THE government’s “blacklisting” of investigative journalism site Declassified UK was an "institutional reflex,” according to an independent review. 

Former Downing Street spokesman Tom Kelly, who carried out the government-commissioned review, found that the Ministry of Defence (MoD) labelled Declassified “a hostile website.”

A military officer on loan to the MoD press office suggested in July that the website “should be put on a list of organisations which the department would not engage with, or rarely engage with, because it was not considered a reputable source of news,” Mr Kelly found.

The MoD’s communications director subsequently ordered the department’s press office “not to waste any time on Declassified,” the review found.

If Declassified called, he said, they should be told to submit a Freedom of Information request, reported Mr Kelly.

The rest of the department “interpreted his comment as a direction not to engage with Declassified” and MoD press team staff believed the director “had sanctioned a blanket ban,” according to the review published on Monday.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace ordered the review following an incident in August in which Declassified was refused a comment from the MoD despite providing it to other news organisations.

Mr Kelly said that the failing was a result of an “institutional reflex” rather than any direct political bias.

However, he said it was disturbing that experienced communications professionals in the Defence Communications Directorate (DCD) did not challenge the direction they thought they had been given.

The report recommended issuing the DCD with copies of the Civil Service Code and Government Communication Service Propriety Guidance. 

Declassified UK editor Mark Curtis said: “We welcome this review and the evidence it has uncovered. 

“But this suggests that Declassified was indeed blacklisted, which is contrary to the way that public officials are required to deal with media organisations. 

“The MOD should admit it and not have let its most senior media official off the hook.

“Declassified is different and seeks instead to perform a public service by revealing what governments do.”

Leigh Day solicitor Tom Short said: “Serious questions about this government’s approach to journalistic enquiries remain unanswered.

“That an entire departmental press team could have arrived at a mistaken belief that the director of communications had imposed a blanket ban is surprising and requires further explanation. 

“Our client will be making further enquiries.”