*** UPDATE 25/07/2011 11:30 ***
The Labour Party have just published an 'updated' list of Miliband's meetings with the media.
There's been a couple of addition. Most notably, on 24 March, Ed had a 'social' meeting with Colin Myler, editor of the News of the World.
Two questions arise from this that Miliband will need to have quick answes to if he's to maintain his stance over the phone hacking scandal - why did he have a social engagement with a tabloid editor, and why wasn't it on the original list?
He also met with Sue Inglish, Mary Hockaday and Stephen Mitchell of BBC News last Friday.
***
Ed Miliband has published the list of his meetings with newspaper proprietors, editors and senior executives since he became Labour Party leader in September 2010.
This list follows Downing Street’s publication of David Cameron’s meetings with the media last Friday.
11 of his 32 meetings were with News International, whereas 25 of David Cameron's 74 meetings were with News International editors or executives, including one meeting with Rupert Murdoch, one with James Murdoch, one with James Murdoch and Rebekah Brooks together, and one with Brooks on her own.
While Miliband’s meetings with News International editors and executives are far less frequent than those of the prime minister, his contact with them was still regular – meeting News of the World editor Colin Myler twice, Times editor James Harding twice, Sun editor Dominic Mohan twice, and Sunday Times editor John Witherow once, as well as attending a News International conference reception, their summer party, the Sun military bravery awards and the Times CEO summit.
He had no meetings with Rupert or James Murdoch or Rebekah Brooks.
Comments
Mike Beckett / July 20 2011 11:10am
So this tells us that Ed Miliband is less than half as popular than the Prime Minister with the media? anyone glancing at the media front pages occasionally could tell you that.
AJC / July 21 2011 5:53pm
What about meetings during his leadership campaign?
Penfold / July 25 2011 11:51am
So both leaders met with New Intl titles and employees approx 33% of all press meetings.
No conspiracy there, no need for all the paranoia that has been flung around.
What is demonstrated is the necessity of political leaders to maintain regular contact with the media, to either put messages out, describe and analyse policy, brief and back stab.
Perhaps if politicians had greater backbones we would not be in a situation which allows the media to dominate the political process and forces politicoes to suck up to the press. We might also not have the disgraceful lobby system. A process that allows hacks to self-censure and prevent vital and important news snippets from permeating out to the proles.
Frankly they both deserve each other, and both desreve a kicking.
Robert / July 26 2011 1:37pm
11 meeting or 25 meeting the question of course is why and for what reason. I suspect it's to get the NOTW on side to get the backing of murdock and that's sad but not unempected labour needs all the hel it can get after today hearing Balls answering question on TV. Never mind at least the disabled are being sorted out