Marr: Too many journalists in the Government is dangerous

The number of former journalists in the corridors of power is ‘dangerous’, Andrew Marr has claimed.

The BBC’s former political editor said exreporters and columnists – such as Michael Gove and Boris Johnson – have a tendency to ‘exaggerate’, and added that we need more ministers who better understand technical details.

Speaking at the Buxton International Festival, Derbyshire, Mr Marr said: ‘having a country where so many [former] journalists are in charge of the Government is dangerous because we are all encouraged to exaggerate.’ Recalling the newsroom at one of his former employers, The economist, he said: ‘The slogan was: simplify and exaggerate.’ While Mr Marr was unimpressed with ex-journalists in government, he emphasised the need for broadcasters and the Press to counteract a world in which falsehoods and exaggerations can be spread online to further political causes.

he said: ‘The best thing we can do... is to put specific claims and assurances made by people in power to the test... Post-truth politics is a really toxic idea but it can be reversed by decent journalism.’