View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
April 4, 2016

David Cameron accuses journalists of ‘setting each other’s hair on fire’ over Brexit ‘processology’

By John Reynolds

David Cameron has accused British journalists of spending “too much time reading each others’ newspapers”  and “setting each other others’ hair on fire”, according to a report.

According to the Mirror Online, the Prime Minister hit out at journalists after it was suggested that the EU referendum had become too much of a distraction for him.

The Prime Minister’s rant took place on Sunday (yesterday) during a 15-minute briefing with journalists in the library of the British ambassador’s residence in Washington.

Cameron reportedly told reporters: “I don’t accept the premise of your question for one moment.”

He added: “I think you all spend too much time reading each others’ newspapers. I would avoid.”

According to the Mirror Online, Cameron’s attack on reporters escalated when he defended Brexit-supporting cabinet ministers who warned that the introduction of the living wage could lead to an increase migration numbers.

Cameron said: “We said there was going to be a clear government line on Europe, which there is, and ministers are able to depart from it and make their arguments in their own way.

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

“The world hasn’t stopped turning, the government hasn’t stopped operating.  You all go around setting each others’ hair on fire and getting very excited about this but it’s all a lot of processology. I can’t see what the issue is.

“You have got a government with a packed programme, delivering that programme- but at the same time we’re having a very important debate about Europe.”

The Prime Minster is facing pressure at the moment over the steel crisis, as well as the government's U-turn on disability benefits in this year’s Budget.

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