There are lots of people who have strong concerns about the power of Rupert Murdoch and many who would say they dislike the man without ever having met him. The perception is that he has changed our society, probably for the worse, and had too much of a say in how our country is run.
None of that justifies or excuses the embarrassing custard pie incident the other day during the select committee hearings into the hacking scandal. It was a shocking lapse in security at what surely should be one of the most secure places in the country. How on earth anyone could get a cream pie or a can of shaving foam through security is a puzzle that will no doubt be carefully looked at.
The investigation of the incident will take it’s course and charges may be brought but the behaviour of the authorities in excluding the pie incident cameraman who brought us those important pictures is a sign that the authorities are more concerned with their own embarrassment than they are with informing the public.
Paul Lambert (known as Gobby) is a producer/fixer for the BBC who succeeded in bringing us those memorable pictures as the pie incident cameraman and he should be applauded for that. The response of the authorities has been to ban him from the Parliament premises.
Filming in and around Parliament is restricted for obvious reasons and there are strict rules on what should and should not be shown but when an extremely unusual incident such as this occurs we should be glad the cameras are there to record it.
Banning someone for doing what is in the public interest is surely a sign that the embarrassed authorities are more concerned with covering their own backs than they are in being transparent with the public they are there to serve.
We are supposed to be a democracy. The government and all the supporting institutions are ultimately there to serve us, the public. The pie incident was embarrassing for the country but that doesn’t mean it should not have been shown.
We should be thankful that the people supplying us with the images of what occurred did so and those in power who have revoked Paul Lamberts permission to have access to Parliament buildings should be ashamed of themselves. He did us a greater public service than they did and he should be reinstated immediately with a proper apology for their hasty and misjudged actions in banning him.
Related posts:
