- The freedom of press is a British tradition
- That holds to account any rogue politician:
- The freedom to print any facts that are true
- About what our government ministers do.
- Elected officials are all scrutinised
- To check their positions are not compromised
- And let our historic democracy function,
- Unless they stump up for a super-injunction:
- So if you can stomach solicitors' fees
- (A quarter-a-milion or so, if you please)
- We'll silence reporters with troublesome scoops
- And keep dirty secrets clean off of the books.
- A privilege closed off to regular faces
- Who can't afford lawyers for privacy cases.
- They just have to take it, accept fair-is-fair,
- Unless they've a quarter-a-million to spare.
- For if you have money, we'll hide out of sight
- The troublesome truths that the press want to write.
- We'll get a court order, we'll leverage clout.
- A super-injunction — the proles won't find out.____
by Albert Semple
20 lines over 5 stanzas.