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Huffington Post political editor tweets outrage at ‘duplicitous’ Labour minister who gave story to rival

By Freddy Mayhew

Huffington Post political editor Paul Waugh has revealed how he was the victim of a “duplicitous” media tactic when statistics he requested for a story on government cuts were given to a rival media outlet.

In a succession of tweets on Friday evening, Waugh said he met with a Labour shadow cabinet minister to discuss areas HuffPost UK wanted “to do more on” including government cuts that had “fallen off radar”.

Waugh, who has worked in the House of Commons for 19 years, said the meeting had ended cordially and an aide to the minister had agreed to ask the Commons Library for “fresh statistics on these cuts”.

“An important story looks like it is on its way. They win, we win. Job done,” he said on Twitter.

Waugh then said he received an email from the aide some days later that said there were some “quite shocking figures” from the library.

He said on Twitter: “I’m thinking, perfect, an imp, exclusive story on area of Govt policy that risks getting neglected. Good eg of Opposition in action.

“But then I read the next sentence.

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“..On this basis, we thought it best to go with [a rival media organisation] on the story, who wanted it as an exclusive. Apologies for the change on this, do give me a call back if you want to discuss further.”

“My response was unprintable. Safe to say it involved the F-word.”

He added: “Never have I been so appalled at such a duplicitous, discourteous and plain counter-productive media tactic.”

The online tirade drew a number of comments from other social media users, including political journalists.

Sun political editor Tom Newton Dunn said: “Feel your pain brother. Ordinary Labour members also need to know how their hard earned subs are being squandered.”

Talk Radio presenter Julia Hartley-Brewer said: “Bloody outrageous. Out the offending Shadow Cabinet minister!”

Freelance journalist Abi Wilkinson said: “Imo journalists publicly complaining about minor difficulties in doing their job is a Bad Look. Save it for the pub or your partner.”

In reply, to Wilkinson, Sunday Times political editor Tim Shipman said: “No. We get called on Twitter on inaccuracies. Politicians should be expected to play fair or get called on it. Bet she won’t do it again.”

Today, Waugh has published a story on HuffPost UK with the headline: “Poor Families To Lose Up To £7,000 A Year Under Tory Welfare Cuts, New Figures Show.”

The piece contains a lengthy quote from Liberal Democrat leader Tim Farron and further down a paragraph of direct speech from shadow work and pensions secretary Debbie Abrahams.

On Sunday the Guardian published a story online with the headline: “Welfare shakeup ‘will push a quarter of a million children into poverty” that included a quote from Abrahams.

Below is the full 19-tweet posting from Paul Waugh’s Twitter account:

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