DCMS Plays the Mi5 Card
Editors Letters || Tuesday, 21 February, 2006
******* forwarded to me your e-mail to her from this morning.
Although I have no wish - nor am I qualified - to get into the detail of the policy matters you raise, I must take issue with your closing point on 'naming' Government press officers. This is a convention that is, to the best of my knowledge, observed by the entire UK media, old and new.
The reason is quite simple. As civil servants we are required to describe and explain Government policy. We do this regardless of the political complexion of the Government of the day, or the identity of the ministers in office. In my case, for example, I was a spokesman for Virginia Bottomley when she was the Conservative Secertary of State here in 1997 and then, literally overnight, became the same for Labour's Chris Smith. Had the Government changed in 2001 or 2005, I would have switched again.
That's how it goes, and that's how the media get - as far as possible - an honest, objective and impartial news service on the department's (publicly funded) work. It would clearly be impossible for us to do this if our names became synonymous with the ministers in post at the time. Overwhelmingly, the media are happy with this arrangement and understand the reasons behind it.
You are, of course, perfectly entitled to declare that 'Article 19 is not governed by the rules of the DCMS' but, unless you can assure me that you are content to follow the convention, we will (reluctantly) have to insist that ALL future contact between DCMS and Article 19 is in the form of written answers to written questions, directed through me.
**** ******
Deputy Head of News
Department for Culture, Media and Sport
(names have been blanked to protect those that shouldn't be allowed out of doors without adult supervision)
It seems to me that you personally, the DCMS, Government and the mass media have developed a cosy little system that seeks to treat grown ups like children. We are very well aware that the civil service serves the elected Government of the day irrespective of personal political choices or views. But you do serve that Government and you do speak on their behalf and the public should be aware of whom is speaking if they know that what they are saying is on the record.
Article19 would also argue that there can be no accountability through annonymity and Ms ***** illustrated that her knowledge of the subjects we brought up with our questions was limited and we must therefore assume that the knowledge of the subjects at the DCMS is also limited since, after may weeks, the questions raised were still not answered.
Being able to name a press officer should in no way suggest a lack of impartiality or objectiveness and many people feel the lack of openess in the civil service to be a problem, not a means to an end in getting accurate information.
I can assure you Mr ******* that Ms ***** will not become synonymous with the DCMS's lack of ability to form coherent arts policy. Such floundering in the face of common sense is expected of whichever political party is in charge. Your press officer can rest easy that she will quickly slip back into the murky anonymity you all desire.
To further scratch at this wound we shall publish your email in our letters section with the names starred out so you may all rest easy in your beds.
Stumble It!
