Society of Editors decries Starmer’s plan to reduce media scrutiny of No 10 | Politics
The Society of Editors has raised concerns about Keir Starmer’s plan to reduce scrutiny of No 10 by political journalists, saying it risks undermining transparency.
The body representing news organizations said regular, open and robust questioning was the cornerstone of democracy and that the plan to reduce briefings was extremely worrying.
Tim Allan, Downing Street’s communications director, announced the plan on Thursday without consulting the group of political journalists known as the lobby who traditionally attend twice-daily briefings to question the prime minister’s spokesman.
Allan said the government would reduce briefings to once a day and sometimes hold a press conference instead of a single briefing.
Lobby briefings held at 9 Downing Street are recorded but not broadcast. Journalists can ask as many questions as they want, on any subject they want. Government press conferences, by contrast, tend to include a limited number of questions from selected journalists.
Participation in press conferences will be expanded to include content creators and industry journalists. Policy On Friday, it reported that at least one influential person said that in an earlier interview with a government minister, they were asked to submit questions in advance for approval and warned not to go off topic.
Starmer has always positioned himself as a defender of press freedom, but the changes have caused concern among journalists and news organisations, five years after Boris Johnson’s No 10 also sought to reduce media scrutiny by excluding some reporters.
Dawn Alford, chief executive of the Society of Editors, said: “Regular, open and robust questioning of government is the cornerstone of democratic accountability. “For many years, afternoon lobby briefings have provided journalists with a vital opportunity to challenge those in power and seek clarity on rapidly evolving and often complex issues of public interest.
“It is deeply worrying that such a significant change has been announced without adequate consultation with the journalists most affected. Transparency is not just about access in theory, but meaningful access in practice.”
“Replacing routine, journalist-led questioning with government-controlled press conferences risks limiting who can ask questions, how long ministers are held to account and what issues are covered. Increasing engagement should not come at the expense of experienced political reporters being able to ask sustained, informed and compelling questions.”
Senior political journalists said the reforms could restrict access and weaken scrutiny, especially if the government controls the timeline, format and selection of questioners.
In his email announcing the change, Allan said the media landscape had been “completely transformed” and current regulations were not fit for purpose.
“The afternoon lobby was very sparsely attended,” he said. “It often repeats lines given in the morning lobby or echoes government statements on news that is freely available elsewhere. This is not a good use of journalists’ time or our communications resources.”
“Instead of the afternoon lobby, we will occasionally introduce afternoon press conferences with ministers at No 9 Downing Street. These will begin with the minister presenting a new announcement from the government and taking questions about it.
“We will be holding a series of morning press conferences at No 9 Downing Street with ministers and occasionally the Prime Minister addressing the day’s main government announcements. These will be open to the lobby, industry journalists and content creators.
“When such press conferences take place, there will be no lobby briefing on that day.”
The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats said they would restart lobby briefings in the afternoon.
