In the weeks and months before an election, there is no such thing as a private meeting or off-the-record comments, as the UK Labour Party discovered recently when one of its candidates made some objectionable comments.

“There are even those who reckon it “a kind of blessing in disguise” because it has given a vivid warning to the party’s candidates to engage brain before opening mouth and to remember that there is no such thing as a truly “private” meeting. I’m sceptical that everyone will learn the lesson. It will not be at all surprising if secret recordings with incendiary content released at a time designed to cause maximum disruption are a feature of the general election campaign. History suggests it will not just be Labour that has made some unwise candidate selections.”

Andrew Rawnsley
Guardian
18 February 2024