and they seem to buy that— and they seem to like it. you'll see the conservatives won again only a week - or so ago. it seems to work for him. the problem is is that this . is a moral issue and it's also an issue where people have been stuck at home and lost loved - ones during lockdown. they don't take kindly to that. this might be the moment where his luck runs out. i now, someone who been offering commentary in the last few days has been dominic cummings, former adviser to the prime minister. he tweeted "some lobby hacks were also at parties in the number ten flat so they're trying to bury the story." you covered west mnister for many years but are there situation in which lobby journalists either don't maximise a story or turn away from it completely? i think inevitably. it's less the case that it used to be. 30 years ago, a0 years ago lobbyjournalists would turn a blind eye to all sorts of things going on in government in order to preserve their sources.