This week I found myself in an awkward position, that of defending the actions of Isabel Oakeshott, I’ll say that again, defending THE ACTIONS of Isabel Oakeshott. I will not defend Oakeshott herself, there is nothing to defend, she is a journalist who would sell her own grandmother if she thought she could get a story out of it and she takes immense pleasure in seeing others suffer, but her actions in ‘leaking’ the Matt Hancock WhatsApp cash can be defended. The duty of any journalist, no matter the publication or the political leaning of that publication, is to write and get to print stories in the public interest and this was one such story. It is also the duty of any journalist not to consider any conversation, tip, or lead as being off the record. If you don’t want a story published or broadcast, then don’t speak to a journalist. You can of course speak on the condition of anonymity as the reporter has a duty to protect their sources, but ‘off the record’ doesn’t exist any jo...