Robinson, Kilfoyle and an EDM

BBC Political editor has started a bit of a stir on his Newslog. When he provided a list of reasons why most of Westminster were backing speaker Michael Martin despite the funding allegations that have caused him to have problems he could not predict that it would provoke Peter Kilfoyle MP to post criticising Robinson's comments. Nick Reynolds remarks, it could be the start of MPs joining the conversation on the blogosphere. But then Kilfoyle went a step further and, with 52 colleagues, tabled an Early Day Motion calling:

That this House deplores the innuendo of the blog of Nick Robinson, the BBC's lobby correspondent; calls upon him to substantiate the imputations he makes in his blog concerning the Speaker and hon. Members; and also calls upon the BBC to publish a full, itemised account of the expenses of Mr Robinson, in the name of transparency and accountability of public funds.

Not sure why his expenses are brought up, though I suppose there is an interesting parallel between MPs and BBC journalists [both seek to represent the public and are funded by the public], but to name a journalist as opposed to the BBC or media more generally seems to make a serious issue into a personal battle between Robinson and Kilfoyle.

It is a fact that both politicians and journalists need to ensure that they deliver factual information to the public, and ensure they do not spin and rumour monger. Perhaps parliament needs to introduce legislation to ensure there is honesty and transparency at every level, that laws apply to MPs as members of our society, and that there are penalties imposed on those to transgress. Trust in politicians is about as low as is possible; trust in journalists is not much better, according to an IpsosMORI poll for the BBC 46% say the government is the least trust institution, 55% think MPs put their own interests first only 10% feel they represent constituents or the country, only 25% trust the media generally. But this can only become further entrenched by a public contest between politicians and the most trusted media outlet's political editor.