A regional daily editor has hit out after his photographer was barred from taking pictures of Prime Minister David Cameron during a local election campaign visit.
Peter Barron from The Northern Echo said his photographer was refused accreditation to take pictures as Mr Cameron made a speech on a visit to Darlington ahead of the 5 May poll – with only one snapper from the Press Association allowed in.
He said the Echo had applied before the Prime Minister visited the town to be allowed to take photos as he gave a speech at St Aidan’s Academy last week.
But this was turned down by the Conservative Party with them saying only one photographer from PA would be allowed in and the pictures would be pooled for use by other media.
Writing in his blog, Peter said his photographer Sarah Nicholson had attended the venue where the Prime Minister was giving his speech, hoping to be let in despite the lack of official accreditation.
But this had been refused by the party, with them saying if this was allowed, every photographer would have to be let in – despite Sarah being the only one there.
Peter writes: “This wasn’t a case of the paparazzi storming the barricades.
“And it wasn’t as if it was a tight squeeze. There was plenty of room inside St Aidan’s and Sarah’s not a big girl.
“To be frank, I think it’s pathetic. Every now and again, local Conservatives moan about alleged political bias in The Northern Echo and I keep telling them there isn’t any.
“Here was a golden local publicity opportunity and they can’t even organise it so the local paper can take its own pictures.
“Oh, I know we’ll get perfectly good pictures from the Press Association’s excellent snapper John Giles. But that’s not the point. When it comes to PR, Tories are just a disaster area.”
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If I want to know what Peter Barron is moaning about this week, I can read his blog myself. Why does HTFP copy and paste from it so frequently? This is not particuarly interesting and loudmouth Barron clearly is anti-Conservative. How about asking the Conservative Party for their side of the story. Was it for security reasons? Was their limited space? Do they just dislike Barron?
The Northern Echo was promised pictures just like everyone else. I can’t see why they’re belly-aching about their photographer being excluded. What did they want – special treatment ?
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Hmmmmm. What is so unusual about one or two cameramen being allowed into an official event and being ordered to pool the pics afterwards?
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I suppose it’s the Tuesday after Easter, and there’s nothing better to report.
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I can’t believe the comments following this story. Surely the whole point is not that Northern Echo/Peter Barron is effectively barred from attending a Prime Ministerial event but that ANY non-Tory approved media are prevented?
The argument of pooling hacks and snappers may work where security or safety is a major issue but for a school visit it’s hardly justified. It’s only a step away from only allowing one approved hack to ask questions.
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Wasn’t there a story during last year’s general election about Peter Barron refusing to pull an interview, at David Cameron’s request, in which the Tory leader suggested the north was looking at deep spending cuts?
But of course DC feels ‘uneasy’ at attempts to silence the free press so this must be a coincidence.
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