Exclusive: Business secretary could hold weekly televised news conferences to explain government business Peter Mandelson. Photograph: Lefteris Pitarakis/AP Lord Mandelson is being tipped as a possible "minister for information" under a shake-up of the way Downing Street holds its media briefings announced today. Officials planning the overhaul believe that one option would be for the business secretary to hold weekly news conferences to explain government policy. The prime minister's spokesman announced the setting up of a working group to review the way Downing Street conducts media briefings in "an increasingly fast-moving and online media world". One option being considered would involve Mandelson giving a televised briefing to reporters every Monday about government business, according to a Westminster insider. If Mandelson were to hold a weekly televised briefing, he would in effect add "minister for information" to his long list of titles. In the past some governments have appointed an official "minister for information", although the title has not officially been used in recent years. Such a role would not involve Mandelson giving up his post as business secretary. Mandelson is widely acknowledged to be one of the best media communicators in the government. He first came to prominence as aLabour spin doctor, although if he were to hold press conferences every Monday there is some danger that he could overshadow the prime minister or attract too much attention to himself. Another option being considered is for the daily briefings by the prime minister's official spokesman to be televised. The government started holding briefings for lobby journalists, the political reporters based in parliament, before the second world war and originally the system was highly secretive, with reporters honour-bound not to reveal that they were getting their information from a No 10 spokesman. In the 1980s and 1990s the system was gradually opened up and, when Alastair Campbell moved to Downing Street as Tony Blair's press secretary, he put his lobby briefings on the record. An account of the daily briefings is now published on the Downing Street website. In the past, ministers have rejected the idea of holding televised briefings in the way that the White House does in Washington, because they did not want to turn the prime minister's spokesman into a media personality. But Gordon Brown has recently hired a new press secretary, Simon Lewis, who is jointly chairing the working group that is reviewing the lobby system, and he is open to change. The other joint chair is Jean Eaglesham, a Financial Times journalist who chairs the lobby reporters' group. The working party also includes other journalists and officials and aims to produce recommendations that could be implemented early in the new year. Lewis said today: "This is an important and timely initiative and I am very much looking forward to working with colleagues in government and the lobby to propose changes which will enhance the role of lobby whilst reflecting the realities of the modern political and media world." Eaglesham said: "We have a shared interest in ensuring that the lobby continues to operate as a cornerstone of political reporting whilst reflecting the changes in the media operating environment. "That's why I am delighted that this review is taking place and that it will be an entirely collaborative effort."Lord Mandelson tipped as information minister
Wednesday, 11 November 2009
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