AN investigative news outlet has reportedly been blocked from attending the Labour Party conference this weekend.
Declassified UK reporter John McEvoy – who has recently reported on Labour’s rich donors – applied for a press pass for the event in Liverpool last month but said he was later rejected.
“Media passes are for accredited journalists and photographers with a relevant portfolio only,” a Labour official reportedly said in response.
“We reserve the right to reject an application if we cannot find any evidence the applicant is a working journalist or photographer with a political portfolio or working on behalf of a relevant media outlet.”
👉NEW -- Labour bars investigative journalist from party conference by @pmillerinfo The Labour Party has refused to grant investigative media outlet Declassified UK access to its annual conference.https://t.co/ACJlEu1xHG
— Declassified UK (@declassifiedUK) September 20, 2024
The journalist appealed with the help of the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) but to no avail – with the party press office later saying: “Media passes are finite for Labour’s Annual Conference and we have determined to uphold the original decision.”
It has led to condemnation from the NUJ and Reporters Without Borders.
Fiona O’Brien, UK director of Reporters Without Borders, commented: “For democracy to function, journalists must be allowed to report on matters of public interest – which includes party conferences.
“It’s therefore alarming to hear that an accredited journalist has had his request for a pass to Labour’s conference denied, without a satisfactory explanation.
“If the new government is really committed to open democracy, it needs to guarantee fair and free access to the political process for a wide range of media, not just for the mainstream.”
David Ayrton, a senior organiser at the NUJ, added: “It is important to uphold press freedom and therefore it is an imperative that bona fide news gatherers and journalists, such as John McEvoy, are not excluded from events such as the Labour party conference.
“It is imperative that the Labour party, as a key component of political life in Britain, notwithstanding the fact that they are the governing party, seek to uphold the principles associated with the free operation of the media.
“Such a stance integrally entails the need to facilitate those who may be critical when they seek to operate legitimately in their work as a professional journalist.”
Labour have been approached for comment.
