Chris Moncrieff
Encyclopedia
Chris Moncrieff, is a British journalist
. He was the political editor of the Press Association
from 1980 to 1994.
He joined the agency's political staff in the Houses of Parliament in 1962 and became a lobby correspondent in 1973. He officially retired in 1994, but continues to write political commentary for the Press Association and regularly appears on political programmes on radio and television.
Sir Bernard Ingham, Margaret Thatcher
's former press secretary, said of Moncrieff "He is the nearest approach to the 24 hour journalist I have ever known, a straight reporter who writes without any spin".
He was once a legendary drinker, though he has been teetotal for the past 30 years. The Rev Ian Paisley
, who used to insist on smelling the breath of journalists he was about to be interviewed by, once famously said to him "Moncrieff, is that the devil's buttermilk I smell on your breath?"
The newly refurbished press gallery bar at the House of Commons has been renamed Moncrieff's in his honour.
Margaret Thatcher, a great admirer, made him a CBE
in the New Year's Honours List in 1989.
Sir Nicholas Winterton
MP said of him "To me, the best journalist in this place is the oldest journalist, Chris Moncrieff. You tell him something; he reports it; he does not dress it up; he actually reports. I agree, he is Press Association and how it is dealt with in the newspapers and media is up to those editors, but Chris Moncrieff is the straightest man you could ever come across.
In November 2010 he was awarded a Diamond Jubilee Award for Political Journalism by the UK Political Studies Association
on the occasion of the PSA's 60th Anniversary. Presenting the award, the Financial Times
journalist Sue Cameron told an anecdote of spying Moncrieff in the lobby at Westminster - "Looking for a story Chris?" she enquired. "No" came the reply "I've got the story. I'm just looking for somebody to say it".
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
. He was the political editor of the Press Association
Press Association
The Press Association is the national news agency of the United Kingdom and Ireland, supplying multimedia news content to almost all national and regional newspapers, television and radio news, as well as many websites with text, pictures, video and data content globally...
from 1980 to 1994.
He joined the agency's political staff in the Houses of Parliament in 1962 and became a lobby correspondent in 1973. He officially retired in 1994, but continues to write political commentary for the Press Association and regularly appears on political programmes on radio and television.
Sir Bernard Ingham, Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Thatcher
Margaret Hilda Thatcher, Baroness Thatcher, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom from 1979 to 1990...
's former press secretary, said of Moncrieff "He is the nearest approach to the 24 hour journalist I have ever known, a straight reporter who writes without any spin".
He was once a legendary drinker, though he has been teetotal for the past 30 years. The Rev Ian Paisley
Ian Paisley
Ian Richard Kyle Paisley, Baron Bannside, PC is a politician and church minister in Northern Ireland. As the leader of the Democratic Unionist Party , he and Sinn Féin's Martin McGuinness were elected First Minister and deputy First Minister respectively on 8 May 2007.In addition to co-founding...
, who used to insist on smelling the breath of journalists he was about to be interviewed by, once famously said to him "Moncrieff, is that the devil's buttermilk I smell on your breath?"
The newly refurbished press gallery bar at the House of Commons has been renamed Moncrieff's in his honour.
Margaret Thatcher, a great admirer, made him a CBE
CBE
CBE and C.B.E. are abbreviations for "Commander of the Order of the British Empire", a grade in the Order of the British Empire.Other uses include:* Chemical and Biochemical Engineering...
in the New Year's Honours List in 1989.
Sir Nicholas Winterton
Nicholas Winterton
Sir Nicholas Raymond Winterton is a retired British Conservative Party politician. He was the Member of Parliament for Macclesfield from 1971 until he retired from the House of Commons at the 2010 general election....
MP said of him "To me, the best journalist in this place is the oldest journalist, Chris Moncrieff. You tell him something; he reports it; he does not dress it up; he actually reports. I agree, he is Press Association and how it is dealt with in the newspapers and media is up to those editors, but Chris Moncrieff is the straightest man you could ever come across.
In November 2010 he was awarded a Diamond Jubilee Award for Political Journalism by the UK Political Studies Association
Political Studies Association
The Political Studies Association of the United Kingdom is an association of political scientists that exists to develop and promote the study of politics in the United Kingdom...
on the occasion of the PSA's 60th Anniversary. Presenting the award, the Financial Times
Financial Times
The Financial Times is an international business newspaper. It is a morning daily newspaper published in London and printed in 24 cities around the world. Its primary rival is the Wall Street Journal, published in New York City....
journalist Sue Cameron told an anecdote of spying Moncrieff in the lobby at Westminster - "Looking for a story Chris?" she enquired. "No" came the reply "I've got the story. I'm just looking for somebody to say it".