Yahoo News Scottish newspaper publishes blank front page in protest to being 'banned' from visit by Theresa May
A Scottish newspaper deliberately left its front page blank as a protest against apparently being banned from covering a visit by Theresa May.
The National said it was banned from covering the Prime Minister’s to Scotland and published a blank space on its front page and inside where its coverage would have been.
The newspaper shared pictures of its front page on Twitter, showing a silhouette of the PM with the words: “Tomorrow’s front page: This is where we would have reported on Theresa May’s visit to Scotland. We were barred from her press event with the other newspapers. We have refused to cover it.”
Inside, across two pages was another blank space with the byline: “Not by Andrew Learmonth”, the newspaper’s political reporter, and again with the words: “We have refused to cover the PM’s trip.”
Tomorrow's front page: This is where we would have reported on Theresa May's visit to Scotland. We were barred from her press conference with the other newspapers, so we have refused to cover it. pic.twitter.com/vKyWcYrZr5
— The National (@ScotNational) November 28, 2018
The newspaper did the same thing online, with a piece titled: “Theresa May visits Scotland… here’s our coverage”, then underneath the words: “This is where we would have reported on Theresa May’s visit to Scotland.”
Mrs May made a brief visit to Scotland on Thursday as part of a tour of the UK to sell her Brexit deal.
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According to the Press Gazette, The National’s editor Callum Baird said they presumed the paper was excluded from the visit because of its editorial line on Scottish independence – it supported the Yes campaign in the 2014 vote.
He said: “It was outrageous when we heard that we weren’t going to be invited to the event. … We just thought we’re not going to let her get away with this.”
Politicians shouldnt pick and choose who scrutinises them.. https://t.co/Vlc0QnX0wf
— Christine Jardine MP (@cajardineMP) November 28, 2018
It was reportedly told by the Number 10 press office that the reason for it not being able to attend Mrs May’s meeting in Bridge of Weir was due to “limited capacity”.
The National’s tweet showing its front page has been shared across the world and has sparked criticism of Number 10, including from Lib Dem MP and former journalist Christine Jardine, who branded the decision “incompetent” and wrote on Twitter: “Politicians shouldn’t pick and choose who scrutinises them.”
