26 July 2017, The Tablet

Brief encounters: what separates political ‘briefings’ from the many legitimate transactions of the same name is malice

by John Morrish

THE LANGUAGE GAME

Brief encounters: what separates political ‘briefings’ from the many legitimate transactions of the same name is malice
 

According to the Telegraph’s website recently, the Government has descended into “all-out war”. And the weapon of choice in that war is “briefing”.

“Briefing”, in this sense, is the practice of passing on titbits of confidential information to members of the press with the aim of damaging a Cabinet colleague.

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