More Evidence Of A Dictatorship In The Making From Johnsons Regime?

[youngmafbog]

No longer will the British Government be able to critics any other oppressive regime if they go ahead with this.

It is utterly disgraceful to even think about suppressing the Press in this manner.

What an utterly horrible man Johnson has turned out to be. He is NOT a Tory in any shape or form.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-9810977/News-publishers-warn-Official-Secrets-Act-plans-criminalise-public-journalism.html#

[jno]

so far it looks like Patel's work rather than Boris's. But yes, outlawing investigative journalism and whistleblowing is pretty North Korean.

[douglas9401]

Have fewer wastes of lungs in positions of power and embarrassing stories will decrease accordingly.

No need to go to the expense of setting up a formal fascist state.

[Zacs-Master]

'Change to law would remove defence for reporters handed leaked documents'

If National Security is at risk I think this is entirely appropriate.

[anneasquith]

I repeat. Boris &Co can do whatever they like. There is no political party in any position to stop them . Teflon coated Boris.

[jno]

ZM, I don't think it's really about national security: Patel claims that "unauthorised disclosures" can be worse than spying.

It sounds like the old days of D Notices to me: the man from Whitehall would tell an editor not to publish something, and he wouldn't. Under the proposals, the imposition of a ban won't have to be approved by a court. The defence of acting in the public interest is to be abolished. Sentences are to be increased.

This is about giving the government more power.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2021/jul/20/proposed-secrecy-law-journalism-spying-home-office-public-interest-whistleblowing

[ToraToraTora]

It think we are getting a little hysterical here, it mainly applies to docs the press get from those in positions to obtain them that should not be propagated under the OSA. They should rightly be prosecuted along with the leakers. Nothing to see here.
"Reporters given leaked documents would be treated similarly to spies and face jail sentences of up to 14 years under planned changes to the Official Secrets Act."

[douglas9401]

Your party card is in the post.

[dannyk13]

ZM @13.34
Totally agree.The nation's security must come first.

[youngmafbog]

//If National Security is at risk I think this is entirely appropriate.//

Of course, but this goes much further than that. Effectively th journalist breaking the news on Hancock could end up in jail.

Do you think that is correct?

[youngmafbog]

//it mainly applies to docs the press get from those in positions to obtain them that should not be propagated under the OSA. //

And thats the problem "It mainly"

Politicians should not be able to hide behind the law.