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Former journalist Allegra Stratton will lead the new daily televised press conferences for Issue 10, as understood by BBC sources.
Stratton, who has worked for both ITV and the BBC, will become the government’s new press secretary.
Daily updates, similar to the format used by the White House in the United States, are expected to begin next month.
Boris Johnson has said that the briefings will allow the public a “direct engagement” with the government.
The change comes after a series of televised press conferences from Downing Street during the coronavirus pandemic.
- The UK government plans to hold daily White House-style television briefings
- Coronavirus: Downing Street daily press conference removed
Currently, political journalists can question the prime minister’s official spokesperson, who is a civil servant, off-camera every day.
These briefings are registered, which means that they can be cited and attributed to the spokesperson, who is never named. Under the changes, briefings will be on camera.
Stratton’s role, however, is a political appointment from the Conservative Party.
BBC Deputy Political Editor Vicki Young said the government wanted to host the briefings to “try to get their message across to viewers.”
But he said the idea was controversial, as they would not be updates from an elected official.
After the plan was announced in July, Labor revealed that Sir Keir Starmer would also hold monthly press conferences, with a spokesman saying the leader “does not shy away from tough questions or hide from the press.”
But Downing Street said ministers would make regular appearances at briefings Stratton will lead.
