‘My reservations are around the blurring of lines between media and politics’

I’ve lived in Bristol since 2018 and if you were to ask me to the name the icons I associate most with the city, it’s not Brunel, Colston and Banksy; it’s Big Jeff, Jayde Adams and Martin Booth.

I first became aware of Martin while I was working in the media team at Bristol City Council and have had interactions with him (mainly on Twitter these days) off and on ever since, although weirdly I have never actually met him (does he really exist?).

From a professional perspective, I generally found him to be a sensible and fair journalist to deal with. On a personal level, I have a lot of admiration for Bristol24/7 and the work Martin and the team does around the city (so much so I became a member).

Where is this going, I hear you cry? Has he died or is this a nomination for an award?

No. Unless you have been living under a rock, you will know that the city’s political spotlight is on the by-election to elect a new councillor for the Hotwells & Harbourside ward and Martin is running as an independent candidate to, it must be said, a good measure of local acclaim.

So what, you might ask?

Personally, I think he would make a great councillor. He knows and is very proud of the area. Also, I would wager, more than a few local voters would welcome the addition of voices unencumbered by party affiliations to the council.

And as a fellow ginger, I think he could do wonders for our representation (we need somebody other than Nicola Sturgeon!).

Instead, my reservations are around the blurring of the lines between the media and politics.

It’s not exactly a new subject, I know. During my lifetime, most UK prime ministers have been accused of being too close to Rupert Murdoch. Of course, there was Boris Johnson continuing his journalism output while being an MP.

More locally, the mayor of Bristol has faced criticism (including from Martin himself, calling it “a cosy arrangement”) for his non-executive director role at Plimsoll Productions and links to Channel 4.

Last year there was outrage about the prospect of Paul Dacre (former editor of the Daily Mail and current editor-in-chief of DMG Media) becoming a lord and chair of Ofcom.

In an article for the New European, Alastair Campbell accuses Dacre of “intellectual corruption”, suggesting (presumably without a hint of irony?!) he helps keep negative government stories out of the newspapers.

These are clearly larger-scale examples on a more national level. And ultimately, Martin’s decision to stand for elected representation must be considered a matter of personal choice.

However, such a move still raises important questions – not least should his Hotwells & Harbourside candidacy be a successful one.

In the article Martin wrote last year about the mayor of Bristol having multiple jobs, he wrote: “The potential for conflict of interests is too high.”

Could not the same be said with regards to an employed local media editor becoming a councillor?

In that event, how would Bristol24/7 in general and Martin, as Editor, cover the local political scene going forward? How would interviews with local figures across the political spectrum be conducted?

With the Bristol City Council political leadership model set to change to a committee system next year, it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that he could find himself in a position of influence. I know in other local authorities that independent councillors can help political groups to form a majority. What then?

What about the handling and viewing of sensitive or even confidential information that elected members can occasionally be expected to be party to? How can Bristol24/7’s readership be confident that its much-prized independent status will be safeguarded?

Understandably, many will say: “Oh, it’s only Martin, he can be trusted.” Yet the precedent is clear. And that argument holds only up to the point that someone that doesn’t meet their approval does likewise.

Last week (in an interesting choice of timing) Martin published a website article citing an excerpt about Dowry Square in Hotwells from his Bristol guidebook, 111 Places in Bristol That You Shouldn’t Miss, later tweeting about its “interesting history” and being “full of fascination” – with no reference to the fact he is running to be councillor of that area.

Linked to that piece are separate news articles praising Hotwells Primary School’s good Ofsted report; and a report about Indian Rassasy on Hotwell Road winning an award for being Bristol’s best Indian restaurant.

Would this be a standard approach were Martin to be elected? Can all businesses and organisations in Hotwells & Harbourside expect preferential treatment? Will he choose to overlook negative stories about the area?

Given Martin himself and others would expect these questions to be asked – and expect themselves to ask them – if this were another politician, shouldn’t the same standards apply across the board and clarity on how such a delicate balance between elected representative and member of the media holding them to account can be maintained?

David Paull has lived in Knowle since 2018, after returning to the city where he first started out with his career in PR & communications. He has worked for a range of organisations, including Bristol City Council and Avon & Somerset Police, as well as working on a number of big sporting events, such as the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, and the Rugby World Cup 2015.

Main photo: Sophia Khan

Read next:

• Martin Booth: ‘Hotwells & Harbourside is my home and I want to make it better’
• Eileen Means: ‘Your neighbourhood is my neighbourhood’
• Stephen Williams: ‘Hotwells & Harbourside needs a councillor with experience, dedication and respect’
• Martin Booth shortlisted in British Journalism Awards 2021

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