NICK HARVEY MP TO QUESTION BROWNE OVER THE GOVERNMENT'S MISHANDLING OF THE PRESS FOLLOWING THE IRAN HOSTAGE CRISIS
April 10, 2007 4:39 PM
Following the news that the 15 British sailors and marines captured in Iran that were released this weekend would now be banned from selling their stories to the press having previously been permitted to do so, Nick Harvey has said he will question Secretary of Defence Des Browne about the affair when Parliament returns from recess next week in his capacity as Liberal Democrat Defence Spokesperson.
Nick Harvey agreed that "There is a story to be told about what happened to the sailors and marines in Iran, but the release of this information should have been co-ordinated by the Ministry of Defence."
"Leaving the returned captives to handle the pressures of the media alone was a dereliction of the MoD's duty.
While the ban is welcome it is a case of closing the stable door after the horse has bolted and the announcement last night that there would be a ban on selling stories to the media is a complete admission that the Ministry of Defence has completely mishandled the situation.
Though we don't want to see open season for all military personnel selling their story whenever anything eventful happens the government must not use this ban as an excuse to gag military personnel from normal and helpful discourse with the media."
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