Press Freedom And The Gulf

EDM number 305 in 1990-91, proposed by George Galloway on 16/01/1991.

That this House expresses its grave concern at the over-restrictive arrangements being made by the Ministry of Defence covering the work of the British media during hostilities in the Gulf; asserts that no democracy can wage a war whilst snuffing out its own people's right to know what is being done in its name; in particular it questions the sudden appearance on our television screens of household names like the BBC's Kate Adie and Martin Bell dressed in military fatigues; is concerned at reports that correspondents like Ms Adie and Mr Bell have been allocated military ranks and are required to be saluted by soldiers of lower ranks and wonders if in such circumstances normal standards of reporting will remain possible; and finally asserts that in any Gulf war the first casualty must not be truth.

This motion has been signed by a total of 21 MPs.