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Transcript of Reporting & Writing National politics Covering Parliament History The press gallery Sources of...
National Politics
1
Reporting & Writing
National politics Covering Parliament History The press gallery Sources of stories Parliament visit
The House of Commons
National Politics2
Parliament & the press Before 1771, reporting debates
in Parliament was a crime punishable by fines or imprisonment
Publications resorted to subterfuge – disguising reports as if they were letters, or the proceedings of fictitious societies
In 1771, judges refused to hear a case against a printer who published a report from the Commons after he was locked in the Tower of London, and coverage of Parliament began. Parliament by JMW Turner
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Hansard: official record William Cobbett started to
write Parliamentary Debates in 1802, published by Thomas Curson Hansard.
In 1812, Hansard bought the publication. From 1829, reports of the day in Parliament were printed with the name “Hansard” on the title page.
In 1889, Hansard was subsided by Parliament to ensure there was always a permanent record of debates, and in 1909 it took over publication entirely.A bound volume of Hansard
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The press gallery In 1803 the public gallery was
so full to hear Pitt speak on the Napoleonic Wars that reporters lost their seats. The speaker ruled a part of the public gallery would be reserved for the press.
After the Second World War, MPs’ speeches were broadcast into the gallery so reporters could clearly hear what was being said. Telephone kiosks, enabling reporters to file copy directly to their news desk, were added.
The press gallery, above the speaker’s chair
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Women in the gallery
Nancy Astor, the first female MP
Not until 1919. In 1890, a request from the
Women’s Penny Paper was declined with the warning: “the consequences were too difficult to conceive”.
When they were finally given access, it was to cover the arrival of the UK’s first woman MP, Nancy Astor.
But it was not until 1945 that women could take up permanent posts in the gallery. The first was Eirene Jones, of the Manchester Evening News.
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The modern press gallery About 170 journalists work in
the press gallery today. They file from the cramped
upper gallery of the house. Members include every national
daily & Sunday newspaper, major broadcasters, websites including Conservative Home and Politics.co.uk, magazines including the Spectator, the Economist, the Muslim News and Middle East News – plus major regional papers.
Adam Boulton, Sky News politics correspondent
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Reporting on Parliament
The headline-stealers: Prime Ministers questions (30
mins every Wednesday, 12pm) Question Time (One hour
Monday to Thursday, 2.30pm) Major scheduled debates
Cameron at PMQs
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Question Time Ministers called to answer
questions in a rota, known as the Order of Oral Questions.
Questions must be submitted in advance.
MPs who are called to ask their question can then ask a supplementary question, which is not revealed in advance.
The last 15 minutes is reserved for “topical issues” – i.e. that day’s news.
Jeremy Hunt answers questions
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Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday
Jan 14-17 Defence Health Prime Minister& Wales
Transport
Jan 21-24 Education Foreign & Commonwealth Office
Prime Minister & Northern Ireland
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Question Time rota
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Prime Minister’s Questions The leader of the opposition can
ask up to six questions of the PM Others must submit questions
by 12.30pm the preceding Thursday
But these questions tend to be bland inquiries about his diary and engagements
These are tabled so that MPs can ask their real question as a supplementary – without giving the PM warning of what they want to bring up.
PMQs tend to be a pantomime
Order of business – Jan 811.30am PrayersThen PMQs12.10pm Attorney General Qs12.30pm Ministerial statementsThen Regulation of Bailiffs (10
minute rule)Then Welfare Benefits up-
rating bill (2nd reading)Then Funding of Newcastle
City Council (adjournment debate)
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Private Members’ Bills
Most bills are proposed by government ministers
But any MP can attempt to change the law by introducing a Private Members’ Bill
Very few are published in full, and even fewer pass into law
But they can raise important issues, and often influence future debate and legislation
Examples of successful PMBs
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Private Members BillsCurrent proposals:
To ban smoking in cars when children are present
Alex Cunningham (Lab)Restore standing at football grounds (banned after Hillsborough)
Don Foster (Lib Dem)Create an offence of causing death or injury by reckless cycling
Andrea Leadsom (Con)A dangerous cyclist
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Private Members’ BillsBallot BillsEvery MP that wants to put forward a Bill can enter a lottery held at the start of every year. Seven lucky winners earn a day’s debate of their issue.
Ten Minute RuleMPs get 10 mins after Question Time on Tuesdays and Wednesdays to introduce a Bill. An opponent has 10 minutes to argue against it. Very rarely become law. Politics is a lottery
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Early Day Motions A formal motion submitted by an
MP for debate in the Commons They are a tool generally used by
backbench MPs to highlight specific issues they feel are important
Very few are actually debated Other MPs that support the
motion can add their signature to it – like a petition
They can be a good tool for journalists to find burning issues.
EDMs have a strict format
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Early Day Motions Go to this web link, where you
can search current Early Day Motions and see how much support they have.
Find one that interests you as a story.
Think of three sources you could use to turn it into a news story or a feature.
Website to search latest EDMs
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Adjournment debates MPs use them to discuss issues
in their constituencies, or to raise broad policy points where there is not yet a firm proposal to vote or decide upon.
They get a response from a government minister.
There is 30 minutes at the end of every day reserved for these debates in the Commons.
MPs are selected by ballot each day.
Adjournment debates last week
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Written questionsOrdinary questions By convention they are
answered within 7 days.House of Lords questions Can table up to six a day, and
expect an answer in 14 days“Named day” questions Only in the Commons. The MP
can specify a date for the answer to be given, but must give two days’ notice before asking it. Limit of five per day per MP. Finding stories from questions
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Select committeesCommons Select committees examine the
work of specific government departments
They focus on spending, policies and administration
They have a minimum of 11 members who decide topics of inquiry and carry out interviews and research
Findings are reported to the Commons and published, and the government has 60 days to reply
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Select committeesLordsInvestigate specialist areas. There are currently five:
The European Union Committee
The Science and Technology Committee
The Communications Committee
The Constitution Committee
The Economic Affairs Committee
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Modern day coverage
Political announcements made to the media, not to Parliament
Emphasis on press briefings, PR events
Announcements timed for Today Programme, BBC Breakfast etc.
It means political reporters spend less time in Parliament than before.
Nick Robinson, the BBC’s political editor
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Speech to the press gallery, 1945
“The long fight which the House had against being reported is succeeded by the long fight which it is having and going to have over being reported at all.”
Churchill
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Rehman Chishti
MP for Gillingham and Rainham. Conservative.
Member of the Joint Committee on Human Rights and the Justice Select Committee.
Rehman Chishti
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Dianne Hayter Labour, member of the House of
Lords Opposition whip Opposition spokeswoman for
business and skills and the cabinet office
Chair of the Labour Party, 2007 to 2008. A former chair of the Financial Services Authority Consumer Panel.
Good issue: Lords reform
Dianne Hayter
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Adam Boulton Sky News political editor Started out as political lobbyist Presents Boulton & Co 1-2pm
every weekday Presents PMQs on Wednesday
evenings, assessing performance during the Commons
Watch PMQs on Wednesday. Watch his show at least once
this week.Adam Boulton
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Parliament trip Tuesday, January 22 Must be there by 8.50am to sign
in. The 07:08 train from Gillingham
will get you to Victoria by 8.17am
The 07:12 train from Gillingham gets you to Charing Cross by 8.36am
Both cost £31.60 return
We will meet at St Stephen’s Gate, opposite Westminster Abbey at 8.45am.
Map from Westminster Underground station