Tory conference: foreign media groups say accreditation fee undermines press freedom
Hundreds of foreign media groups have accused Britain’s Conservatives of undermining press freedom by imposing charges on journalists to cover their annual conference.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak’s party first imposed a fee for media accreditation at last year’s conference, defying complaints from both UK and foreign organisations.
It has again imposed charges for the October Conservative party conference in Manchester, with a £137 ($175) charge, rising to £880 from 1 August.
The party insists that the money raised helps to cover the administrative costs of “thousands” of journalists failing to show up.
But the Foreign Press Association of UK-based overseas media said the party had failed to show any evidence for noshows on such a scale – and argued that wider principles were at stake.
“In fact, this decision sets a dangerous precedent for countries all over the world who will use this decision to justify financial and other barriers to media scrutiny of the political process,” it said.
“We have not found any comparable charges in any other country in the world, let alone in any other democracy … We therefore call upon the Tory party conference organisers to scrap or refund the charges and allow fair and free reporting for all.”
The open letter was signed by nearly 300 media groups including Agence France-Presse, the New York Times, the Washington Post, Le Monde, The Hindu, Yomiuri Shimbun, Der Spiegel and the Sydney Morning Herald.
Media in more than 60 countries were represented, including from China and Russia.
Last month a group of industry bodies, including the News Media Association, Society of Editors, News Media Coalition and Foreign Press Association issued a joint statement challenging the decision to charge for access.
The statement explained that a promised review of the fees had not happened: “For more than a year, we have been seeking discussion with the Conservative party to review these charges, as promised. This was to find an alternative solution to supposed concerns which the party seeks to address by charging the media for attendance – a decision which we are united in viewing as undemocratic and detrimental to the interests of society and the party itself.”
The party conference, which takes place in October, is normally attended
by hundreds of columnists, editors and reporters. But this year a widespread boycott now looks likely.
The AFP news agency contacted
Conservative headquarters but there was no immediate comment.
Media access to the UK’s main opposition Labour party is free up until 28 July, then a charge of £75 is imposed until 31 August, rising to £95 from 1 September
onwards.