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‘Strip journalists of Commons passes’ says MP

Journalists who report Government announcements before ministers have made a statement in the Commons should be stripped of their Parliamentary passes, a senior MP has suggested.

Former minister Chris Bryant, Labour MP for Rhondda, raised the issue with Commons Speaker John Bercow in a point of order.

Mr Bryant said: “The Government is regularly now briefing the press before briefing the House of Commons.

“I realise it is very difficult for you to exercise any direct powers in relation to the Government, but there is not just the question of supply, there is also the question of demand here.

“Might I suggest that any journalist you find to write an article which says ‘tomorrow the Government will announce that …’ has their pass withdrawn so they can’t work in this House any longer.”

Mr Bercow joked: “It’s extremely naughty of you to tempt me in that way. I think you should be careful about such an approach.”

The Speaker added:  “I think it is extremely important that the responsibility of Government to explain and answer first to Parliament is accepted and that effect is given to it,” Mr Bercow said.

“It would be very unfortunate if a regular pattern were to develop of the kind about which you have been complaining.”

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  • June 24, 2011 at 8:06 pm
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    Does Chris have no sense of irony as a member of the former Labour government and the party which likes to think it perfected this kind of pre announcement leak?
    Of course we know what Chris really wants is revenge on the press which caught him with his pants down (when I say caught I mean found posing in nothing but his Y-fronts on the internet).

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