The Tories have been accused of charging a “tax on democracy” after announcing plans to make journalists pay to get into their party conference.
Conference season is a cornerstone of the party political calendar, at which MPs and lobbyists debate key policy issues, and cabinet members give speeches that set the government’s agenda for the coming year.
Yet for the first time the Conservatives plan to make news organisations and freelance journalists cough up £125 for media accreditation. Labour is asking for a voluntary ‘carbon offsetting’ fee of £5, while the Lib Dems, SNP and Plaid Cymru have not introduced any charges.
