UK: RSF calls on political parties to stop restricting journalists’ access to party conferences
Several journalists have been refused access to UK political party gatherings in recent weeks, a practice that is incompatible with press freedom. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on all UK political parties to ensure journalists from a wide variety of publications are granted free and fair access to democratic processes, so they can keep the public informed and hold politicians to account.
UK party conferences, traditionally held in the autumn, are major political events of significant public interest. At least three parties in recent weeks — including the ruling Labour Party — have refused accreditation to certain journalists without providing satisfactory explanations.
Investigative journalist John McEvoy of Declassified, whose investigations have at times been critical of the Labour Party, was denied accreditation to Labour’s conference, drawing condemnation from the National Union of Journalists and RSF. The Observer’s Carole Cadwalladr and Josiah Mortimer of Byline Times were barred from the populist Reform party’s conference; DeSmog’s Sam Bright was blocked from the Conservative party conference, and DeSmog’s Adam Barnett and Simon Childs of Novara Media were blocked by both the Conservatives and Reform. Most of them work for publications that are outside the mainstream.
It is worrying to see journalists being denied access to party conferences in the UK. For democracy to function, a wide range of media must have access to political events — not just mainstream publications or those seen as favourable. Journalists must be allowed to hold politicians to account, and to keep the public informed. We call on all parties to respect the vital role of journalists, and to stop restricting press access to democratic processes.
UK-based foreign media also reported issues obtaining accreditation to Labour’s party conference, though most were eventually resolved. Access to party conferences has also been a problem in the past, including in 2023, when the then-Conservative government tried to charge journalists to attend their meeting —- a policy later rescinded after complaints from RSF and media representatives.
The UK is ranked 23rd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2024 World Press Freedom Index. Earlier this year, RSF highlighted access and respect for journalists’ rights as one of 10 key areas where improvement is needed.
