Keir Starmer, the man who, when confronted with an awkward question, reaches not for an answer but for an injunction.
Now, in an eyebrow-raising twist, his Labour government has gone one step further, weaving counter-terrorism policing into the Defence and Security Media Advisory (DSMA) notice system—the shadowy “D-Notice” framework that quietly tells our press what not to print.
For those unfamiliar, a D-Notice is a serious tool, traditionally reserved for protecting the identities of intelligence officers or preventing the exposure of active military operations. These are not frivolous instruments; they serve the essential purpose of safeguarding our national security. But incorporating counter-terror policing into this system? Well, that’s quite the leap. We’re no longer talking about protecting a spy’s cover or shielding an operation in Kabul; we’re talking about policing on British soil.
Labour assures us this expansion was “unanimously agreed.” But who exactly is doing the agreeing? Certainly not the public, who are now at risk of being kept in the dark on decisions and operations that affect their safety.
The potential for misuse is enormous. Are we to believe that this Labour government, which seems to slap gagging orders on everything from uncomfortable headlines to their own party scandals, will limit this new power to purely safeguarding national security? Forgive my scepticism.
Sir Keir is no stranger to silencing dissent. The former barrister turned politician seems to have a penchant for injunctions, judicial reviews, gagging orders and now D-Notices, whenever the press asks questions he’d rather avoid. It begs the question: does the Labour leader simply dislike scrutiny? Or worse, is he actively trying to muzzle the free press and keep the British public uninformed?
Counter-terrorism is, of course, a sensitive subject, but in a free society, transparency and accountability are essential. The public has a right to know if the government’s actions are proportionate, if freedoms are being curtailed, or if power is being abused. Sweeping those issues under the rug with a handy D-Notice does nothing to engender trust. It raises more questions than it answers.
The real worry is this: where does it stop? If counter-terror policing can be subjected to this sort of secrecy, what’s next? Will Labour’s gag orders start creeping into other areas of government policy? Are we heading towards a system where journalists must navigate a minefield of gagging notices before reporting the truth?
The hallmark of a confident leader is one who faces scrutiny head-on, not one who hides behind legal tools to stifle debate. If Sir Keir Starmer believes that extending D-Notices to counter-terrorism policing is essential, then he should say so clearly and defend the decision in public. Anything less will leave the public wondering: what is Labour trying to hide?
In this country, we cherish our press freedoms. We believe in the public’s right to know. But under Labour’s leadership, one cannot help but feel that the curtain is being drawn ever tighter around the workings of government. And the tighter that curtain is drawn, the more we must ask: does Keir Starmer simply want to silence us all?
Claire Bullivant, Editor
Claire is the founder and editor of the Conservative Post and was a co-founder of the Conservative Democratic Organisation. Claire is now setting up www.GreatBritishPAC.com. Pre-register today.
