Editor’s invite for PM to ‘try again’ after local journalists snub
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has been accused of doing a ‘hit and run’ visit to a local town, refusing to take questions from local journalists in the process.
Daniel Chipperfield, editor of the Swindon Advertiser, hit out after the PM turned up in Swindon to pose for photos but failed to do any local interviews.
“He was whisked in, and interviewed by people not from Swindon, about issues not affecting Swindon, before quickly leaving again.
“No invitations to the local press. No message for the town’s people. No chance to ask him meaningful questions.
“This was his chance, through the local newspaper that has represented this town since 1854 and is read by tens of thousands of Swindonians every day, to really get across his message and the policies that will improve the lives of this town’s residents.
“This was our chance to find out what Mr Sunak and his Government want to do to help Swindon in the future, and to explain their decisions in the past.
“We would have asked him about rising living costs and what they will do to curb this problem.
“We would have asked him what will the Government do to help traders and local Government to restore our ailing high streets.
“We would have asked him what he will do to help our NHS, in a town hit by long GP waits, non-existent dentist appointments and a hospital often bursting at the seams with patients.”
So now Daniel has laid down a challenge to Mr Sunak: Try again.
He added: “I extend an open invitation to the Prime Minister to come visit us once more.
“Visit the office and have a proper sit down with our reporter here at the Adver and really give us a real idea of what his party can do for Swindon.
“There’s plenty of parking and we’re right by the M4. We’ll stick the kettle on and even get the posh biscuits out.”
