Declassified journalists banned from Labour conference – again

Declassified journalists have been banned from the Labour Party’s annual conference for the third year in a row.

The event in Liverpool next week is the first under new prime minister Andy Burnham and is traditionally an opportunity for reporters to question politicians.

But three Declassified journalists were denied media passes, with the party claiming that they would only be given to those “with a relevant portfolio”.

The rejection email said: “We reserve the right to reject an application if we cannot find any evidence the applicant is a working journalist or photographer with a political portfolio or working on behalf of a relevant media outlet.”

The ban comes despite all Declassified staff journalists being accredited with the National Union of Journalists (NUJ), while one is also a member of the Parliamentary Press Gallery.

Emails requesting an appeal of the decision – or a refund of the £420 in entry fees – have so far gone unanswered.

The NUJ’s general secretary Laura Davidson called on Labour to rethink its decision, saying: “Journalists must be able to report on and question political parties – especially those who are in power.

“Political parties must demonstrate their commitment to press freedom, freedom of expression and the public’s right to be informed.”

‘Dark hole’

Several Labour MPs have reacted angrily to the ban, with one calling it “Trump-like”.

Speaking to Declassified , the former Labour shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: “This Trump-like banning of a significant media player is a demonstration that, at the heart of the Labour Party bureaucracy, Starmer’s Labour Together crew are still in charge.”

He added: “Andy Burnham and Labour’s new general secretary will need to launch a radical reorganisation of this bureaucracy before they undermine him as they have past leaders.”

Another prominent MP, who asked not to be named, also alluded to the role of the party’s right-wing, saying: “This feels like the decision of some jumped-up old Labour-Right turd, hoping you’ll go away and be banned in a dark hole somewhere.”

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‘Is this what change looks like?’

Kim Johnson, the MP for Liverpool Riverside where the conference takes place, said the decision to block Declassified was “bang out of order”.

“ Declassified is a serious, independent media outlet,” she said. “To suggest they somehow aren’t ‘real journalists’ because Labour doesn’t consider them ‘relevant’ is frankly insulting.”

“We rightly condemn Reform when they ban local journalists from their councils and Donald Trump when he tries to decide which journalists are allowed access to the White House. So why are we seeing the same sort of behaviour from our own political party?”

She added: “I genuinely thought the new regime would represent a change from the Starmer-era tricks of trying to control the message and manage the media to duck accountability. If this is what change looks like, it is looking an awful lot like more of the same.”

Labour backbencher John Trickett said: “It is more than disappointing that Declassified has been banned from the Labour conference this year under Burnham’s new leadership.

“Legacy media can be very hostile to Labour and yet – rightly – they are allowed to be present. Labour ought to embrace new media outlets as a way of breaking the power of the mainstream media: Andy Burnham ought to reverse the ban.”

Labour peer Prem Sikka also called on his party to review the ban. He told Declassified : “It is very disappointing that Labour is continuing with the practices established under Keir Starmer and barring independent journalists from its conference, a practice associated with Donald Trump.”

“The government must be scrutinised and the ban will not help Andy Burnham to present himself as a candidate for change.”

Clive Lewis, the MP for Norwich South, said: “ Declassified UK should be admitted to conference, or Labour should publicly explain, with a credible reason, why it has been excluded. Democracy means accepting scrutiny, especially when it is uncomfortable.”

He added: “Labour needs a clean break with the closed and controlling political culture of the past seven years, and a new culture rooted in democracy, openness and respect for a free press.”

Lobbyists welcome

While barring journalists from the conference, Labour is set to once again welcome a mass of corporate lobbyists – including representatives from major arms companies.

They include Anacta, which has previously lobbied for Pearson Engineering – an arms firm owned by the Israeli government.

The lobbying company will host an entire “hub” inside the conference venue, where senior Labour figures were last year seen drinking with lobbyists and journalists.

Another lobbying firm, Arden Strategies, is hosting an “Insights Hub” and “Events Lounge”, with talks from top government ministers.

Reporting earlier this year accused Arden Strategies of “selling access to government officials” for tens of thousands of pounds. While not illegal, the arrangement was described as “hugely problematic” by the campaign group Spotlight on Corruption.

Meanwhile, the conference programme suggests that the new defence secretary, Wes Streeting, will do a “one-to-one interview” at an event hosted by the arms giant BAE Systems.

The company has sold military equipment and technology used by the Israeli military.

Labour Friends of Israel will also be returning to the conference with its annual reception, promising “senior cabinet ministers”.

The group – which is funded by secret donors – organises trips to Israel, where MPs have met the country’s president, Isaac Herzog, and had briefings with the Israeli Defence Forces while the genocide is ongoing.

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