Privacy

On Thursday, as part of media coverage of the Conservative Spring Forum, David Cameron and his family had breakfast with the ITV cameras filming away. This isn’t the first time the media has been given such access as Cameron has done videos of him doing some household chores for his website WebCameron as well as allowing journalists to follow him on his visits to the local church. He justifies it through the argument that the public should know what makes politicians tick. But surely this goes against his previous assertions that he is entitled to a private life? He is perfectly happy to allow the media heavy access to him and his family when it suits him, but doesn’t like it when the media is asking questions about his time at University. When the children grow up, will they be satisfied that they have the protection from the media that they would like, or will they be stuck with Cameron’s decision made on their behalf that its alright for them to be splashed over the media to flesh out his family guy credential? They didn’t get the choice yet they may well be stuck with it anyway.

Of course it’s his call, but anyone who considers a career in politics needs to consider carefully the impact the media will have on them and their family. Politics is a cut throat business at times and there are people around who don’t care much for ethics and will hurt the budding politician through their family (not speaking from personal experience but there are countless examples of this). The concern is that now Cameron has given the indication of full access to the press this will now become an expectation rather than a one off. His attempt to attract attention at an otherwise non-newsworthy Party event could well lead to him being held to ransom.