Forum Topic

Why do we need a Press Secretary at No. 10?

Ex-Journalist Allegra Stratton to lead No 10 TV briefingsAllegra Stratton - who has worked for both ITV and the BBC and is Chancellor Rishi Sunak's spokeswoman - will become the government's new press secretary.https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-54468229It is also true that she is married to James Forsyth, the political editor of The Spectator, who works alongside the commissioning editor, Mary Wakefield who happens to be married to Dominic Cummings, the Chief Advisor to Boris Johnson.A question of who you know?  Really awful!

Ivonne Holliday ● 1711d12 Comments

I won't moan at all Ivonne, I think they could be a good idea if they happen.  If they don't, who cares?

Sue Hammond ● 1711d

A UK Sarah Huckabee Sanders? God help us.

Freddie Francis ● 1711d

Being selective about being right or not, is not here nor there.The appointment of this press secretary is to give daily press briefings on behalf of the government.But perhaps you are right, with the amount of U-turns this government has taken thus far, let us see if they do actually start next month or not.  Then you will be able to moan.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1711d

But I was right Ivonne, they don't happen now. Let's see if they actually do start next month and if they are ongoing.  Then you can moan about them all over again. 😉

Sue Hammond ● 1711d

Did you read the article by any chance Sue?  I think not.Let me give you a quote from it:"The daily updates, similar to the format used by the White House in the United States, will start next month."

Ivonne Holliday ● 1711d

They don't.

Sue Hammond ● 1711d

I was not aware that all of them did daily press briefings, as in the White House.

Ivonne Holliday ● 1711d

@IvonneI will turn your question around. Why shouldn't No.10 have a Press Secretary, whoever it is?  Do you really think Boris has the time to write endless press statements or deal with all the media interest himself?  There have been Downing Street Press Secretaries since 1945 so I don't understand your question. Wiki has the full list, just click on the relevant link:https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Downing_Street_Press_Secretary

Sue Hammond ● 1711d

I am currently in locked down Scotland and I have to say Johnson is doing the cause of independence no harm at all. The further you get from London the worse he looks. Things are far from perfect politically up here but it’s an absolute paradise in political terms compared to what is going on in Westminster. Looks like we are going to have to rely on Tory rebels to hold him in check and the only ones with any teeth are even further to the right than him. Truly concerning.

Jonathan Callaway ● 1711d

The real problem with this set-up is the cutting out of parliament. Important announcements of whatever sort should be made by ministers directly to the house, not via a “spokeswoman”. This is another step in the Cummings plan to make Johnson even more presidential than he already is.Truly awful.Nick

Nicholas Evans ● 1711d

To lie to the press on the Prime Minister's behalf.

Michael Winstanley ● 1711d

When she was young and foolish she worked for the Guardian. They say you become more right wing as you get older ....

Jonathan Callaway ● 1711d