The Society of Editors has expressed deep concern over Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's plan to reduce the number of daily lobby briefings for political journalists, warning that the move risks weakening democratic transparency.
Under the changes announced by Downing Street's director of communications, Tim Allan, the traditional twice-daily briefings will be cut to one, with occasional press conferences replacing the afternoon session. The lobby, a group of journalists who have long questioned the prime minister's spokesperson on the record, was not consulted in advance.
Dawn Alford, chief executive of the Society of Editors, said: “Regular, open and robust questioning of government is a cornerstone of democratic accountability. Replacing routine, journalist-led questioning with government-controlled press conferences risks limiting who can ask questions, how long ministers are held to account, and which issues are addressed.”
Allan argued that the media landscape has been “utterly transformed”, describing the afternoon lobby as “very sparsely attended” and often repetitive. The government intends to invite content creators and sector journalists to press conferences, though reports suggest some influencers were previously asked to pre-submit questions.
Senior political journalists fear the reforms could restrict access and undermine scrutiny, particularly if the government controls the format and selection of questioners. The Conservatives and Liberal Democrats have pledged to restore the afternoon lobby briefings if they return to power.
