Voices and Choices

In order to safeguard pluralism and thus informed democracy, each member of the House of Commons ought to be given an allowance transferable to the political media outlet or outlets of his or her choice.

A newspaper, a magazine, a radio station, a television station, a news agency, a website, a freelance journalist, whatever.

Obviously, something like Tribune or the Morning Star does not, you know, "need" this money.

But just as obviously, the BBC does.

Likewise, any MP, and nobody else, ought to be able to certify a journalist as a member of the Press Gallery, with only the same access rights as were enjoyed by a member of an MP's staff. Who's in charge?

Is it technically possible to be a member both of Parliament itself and of the Press Gallery? I only ask.