View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

Hazel Blears: ‘Political commentators are too powerful’

Communities secretary Hazel Blears has blamed political commentators for creating a mood of “anti-politics” in the UK.

Speaking to journalism students at the University of Salford last week, Blears said newspaper critics were a deterrent for young people considering a career in politics.

“I am sick and tired of people in this country attacking the very fabric of our democracy,” she said.

“[Policital commentators] occupy a uniquely privileged position in our country and I think they wield too much power.”

She added: “Journalism is essential to a free society. There’s a difference between journalism and commentators. Commentators are almost the antithesis of accountability.”

Blears defended Gordon Brown’s decision not to apologise for the recent banking crisis.

“You can’t win as a politician,” she said.

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

“If you say you are sorry somehow you are responsible for every single thing. If you don’t say you are sorry you are arrogant and out of touch.

“You are damned if you do and damned if you don’t.”

She also blamed the media for discouraging young female politicians.

“A lot of women don’t come forward to be councillors because of the pressures of newspapers on them, exposing their private lives,” Blears said.

“Maybe the media needs to think about the way it deals with people.”

Blears praised the women’s section in the Daily Mail and criticised the Daily Express for its focus on immigration.

She said that although she receives all the national dailies each morning, she has little time for The Guardian anymore.

Guardian political columnist George Monbiot recently published an open letter questioning Blears’ political courage and accusing her of “slavish obedience”.

The Salford MP has now invited Monbiot to a meeting with her in her home constituency. She said he has accepted, and a public meeting will take place on a date to be decided.

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