Yesterday, Channel 4 presenter, Krishnan Guru-Murthy posted on Twitter about the refusal of many politicians to answer questions from the public and journalists. He asked whether we should end the free airtime given to politicians who offer slogans, speeches and pooled clips without allowing their views to challenged.

“Would you like to end the slogan-dominated election speeches and see politicians properly questioned?  The reason they get away with their current accountability-light campaigning is partly because the media facilitates it.

“We cover their speeches and events on a pooled (shared) basis so they know their slogans will be on TV and social media regardless.  They get this free platform whether or not they agree to answer questions from either the public or journalists.  If the media acted together it could say speeches only get covered if there is proper questioning. Would this be right or wrong?

“For example : Chancellor was to do interviews today. Yesterday said no presenters but yes to corrs. Now he’s just done a pooled clip.”