The Ministry of Defence has stopped British journalists from undertaking “embeds” in the armed forces during the period up to the General Election. Senior Officers have also been halted from making speeches during this period. The convention of curtailing relationships with the media during an electoral period, known as “purdah”, has not been extended to the armed forces before now.
Was the same convention enforced at the 2005 election? It does not appear so.
The government fears unpopularity for its treatment of the armed forces. The management of the news cycle is turning draconian:
“It’s a truth blackout. Nothing, especially the truth, is to stand in the way in Brown’s election. Our armed forces can fight and die, but not write or speak. Any critics of the Government are to be banned from having any contact with the press. This is the grotesque endgame of New Labour. They want to bury bad news and bury the truth.”
We have yet to see the grotesque endgame....