Editors tell Holyrood journalists to ignore media 'pen' restricting ability to question MSPs

Holyrood bosses took the decision to introduce the media ‘pen’ last week “following feedback from a range of building users and discussions with all parties”.

There are concerns that a designated ‘pen’ -to confine political reporters in the parliament will inhibit the scrutiny of politicians and government ministers.

After first minister’s questions last week, several journalists refused to be confined to the ‘pen’, and it was then dismantled by Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, a former journalist, who joked he would “free the hacks”.

However, Newsbrands Scotland, which represents daily newspapers in Scotland, including The Scotsman, has now written to Presiding Officer Kenny Gibson and the parliament’s chief executive David McGill, telling them they are “instructing our journalists to ignore the restrictions and operate as before”.

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John McLellan, director of Newsbrands Scotland, said editors “protest in the strongest terms” and fully support the objections made by the Scottish Parliamentary Journalists’ Association, which was not consulted before the ‘pen’ was introduced.

He said: “It is very disappointing that it has to be explained to politicians that the ability for journalists to question them about debates which have just taken place is an essential part of public scrutiny.

“It should also be obvious that it is not just reporters that politicians are being allowed to dodge, but the readers and viewers they represent.”

He added it is “very clear from public statements that support is far from unanimous”, despite the parliament claiming all political parties were consulted on the proposal.

Mr McLellan said: “It is staggering that a supposedly democratic institution should introduce a control without any consultation with those affected. Consultation is built into every level of public decision-making except, it would seem, the Scottish Parliament.

“In our view the way this matter has been handled brings the Scottish Parliament into disrepute and we would urge you to reverse the decision without further delay.

“To be clear, in the absence of its abandonment we will be instructing our journalists to ignore the restrictions and operate as before.”

This comes after the National Union of Journalists branded the move “inexplicable” and warned it would “restrict legitimate scrutiny”. The union has also written to the Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body calling for the media ‘pen’ to be overturned.

It also comes after the presiding officer and chief executive wrote to the Scottish Parliamentary Journalists’ Association saying MSPs found groups of media congregating in parliament to be “intimidating”.

In a letter the pair said: “The Holyrood building is not just a parliament. It’s also a place of work, with up to 1,000 people based here on sitting days.

“Over recent weeks, for many of those who work here, it has become increasingly difficult to navigate around the building due to large groups of media congregating at stairways, thoroughfares and entrances to offices.

“These ‘media huddles’ have sometimes been impromptu with concerns raised from MSPs, staff and other building users who have found these difficult and, at times, intimidating to walk past, or through.

“The Holyrood building is a shared space, and it must work for all those who use it. We cannot have a situation where individuals are unable, or reluctant, to move freely in what is a private space to conduct their work.”

It added they have a “duty to ensure that no-one feels unsafe, intimidated or harassed in their place of work”.