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Labour spin chief Tom Baldwin tells TV channels: Silence our rivals
Joe Murphy, Political Editor17 Mar 2011
Ed Miliband's new spin doctor is embroiled in a new row with broadcasters after demanding that a labour event be reported without rival parties being allowed to comment, the Evening Standard can reveal.
Tom Baldwin has written to the BBC, ITV and Sky demanding that the usual rules of "balance" be lifted so that Mr Miliband gets a clear run at the evening news bulletins.
"We believe we are justified in requesting that you cover our event on March 25 with the same degree of prominence that you gave to the spring events of our rival parties and do not subject it to election-time rules of political balance," Mr Baldwin wrote. His letter was leaked to the Standard.
He implied that there would be a major bust-up if the broadcasters insisted on allowing the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats to make comments. "We are keen to resolve this amicably and would suggest a couple of options to you going forward," said Mr Baldwin.
His "options" are either that they "give us coverage of this event with no comment from other parties" or that the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats be deliberately given less coverage on other issues, including Government announcements, as a form of compensation.
He writes: "Alternatively, you could reflect the fact the Conservative-led Government has thus far been given far more coverage, given the two party political conferences covering four days in total, and restrict the air time given to the government parties in the run-up to the balance period."
Labour's problem is that is axed its own spring conference to save money but hoped to get star billing for a policy forum in Nottingham where the shadow cabinet will meet and Mr Miliband will meet members of the public to hear their suggestions for his next manifesto.
However, the event clashes with the beginning of the campaign period for the local elections, when broadcasters are under strict rules on impartiality, which includes letting other parties make comments about their rivals. The special Royal Wedding Bank Holiday pushed the election period back by a day, catching Labour unawares.
Adopting a mildly threatening tone, Mr Baldwin finished: "In particular we would be most concerned if you were to treat the event as an election event or in any other way reduce the coverage."
It is not the first time Mr Baldwin has ruffled feathers by demanding friendlier coverage. The Evening Standard recently revealed he tried to tell broadcasters they should stop saying "Coalition" and use "Tory-led Government" instead.
A Labour source confirmed that a letter had been sent. "We just want the same coverage as our rivals were given," he said.
Reader views (19)
Out of which hole has this geek crawled from.
- stuart, chesterfield,derbyshire, 21/03/2011 17:38
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The BBC have already complied,just look at the number of times Ed Balls was given air space this week over the fuel duty,without response.
I hope the BBC funding is cut completely and I no longer have to pay for a licence to help publicize the Labour Party.
- Tojo, Hythe Kent, 18/03/2011 07:20
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Labour has much in common with Chinese Communism.
Let the rich get very rich & silence the opposition.
The BBC is, & has been for decades the voice of the EU & Labour,
both organisations deeply hostile to our country & its values.
The only papers the BBC relentlessly plug are the Indy (as they call it) & the Guardian.
Were it not for BBC bias & the beauty parade that passed for a leaders' debate, we would now have a Conservative government including a couple of UKIP MPs,
& minus the BBC's favourite, Caroline Lucas of the wretched Green idiots
- The Convenient Truth, Reading, England, 17/03/2011 20:04
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Well Labour won't have a problem with the BBC - in fact I'd be surprised if the other two parties got a look in. However, if they can't win by fair means then the only way is foul.
- RichardG, Bolton, 17/03/2011 18:01
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Why should they worry about the press? Newspaper circulations are in decline. Labour have the newly multicultural BBC, subsidized by license-holders, to spread their socialist propaganda (Ooops, sorry. The modern term for this is 'Spin' of course.)remorselessly, whether we want to hear it or not. I just get sick of the BBC liberal bias all the time and just switch off these days.
- Higgnoraimus, Birmingham, 17/03/2011 17:59
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@ Realist - "Well known socialist tool" - er, that would be Tony Blair, wouldn't it?
- Arfur Towcrate, Staffycher, 17/03/2011 17:23
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Are you sure that this Baldwin guy isn't Alistair Campbell but with a demi-wave haircut? All the other characteristics - the arrogance, the bullying, the Labour party - seem the same. I think the public should be told.
- Stevie G, London SW11, 17/03/2011 16:48
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There's no need to cover their event at all. There is plenty of other, far more important, news.
- Eastender, London, 17/03/2011 16:27
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Ah ha!! Here we go again. Good old load of Labour bully boy tactic. “Let us tell our untruths uninterrupted, please”.
The sods are playing the same old game. It is time that the media seriously stood up to this toe-rag and clearly told him to sod off. This is preposterous and inappropriate.... but then that is PLP for you.
- a reasonable person, london, 17/03/2011 16:27
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Toby Shaw and Rick O'Shea appear to be the "rabid dogs" judging by their hysterical outburst. Tom Baldwin appears to be intolerant left wing fascist dictator material.
- ruby, london, England, 17/03/2011 15:37
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All of us who live in the real world,know that only one of the national newspapers is pro Labour.
The rest are inherently Conservative to a fault.
The whole country knows this,outside of the rabid Tory running dogs who habitually deposit their poo on
these posts.
- Toby Shaw and Rick O'Shea, St. Patricks Way , County Blessings, 17/03/2011 15:06
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I was under the impression that the BBC already adopted this modus operandi.
Labour MPs are allowed to spout utter tripe - usually naysaying something that they themselves put in place or would put in place if anyone had been daft enough to vote for them last year - and without any comment from the opposition or the dopey presenter.
Whereas anything that reports on a government policy or statement is immediately followed by some Labour talking head saying how bad it will be for the UK.
- Nobby Clark, Perth, the Scottish one, 17/03/2011 15:02
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Frank London."We wont be fooled" already happening old chap,unless of coarse you think politicians have suddenly stopped telling lies.
- bazza, London, 17/03/2011 14:15
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The BBC has always been biased to the left-We are getting plenty of talk from the vested interest like trade unions,teachers, BMA(doctors) etc.These groups cover some of the highest paid people in the land and absolutely hate the idea of reform.
Look at local council managements-better paid and pensioned than most,but are they prepared to make cuts in their pay and expenses-no They get the unions BMA etc out to demonstrate against frontline cuts.Now we have their new spin doctor,like A.Campbell who will try to lie to us all again- we will not be fooled
- frank, london, 17/03/2011 13:50
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They stuffed up on their dates and so get heavy handed with the media - telling them effectively to break the law to make up for their mistake. What planet? The media should tell them politely that they follow the law of the land, not some jumped up opposition spin doctor.
- G, London, 17/03/2011 13:39
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Yep, gag the media. Well known socialist tool.
- Realist, London SW, 17/03/2011 13:33
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Labour have always been jealous of countries such as Russia where the media is easy to control. I shudder at the thought of another Labour dictatorship/government.
- Stephen, London, 17/03/2011 13:29
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T-sser
- Steve, Brentford, 17/03/2011 13:19
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Hmmm...does he still think his party is in power? I fail to see what reasons ITV and BCC, other than the inherent left-wing bias at the latter, have to comply. All things considered they should ramp up the coverage from the rival parties to put this little fella in his place.
- ST, London, 17/03/2011 13:02
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