The surprising things people don't realise about lobby journalists

Lobby journalism has a mixed reputation, but a transcript of one briefing I posted this week elicited a remarkable response.

When I posted a transcript of a briefing between lobby journalists and the prime minister’s spokespeople this week there was an incredible reaction on Twitter.

Transcripts of lobby briefings are not normally published and plans to televise them were abandoned earlier this year, despite the prime minister spending £2.6 million on a room to host them in.

As a result, only a tiny number of people have any idea about what actually happens in a lobby briefing and what they do know only comes from reading the very brief quotes that are taken from them in newspaper copy.

So when I posted a long transcript which showed how the prime minister’s spokesman stonewalled questions about Boris Johnson allegedly breaking lockdown rules last year, it triggered a remarkable response.