The War On News

A record of government actions against journalism and fact-based reporting, from the first press laws to today

Incident

United Kingdom: Government requisitions newsprint and restricts rival newspapers during the 1926 General Strike

United KingdomRSF 2026 rank: 18th of 180

Engraving of an empty press briefing room with a lectern and rows of chairs

During the general strike called by the Trades Union Congress in May 1926, the British government requisitioned the country's available newsprint for its own newspaper, the British Gazette, and placed a provisional embargo on paper supplies to the Trades Union Congress's British Worker and many other newspapers. Chancellor of the Exchequer Winston Churchill defended the measures in the House of Commons as necessary to keep the government's own newspaper in production.1234

What happened

When the Trades Union Congress called a general strike in early May 1926 in support of coal miners in a dispute with mine owners, most national newspapers stopped printing normally, and the government began publishing its own paper, the British Gazette, through His Majesty's Stationery Office, with its costs charged to the Treasury. Chancellor of the Exchequer Winston Churchill told the House of Commons on May 10, 1926 that it had become necessary to requisition provisionally all the newsprint suited to the presses used for the British Gazette. He said a provisional embargo had also been placed on newsprint for the Trades Union Congress's British Worker, as well as on paper reserves of many other newspapers, including a large number in London. Members of Parliament pressed Churchill on whether the government was acting impartially between the parties to the dispute and why certain statements had not been published in the government's paper. Churchill remarked that it was a pity that all the other newspapers had been suppressed by the disruption, while defending the newsprint controls as necessary to sustain the one paper the government considered able to keep the public informed.152634

What reason was given

Stated justification

The government said the newsprint controls were needed to keep the British Gazette, the paper it considered the only means of spreading authoritative information on a large scale, in continuous production, and that the British Gazette's cost would be borne on the Treasury Vote as an official publication of His Majesty's Stationery Office.152634

What changed for reporting

The Trades Union Congress's British Worker and many other newspapers had their newsprint supplies embargoed, while the government's own paper had newsprint requisitioned in its favor.56

Timeline

1926

May 1926
United Kingdom: Government requisitions newsprint and restricts rival newspapers during the 1926 General Strike

Who acted

NameRole in this incidentOffice at the time
Sir William Joynson-HicksannouncedHome Secretary
Winston ChurchilldefendedChancellor of the Exchequer

Outlets and journalists

NameKindRelation
The British Gazetteoutletaffected
The British Workeroutletaffected

Sources

  1. News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926)News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), 1926-05-10, primary. Source record
  2. "British Gazette." (Hansard, 5 May 1926)"British Gazette." (Hansard, 5 May 1926), 1926-05-05, primary. Source record

Claims and evidence

Each numbered claim quotes the source it rests on.

  1. Chancellor of the Exchequer Winston Churchill said it had become necessary to requisition provisionally all the newsprint adapted to the presses used for the government's newspaper.It has become necessary to requisition provisionally all the news print available which is adapted to the presses employed by the Government newspaper.News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), 1926-05-10.Claim 926, checked 2026-09-26.
  2. The newsprint embargo also covered the paper reserves of many other newspapers, including a large number in London.upon the paper reserves of many other suitable newspapers, including a very great number of newspapers in London.News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), 1926-05-10.Claim 928, checked 2026-09-26.
  3. The Home Secretary confirmed that the British Gazette was published by His Majesty's Stationery Office and that its cost would be borne on the Treasury Vote.as the paper is being published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, the cost of the publication will be borne on the Treasury Vote."British Gazette." (Hansard, 5 May 1926), "British Gazette." (Hansard, 5 May 1926), 1926-05-05.Claim 930, checked 2026-09-26.
  4. Churchill said impartiality would be observed as between employers and employed, mine owners or miners, in connection with the newsprint controls.Impartiality will be observed as between employers and employed, mine owners or minersNews Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), 1926-05-10.Claim 931, checked 2026-09-26.
  5. Churchill said a provisional embargo had been placed on newsprint for the Trades Union Congress's British Worker.As far as paper is concerned, a provisional embargo has been placed upon that newspaper as well asNews Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), 1926-05-10.Claim 927, checked 2026-09-26.
  6. Churchill remarked to the House of Commons that it was a pity that all the other newspapers had been suppressed by the strike.what a pity it is that all the other newspapers have been suppressed!News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), News Print (Hansard, 10 May 1926), 1926-05-10.Claim 929, checked 2026-09-26.