Government to hold daily UK televised press briefings

I don’t really know why the UK government stopped its own daily briefings with actual politicians when the Sturgeon ones successfully continue.

Also by doing it at 12pm, it somehow gives it a more relaxed, informal air compared to the rather stiff, terribly earnest 5pm U.K. ones.

I think it is fair to say both the Scottish and Welsh ones did feel alot more relaxed and less formal, but without diluting the message. I guess the setting at Downing Street instantly feels more formal.

Anyone know much about the proposed former court room setting at Number 9 they intend to use. Is number 9 where the briefings have been coming from?

As a comparison, what time of day do the US White House briefings take place, and what news channels routinely show them live?

As these briefings will be predominately political in nature, wouldn’t there be a balance issue in regularly broadcasting them live without spending an approximately equivalent amount of time to the opposition party/parties? The coronavirus briefings were arguably different because the circumstances were exceptional and the government was not accountable to Parliament in reality, and it was the main source of update on the current guidance, policies and laws that were changing frequently. It’s hard to argue ordinary government business requires that same level of prominence delivered in that way.

The broadcasters would also be smart not to take the feed because it will increasingly make the government’s refusal to appear for interviews all the more plausible - they’ll be able to say they are available to scrutiny daily, while having far greater control over the questions and answers.

You can bring impartiality in many ways, such as appropriate questioning and analysis. You don’t simply have to give airtime to the opposition (except in purdah).

I believe the position is being funded by the Tories rather than government too so that surely makes them a Conservative briefing rather than Government briefing.

I think (once the novelty has worn off) they won't be carried live routinely , and just sound bites will be used in news reports. The whole idea will probably rapidly fizzle out.

Sponored by Nytol!

Fairly sure that’s not true - it’s a government spokesman role in the same way as Campbell etc, so civil service but with an Order in Council allowing them to be more ‘political’.

It was highlighted on the Party website but only as a link through to Downing Street - which is where some of the confusion came from.

My understanding is that these will definitely be government briefings (as opposed to the Conservative Party briefings) but that there remain some questions over who will actually control the feed and own the copyright.

According to Wiki 9 Downing Street was previously the location of the Judicial Committee of the Privy Council until 2009, the highest court of appeal for British territories and some Commonwealth countries. A search on Google brings up the likely room that they mention:

https://historicengland.org.uk/images-books/photos/item/DP076305

Going to take quite a bit of 'cheering up' if that is the room !