Thread by @PandaScottish

[thread] on *another* mortal dagger at the heart of the “Conservative Party”

I would say it’s approaching the magic number 72 but to be honest it’s well past that

Follow me as I echo and reflect Owen Jones with a question

“Why is the freedom of the Press so important? “

https://twitter.com/OwenJones84/status/1265319299926962184

“ It is not because our newspapers are invariably literate, scrupulous and wise. They are not. It is because newspapers exist not only to protect their own freedom, but to defend the freedom of others. That freedom is threatened both at home and abroad.“

“ In any case, I am bound to say that I am reasonably satisfied with the traditional arrangement under which we politicians leave you journalists to get on with your job while you journalists tell us how to do ours.”

“ It is an arrangement which, for all its exasperations, is essential to the functioning of parliamentary democracy.”

“ Guardians of the public conscience you may be, and it is a noble role; formers of public opinion you certainly are, but you are also, and it is in this that your value largely consists, you are also reflectors of the public mind.”

“ Without you politicians would easily find themselves living in a cosy little world of their own imagining, blissfully ignorant, until too late, of what the people thought of them and of their policies.”

“ The following paragraph was omitted from the press release”

So press freedom is something which ought to be as dear to politicians as it is to journalists;I want to suggest to you tonight, however, (& I think I can do so without being “sensational”,a vice which I know you all deplore) that this freedom is in danger on a number of fronts.”

.....

“ If journalism is to be saved it will need the will and determination of journalists themselves.”

A full link to speech

1978 Nov 28 Tu

Margaret Thatcher

Speech to Institute of Journalists

margaretthatcher.org/document/103789

@threadreaderapp unroll please