Chris Moncrieff

Chris Moncrieff, (born 9 September 1931) 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. Once a legendary drinker, he has been teetotal for the past 30 years.[1] 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?" [2] Margaret Thatcher, a great admirer, made him a CBE in the New Year Honours in 1989. 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.

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.[3] 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".[4]

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".[5] Sir Nicholas Winterton MP said: "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."[6]

The refurbished press gallery bar at the House of Commons has been renamed Moncrieff's in his honour.

Family life

He is married to Maggie. He has four children, Joanna, Sarah, Kate and Angus, and two grandchildren, Nicole and Christopher.

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Alternative Pub Crawls: The Houses Of Parliament. Londonist, March 19, 2010
  2. ↑ Chris Moncrieff: So good they put his byline on the bar. Independent, October 29, 2007
  3. ↑ PSA Awards 2010 Winner's Details: Political Journalist: Chris Moncrieff CBE
  4. ↑ Alistair Stewart's Blog ITN: December 1 2010
  5. ↑ MLP Foster "You Can’t Keep a Good Man Down", Mouth London, 13 April 2011
  6. ↑ Hansard. House of Commons March 29 2006