HTV CAMERAS BARRED FROM BY-ELECTION

HTV'S cameras have been barred from filming the counting of a ballot for a crucial Bristol city by-election.
The Council House’s main hall is already booked for another function, so the ballot boxes will be brought to Committee Room 15, emptied and counted there. However, the Returning Officer informed HTV that it was not possible to admit their cameramen, nor any other media photographer, to film the count getting underway.
This part of the electoral process has never been ‘out of bounds’ to members of the press. It has always been the case that after allowing the cameras to film for a short period at the beginning of the count, the camera crews have withdrawn for counting to continue.
HTV stated that they have no interest in preventing the election’s ‘due process’, and they have no intention in preventing the counters from doing their job as quickly and effective as possible.
The Returning Officer has suggested the counters would be put under ‘undue pressure’ by having cameras present.