View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. News
July 19, 2010

Video: Zac Goldsmith fronts up to C4 News over expenses probe

By Dominic wireposts

Ecologist owner and Conservative MP Zac Goldsmith has appeared on Channel 4 News to respond to questions it has raised about his campaign costs during the general election.

Goldsmith was interviewed by Jon Snow on Friday night’s programme.

The allegations were aired the previous night. Despite them being put to Goldsmith six days in advance he apparently opted not to respond on that night’s programme but instead to talk to Sky News while the programme was being broadcast.

The investigation was jointly carried out by Channel 4 News and the Bureau of Investigative Journalism.

Goldsmith insisted on Friday night that he did agree to an interview: “I contacted Channel 4 and said I would like to come and do a live interview to address these issues on air, head-to-head. You clearly tried to create the impression I was unwilling to do so.”

Channel 4 alleged that Goldsmith overspent on items such as posters, leaflets and jackets for campaign workers.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

He said: “Before having the posters designed, which were centrally designed, we checked – we didn’t want to have to do two posters – local election and national election because people aren’t going to have two posters in their garden.

“It says my name, my picture and Vote Conservative. This is absolutulely standard across the country.
“Every decision we took was approved by election experts in central office, Conservative Party.”

Goldsmith complained that he was unfairly singled out. But Press Gazette understands that more campaign finance revelations about other MPs are on their way from the BIJ and Channel 4.

Here’s the original Channel 4 News report on Goldsmith’s expenses:

Topics in this article : , ,

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network