How to deal with the Lobby
4 min read
Journalists aren’t people to be afraid of. Kevin Schofield explains how you can build relationships to everyone’s advantage
So, you’re a new MP who wants to make their mark at Westminster. You want to campaign, change the law and improve life for your constituents and the country at large. But to do all that, you need help publicising your excellent efforts. Can I therefore introduce you to the lobby?
Even in these days of social media and dwindling newspaper circulations, Westminster’s band of political journalists remain among the most influential – and, dare I say, misunderstood – beasts in the parliamentary jungle. They can help make you a star, providing a platform which could see you catapulted all the way to your party’s frontbench. They can also, it is true, make you a figure of fun and effectively ruin your career. So let me give you a few tips on how to enjoy a long, fruitful and enjoyable relationship with Her Majesty’s Lobby.
The first rule, and this cannot be emphasised enough, is do not be scared of journalists. We do not bite, and are not driven by an inexplicable desire to place you at the heart of a Westminster scandal. We are a simple bunch who are only interested in one thing: good stories. Therefore, do not be afraid to talk to us or let us buy you drinks or a nice lunch. This is also worth remembering – friendly journalists will buy you lunch. Thanks to the crackdown on MPs’ expenses, this is a perk of the job which should not be sneezed at.
The second rule follows on from the first. Always remember that when you are speaking to journalists, everything you say is off the record unless you tell us otherwise. This is known as speaking on “lobby terms”. Put simply, this means that you will not be named as the source of anything you say. Instead, you will be “a backbencher” or “an insider” or, if the journalist really likes you, “a senior MP”.
Trust, of course, is a two-way street, so the third rule is do not double-cross a journalist. Paul Waugh, a journalist formerly of this parish and now with Huffington Post, told a few years ago how he had approached an aide to a Labour frontbencher with a story idea. Said aide went away and did some research on it, realised it was actually a very good story… and took it to another publication. This is a strict no-no, and will result in immediate revocation of all free lunch/drink privileges.
Speaking of lunch, rule four is quite simple. If you are invited for a bite to eat with one or two journalists (I forgot to mention, we sometimes hunt in pairs), please try to bring a story or a bit of juicy gossip with you. It’s not essential, and failure to do so will not result in all future invitations being cancelled, but if you do come up with the goods, the chances are you’ll probably be taken to an even nicer restaurant next time.
The fifth and final rule sounds straightforward, but you would be amazed how many of your colleagues break it on a regular basis. When we contact you, please make sure you respond (even if it’s to say ‘go away and leave me alone’). There is nothing more infuriating, when you are desperately trying to stand up a story, than an MP deciding to declare radio silence. Calls go unanswered, WhatsApp messages are ignored. Not only is this rather rude, it is also mobile-phone-against-the-wall infuriating.
Follow these straightforward rules, and the keys to Number 10 will one day be yours*.
*Rule number six – do not blame the lobby if that last bit does not come true.
Kevin Schofield is editor of PoliticsHome.com, and has previously worked at the Sun, the Daily Record, the Scotsman and the Herald
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