Disclosure of Media Contacts
Party Leaders, Ministers and Front Bench Opposition spokesmen should consider publishing: (a) the simple fact of long term relationships with media proprietors, newspaper editors or senior executives which might be thought to be relevant to their responsibilities and, (b) on a quarterly basis: i. details of all meetings with media proprietors, newspaper editors or senior executives, whether in person or through agents on either side, and the fact and general nature of any discussion of media policy issues at those meetings; and ii. a fair and reasonably complete picture, by way of general estimate only, of the frequency or density of other interaction (including correspondence, phone, text and email) but not necessarily including content.
How was this assessed?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012: "On the Government's behalf I can say that we accept that recommendation" regarding disclosure of interaction between politicians and the press. Ministerial transparency data on meetings with media proprietors, editors, and senior executives has been published quarterly since 2010. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/david-cameron-statement-in-response-to-the-leveson-inquiry-report
Published Evidence
Published assessments of implementation progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Check the source type badge to see whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
Ministers publish quarterly returns of meetings with media proprietors, editors and senior executives through the Cabinet Office transparency data. However the disclosure is inconsistent and does not fully cover all forms of interaction (texts, informal contact, phone calls) as Leveson recommended. Opposition front bench disclosure is not systematic.
View detailed findings
Ministerial media meeting disclosure exists but is incomplete. The full picture of interaction including correspondence, phone, text and email that Leveson recommended is not consistently published.