Street briefing

[webofevil]

It’s not the content of this story that interests me—house prices to fall; and so they should—but the nature of it. Minister walking into 10 Downing Street carrying confidential briefing notes is photographed from across the street as usual, and the quality of the digital picture is so good that the first page of those notes is entirely legible:

UK house prices could fall “at best” by 5-10% this year, according to secret Cabinet briefing notes accidentally revealed by a housing minister. Caroline Flint’s notes also said: “We can’t know how bad it will get.”

The notes were photographed as Ms Flint carried them into Number 10 for a weekly Cabinet session. [BBC]

Comments

[strictlytrue.livejournal.com]

While that's true, it would be a bit like walking out into the pouring rain in your best suit without an umbrella and then furiously trying to get the rain to admit responsibility for ruining your suit.

Well, not really. She was carrying it in her hand, not waving it around, saying "look at these gloomy predictions", and as the photographer was on the other side of the road, it's fairly safe to say she wasn't aware of anyone taking her picture.

A little careless, perhaps, but this is definitely a case of the media trying to fit something into the usual pattern of "incompetent Government in crisis" etc. etc. in a rather underhand way.

[lowlowprices.livejournal.com]

I disagree. She is certainly aware of that she—but not necessarily her notes—will be photographed going in No. 10 and the contents of the briefing are undoubtedly newsworthy.

[strictlytrue.livejournal.com]

I disagree. She is certainly aware of that she—but not necessarily her notes—will be photographed going in No. 10 and the contents of the briefing are undoubtedly newsworthy

Oh, the contents of the briefing are definitely newsworthy. It's the framing of it I take objection to.

I know there are usually a couple of TV crews outside No. 10, but are there usually photographers taking pictures of any junior Minister who happens by? I mean, there might be - I've no idea. I would have thought not though.

In any case, it's not really a big deal. For once, I think Caroline Flint found exactly the right words for the occasion.

[webofevil.livejournal.com]

> but are there usually photographers taking pictures of any junior Minister who happens by?

Yes, of course! For library shots, if nothing else. TV cameras, too; think back to The Day Today - they had hours of stock footage to play with of any and every bugger who had set foot within a half-mile of the palace.

[strictlytrue.livejournal.com]

TV cameras, too; think back to The Day Today - they had hours of stock footage to play with of any and every bugger who had set foot within a half-mile of the palace.

Yes, I know there are TV crews there (and I said as much above) but until recently, I wouldn't have thought they'd have the sort of resolution to read documents at that distance. I suppose you could zoom in. I hadn't really thought about it. Odd that it's the first time something like this has happened.

[g0ldt00th.livejournal.com]

As I was reading this comment it was being reported on Radio 4 news. In a statement, Caroline Flint explained she wasn't the first, and wouldn't be the last, to be caught out in this manner.