Ethics, Hypocrisy, and the UK’s Press
Zoom out for a second: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has referred Minister Josh Simons to his ethics adviser following accusations of smearing journalists. This official action comes amidst claims that Simons engaged in tactics to discredit reporting, a pattern that extends far beyond a single minister. This episode is not isolated. In 2011, during the Leveson Inquiry into press ethics, it
emerged that political figures and media outlets had engaged in extensive mutual influence and, at times, coercion. Then-Prime Minister David Cameron notably dismissed numerous recommendations from the inquiry that aimed to strengthen independent press regulation. The current situation echoes this historical reluctance to address media manipulation structurally, particularly when it originates
within government circles. While Starmer's referral appears to signal a commitment to ethical conduct, a significant hypocrisy emerges when comparing this internal scrutiny to the broader, often unaddressed, practices. Data from the National Council for the Training of Journalists (NCTJ) in 2023 indicated that only 13% of UK journalists believe their profession is completely free from political
interference. The very institutional mechanisms for dealing with such complaints are frequently perceived as inadequate, favoring the establishment. The question isn't whether they'll try again. It's whether enough people see this. Share it. 🧵 The algorithm suppresses what matters. Beat it — follow @The_Piaz , subscribe on Substack , and share this before it gets buried. 🤝 Support us so we can