The NUJ supports The Times against “outrageous” Ofgem
Michelle Stanistreet says the government's energy regulator is wrong to threaten the newspaper over its prepaid meters exposé.
Michelle Stanistreet, NUJ general secretary, said:
“It is outrageous that the energy watchdog Ofgem is threatening The Times and one of its journalists with legal action for exposing agents working for British Gas who were routinely breaking into customers’ homes and forcing them to have prepayment meters. This was an important story – many of the people targeted were vulnerable and British Gas needed to stop what was happening. For Ofgem, the government regulator, to behave this way is not right – it is an attack on the freedom of the press. The NUJ supports the Times in refusing to hand over any journalistic material. Surely Ofgem has more pressing issues to deal with than this.”