Leaked WhatsApps, embarrassing emails: it’s bad for British politics that privacy is now dead | Simon Jenkins
The principle underlying the release of the Mandelson papers is that officials are always ‘on the record’ – but our leaders must be able to speak their minds freely
AI Summary
Simon Jenkins argues that the release of the Mandelson papers and leaked private messages show that privacy is dead in British politics, with officials now treated as permanently “on the record.” He contends that leaders need the ability to speak candidly in private, and criticizes the excessive spending on drawn-out inquiries while victims of earlier scandals remain uncompensated.