Politicians and the press: Ten years after Leveson we investigate whether they are still too close
Ten years since the Leveson Inquiry uncovered some rather cosy texts between David Cameron and the chief executive of arguably the country’s most powerful news publisher, the question of whether the press and politicians are “too close” remains a thorny one.
The former prime minister’s leaked messages to Rebekah Brooks, who continues to head up Rupert Murdoch’s UK news business, revealed an apparently close friendship, but when it comes to the relationship between senior politicians and journalists, has much changed?
When Leveson published his report in 2012, he said that for 30 years or more politicians “have had or developed too close a relationship with the press in a way which has not been in the public interest”, although he added that “close relationships, including personal friendships” were “not in themselves any cause for surprise or concern”.
Former Sun chief reporter John Kay died at the weekend, prompting a huge outpouring of appreciation from former colleagues.
Kay retired from The Sun after a 48-year career in journalism in 2015 after being acquitted of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office under Operation Elveden. All 33 journalists arrested and/or charged under Elveden who pleaded not guilty were acquitted.
But some 32 public officials were convicted, including Kay’s Ministry of Defence source Bettina Jordan-Barber.
Friends said Kay never recovered from the Elveden trial and the fact that his source was exposed by the company. Many also spoke today of his kindness, generosity and prodigious scoop-getting abilities.
); Hope and expectation is always the thing that kills an England manager and he’s got to produce this time around
Michael Calvin talks about the pressures on an England manager on this week’s episode of Behind the Lines. By Gavin Cooney Friday 7 May 2021, 8:00 AM May 7th 2021, 8:00 AM 3,877 Views 5 Comments
Image: PA
Image: PA
THE ENGLAND FOOTBALL team attracts an, erm, unique kind of media pressure, perhaps best summed up by the 2002 World Cup tale of a tear-soaked David Seaman emerging from the dressing room after defeat to Ronaldinho and Brazil to be met by a journalist literally booing him.
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