The House, parish mag for the Palace of Westminster, is planning a special issue on the media. A senior figure in the industry reports that he was approached to submit something for publication — so far so sensible. Then this bod was told that if it were published, he would be charged for the privilege.
It transpired that other contributors such as Ben Bradshaw, Labour’s former culture secretary, and Hugh Grant, patron saint of Hacked Off, would have their words published for nothing. Bradshaw does not have to pay because he is an MP, Grant because, well, you tell me.
We now know what some in Westminster mean by the term “free press” — free to air if you are in favour.
■ Asked in