Anti-press campaigners Hugh Grant and Steve Coogan are chomping at the bit now that Burnham is heading into No10. Both went up to campaign with the ex-mayor…
Grant, who has unsuccessfully run the Hacked Off campaign for some years, said last week:
“So this is a chance for someone new to be – in my opinion – a statesman instead of a politician, to govern instead of just playing Westminster snakes and ladders, to protect the public rather than protect vested interests. So let’s hope this is a hopeful moment – it just might be.”
Burnham himself backed imposing the strictures of the second part of the Leveson Inquiry when he was Shadow Home Secretary and told Byline Times this March “I haven’t given up on [it]” and would do it “if he had the influence.” Doesn’t bode well…
Here is what Leveson 2 would mean:
The Online Safety Act makes Leveson 2 even more dangerous. The act established a “recognised news publisher” exemption so that journalistic content is protected from platform takedown duties. A revived state-approval regime could become the de facto gatekeeper for which outlets qualify, so online distribution depends on regulatory membership…
Starmer resisted intense lobbying to regulate the press in this way. With Burnham, anti-press freedom campaigners smell blood…
Kemi Badenoch at the 1922-ConHome bash last night:
“I did praise [Burnham] for his stamina, it was amazing. All I had to do was sit back and lie there. I didn’t have to do anything at all…”