Procedure is (according to the article) that ‘political’ briefings are to an invited audience but ‘government’ briefings should be open to all media. This was a government briefing and that’s why the journalists walked out. it’d be strange for the journalists to walk out if what the government were doing is ‘normal’.
I would have thought something described as a technical briefing , would be nothing more than a plan to release favourable info into the Media stream. I am also guessing that when some less favourable ones turned up, they tried to turn them away, wether this would qualify as political or government briefings I don’t have a clue. I would agree, given that most Journalists would sell their Granny for a scoop it does seem unusual that they would all walk out and give up a potential edge on their counterparts.
"Downing Street responded to the accusations by claiming it has held briefings for its so-called “inner lobby” of hand-picked journalists for at least six months. A No.10 source told the Guardian that the meeting in question was one of these latter types, claiming there had been a "normal" meeting for all journalists after Johnson's speech. "A number of uninvited journalists" had merely barged into the smaller gathering and "demanded to be part of it," becoming upset when told they were not welcome, he explained." So this "standard approach " is not so standard after all - its only happened since Boris became PM. I can see why the journos were so incensed. As one as already stated "you cant barge into number 10, you would be shot. The term sinister is being used and I think that has some credence.
First few lines ... got phone calls from Tory Party Billionaires - that sums up what it was all about.
Not surprised the BBC and Sky were ignored after their blatant bias towards remaining in the EU. Sounds a bit like people flapping over nowt TBH..
Doubt very much that it’s new governments have always used favoured journalists to release info. Maybe in a new guise but has always happened.
You must have ! his alter ego is Alexander Boris de Pfeffle Johnson. One of his others being Michael Andrew Gove . He’s a bit like Barry Humphries but not as funny .
