NUJ responds to reports of Conservative party banning Byline Times journalists from conference
The NUJ has responded to reports that Byline Times journalists have been denied access to the Conservative Party conference.
Laura Davison, NUJ general secretary, said:
"Further reports of political parties refusing journalists access to their conferences raise serious questions about the state of press freedom in the UK. The Conservative Party appears to have rejected media passes to journalists from Byline Times without explanation. This follows the banning of journalists at both the Labour and Reform UK party conferences, and of Byline Times journalists at the Conservative Party conference last year.
"Political parties should not pick and choose which journalists and publications are able to question and scrutinise them. Excluding legitimate newsgatherers from party conferences without clear and transparent reasons risks undermining trust in politics and people's ability to access reporting from a diversity of sources.
"We urge the Conservative Party to explain why Byline Times journalists have been denied accreditation and to rethink its decision. Once again, the union calls on all political parties to uphold press freedom, freedom of expression and the public's right to be informed."