will be doing deals with will not be getting their information from our press, left or right :/