https://www.declassifieduk.org/westminster-attack-on-press-freedom-condemned-by-journalists-and-mps

Campaign comes after officials blocked Declassified from holding a press pass, citing our Gaza ‘standpoint’.

More than 100 politicians, journalists and campaigners have condemned a “flagrant and partisan attempt to suppress investigative journalism” by parliament.

It comes after officials blocked Declassified from holding a press pass, citing the “particular standpoint” of our investigations.

They even flagged a recent article about the risk of pro-Israel bias in Westminster.

Now, an open letter calls on authorities to urgently review this decision and issue Declassified with a press pass.

The open letter has also been signed by more than 5,800 Declassified readers and supporters, and was hand-delivered to Westminster officials this afternoon. 

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Parliament has issued passes to almost 500 journalists, providing access to the corridors of power in Westminster. They include many from right-wing outlets like Guido Fawkes and GB News.

When Declassified’s application for a pass was first rejected, officials claimed it was due to capacity “limitations within the Parliamentary estate”.

But documents released under the Freedom of Information Act revealed there was no limit to the number of press passes that can be issued – and capacity was not even discussed as a consideration.

Instead, they cited the “standpoint” of our foreign policy investigations – and bizarrely even claimed that foreign policy does not count as “politics”. 

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https://www.declassifieduk.org/westminster-attack-on-press-freedom-condemned-by-journalists-and-mps