MP Wants Journalists Banned From Parliament

RINF Alternative News

May 16th 2009 UNITE National March for Jobs Demo Birmingham

A Senior Labour MP, Jim Sheridan, has suggested that some journalists should be banned from reporting in the Houses of Parliament.

His comments came after John Whittingdale, chairman of the committee, called on Lord Leveson to answer questions in Parliament regarding his plans for press regulation.

Speaking at the Commons culture, media and sport committee, he said:

“What concerns me is the parasitical elements within the press who abuse their position in here in terms of hiding behind their pen and calling people names.

“I don’t understand why they are allowed to come into this place and behave in the way that they do.”

So what do we need to know about Sheridan, and what does he stand for?

He had previously attempted to exempt himself from the Freedom of Information Act, with the apparent aim of stopping the public from finding out the details of expense claims.

He voted strongly in favour of ID cards, strongly in favour strongly for the Iraq war, and very strongly against an investigation into war.

He voted against a transparent Parliament and voted for tighter integration with the EU.

Conservative Nick de Bois labeled Sheridans outburst as dangerous, saying:

“It’s both absurd and dangerous. Is he really saying we must now have MPs deciding what journalists report and who does the reporting?”