UK Parliamentary Footage Law

It amazes me that this law exists in the UK, a country with such a proud heritage of satire -- especially iconoclastic satire aimed at those in power.

Why shouldn't Parliamentary Business in Westminster, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast and Local Government be protected, it's a very worthy procedure in my view. Taking references out of context by comedians, most of whom express open political allegiances, is a dangerous and much to be avoided precedent.

Because those in power -- servants of the people and the public interest -- should always be subject to satire and, yes, even ridicule from the public when they deserve it. It's a part of the democratic give-and-take.

You're kidding, right?
If democracy is so fragile that it cannot withstand a few jokes (and God forbid, opinion) then there's no point.

Democracy and its institutions do not need protection from comedy - sadly the fragile, thin-skinned members of those institutions are not capable of comprehending satire.

Satire in context and in the right place. Parliamentary Coverage is NOT that place. And no they are not 'Servants of the People' but elected to take decisions on behalf of their constituents, big difference.

They serve the people by representing them in democratic bodies. If they're not accountable, they can get booted out in the next election. Any scrutiny of the democratic process -- whether serious or satirical -- should therefore be welcome.

Comedy and politics have always gone hand in hand. Be it Rory Bremner doing a turn on Election night or the Chancellor having a few gags in the Budget speech. Or the appointment of the current Foreign Secretary, which seems to be a bad joke that's gone too far.

That said, I could see a fair argument that Oliver's show is primarily current affairs and investigative journalism that just happens to be delivered in a comedic way.

Absolutely. It’s been said for years that that’s where a lot of actual stories get into the public consciousness now and they are proper investigative journalists on those shows.

Although he has denied that and feels its a comedy show. That said its incredibly well researched and one of the reasons I watch it is because I learn a lot from it - primarily about the US, but sometimes beyond that- like this weeks section on China.

A ridiculously outdated view when you consider how Facebook, YouTube et al have plenty of videos which use the footage for satire.

On the one hand, I think it's fair enough to protect Parliament from Politicians Do the Funniest Things , a Channel 5 marathon talking heads show pointing out hilarious stuff politicians do in the back of shot. The majority of politicians are fairly serious people trying to do fairly serious stuff, and if any of us were filmed for a prolonged period of time we'd do stuff that looks unflattering from time to time and don't deserve ridicule for it.

On the other hand, Newsnight went down exactly that route when they showed footage of Gordon Brown picking his nose as their end credits a few years back - so this idiocy doesn't limit itself to programmes labelled as comedy.

And on the third hand, there's plenty of "comedy" programmes which try to enagage in reasonably serious discussion or thoughtful satire where the ban seems overly restrictive.

And on the fourth hand, there are a whole load of non-comedy entertainment programmes where footage might or might not be warranted ( This is Your Life feat Tony Blair versus Britain's Hottest Politicians feat Jacob Rees Mogg ).

All of which is to say: I think the blanket ban is too blunt an instrument, but I think it's easy to get lost in the weeds of specific programme types by trying to refine it. And that's before you even start to consider YouTube etc