Relations between politicians and media have always been a tricky thing to manage.

Politicians have to fashion an understanding with reporters if they want their pearls of wisdom reported, and journalists have to cultivate MPs, mayors and councillors as contacts for stories, but must also avoid being captured by them and becoming nothing more than their stenographer.

The tension often leads to rancour; politicians in trouble will almost always blame the media for their woes as a defensive reflex.

Occasional ruptures in the relationship are an inevitability of each side having a completely different job.…