Why caging the free press in a Scottish Parliament pen is a democratic outrage – Jackie Baillie
The different attitudes of Scotland’s political parties to confining journalists to a ‘pen’ in the Scottish Parliament speak volumes about their stance on democratic scrutiny
On certain days, for certain politicians, it’s impossible to walk through the Scottish Parliament without being interrupted by journalists desperate to get a comment. Within the walls of Holyrood, this is known as being doorstepped.
But last week, after First Minister’s Questions, the Scottish Parliament insisted that journalists do this job – for which they have security passes – from behind a makeshift barricade.
The Presiding Officer advised that the parliament had decided to impose a media pen "following feedback from a range of building users and discussion with all parties". There was no discussion that I was aware of.
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More transparency, not less
It’s true that in today’s feverish times, some MSPs may find the approach of someone asking questions unnerving, and no one deserves to be hounded. But although some MSPs can get far too comfortable, Holyrood is not their home, or even a building the public can enter freely.
It is a workplace protected by security where they are elected representatives funded by the taxpayer to pass legislation and deliver for the public. The journalists in question are hardly unknown provocateurs. They chat away to MSPs and their staff and have even been known to buy a coffee.
They are also there doing their job – reporting back for that same public. And at a time when the Scottish Government has spent more than half a million pounds of taxpayer’s money to try to prevent the release of the Salmond Files, the public want more transparency, not less.
No one is owning up about exactly who asked for the media pen, although early reports pointed at Reform and the party’s deputy leader, Thomas Kerr, was forced to disown his own comments after telling journalists “behave yourselves and you will get back out”.
Labour, Lib Dems and Tories support press freedom
But the way parties have responded is telling. Scottish Labour has been clear that the freedom of the press is a cornerstone of democracy – a position also adopted by the Scottish Liberal Democrats and Scottish Conservatives.
In contrast, First Minister John Swinney simply claimed it was a matter for the Scottish Parliament and Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer told journalists: “Have a word with some of your colleagues about their behaviour.”
According to Greer’s logic, being a “well-behaved” journalist seems to mean agreeing with politicians, while those who dare to criticise should be treated no differently from naughty toddlers.
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Never mind that forcing journalists to stand in a fixed spot rewards those who can shout the loudest or have the most convenient questions. Never mind that there are plenty of questions to ask in the week where a former First Minister’s husband was sentenced for embezzlement. Never mind that penning journalists sends the message that when it comes to checks and balances, politicians have the upper hand.
It’s true that journalists can be direct and confrontational in their questioning, but the parliament is designed to be a place where those difficult debates are had. If MSPs don’t like the idea of being scrutinised, they’re in the wrong job.
As for the days they can’t stomach the idea of talking to a journalist, there is a simple response that doesn’t require the Scottish Parliament’s staff to haul out the barricades: “no comment”.
Jackie Baillie is MSP for Dumbarton, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader and her party’s spokesperson for health
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