As if Britain weren’t already Americanised enough, the government now proposes to hold White House-style televised daily press briefings, hosted by “an experienced broadcaster”. We already have a Supreme Court, a National Security Council and a Downing Street chief of staff, all imported from across the Atlantic in the past 25 years.
Boris Johnson says the new briefings, planned to begin in October, will meet demand for “stuff from us”. But this is Britain, where we have a constitution and political system different from America’s. The US president is not accountable day-by-day to Congress in the same way as a British prime minister is accountable to the House of Commons. That is where ministers should explain their policies and answer questions put to them by MPs. The chamber’s procedures ensure a range of views is heard. It should be at the heart of British democracy. If people want “stuff”, they can get it from the BBC Parliament channel.
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