This is not the first time municipal councilor Erik Pelling (S) has called out of affection and wants to express his dissatisfaction.

Now he uses words like "evening newspaper journalism" and "low water mark".

He wants to be able to "trust" the reporter Erik Leijonhufvud who takes the call.  

Pelling is dissatisfied with the fact that we show how he steals a wording from his political opponent Therez Almerfors (M) in a debate about the future of public transport in Uppsala.

The video provides an insight into how much it means for politicians to appear well-formulated and ready to strike.

In the conversation with the editorial staff, the municipal council thinks that we are "blocking the contempt for politicians" through our publication.

He later follows up by sending uncommented screenshots where others express criticism on social media against his actions in our video. 

SVT carries on the important tradition

It is not a new phenomenon that the political power wants control over the story and the perspective.

Gunnar Sträng could bark and mutter at the journalists.

And when Tage Erlander in the classic hearing on SVT in the 1966 election campaign was asked what a young family seeking housing would do, the Prime Minister replied that "they can stand in the housing queue".

Erlander was not prepared for the question and gave a clumsy answer.  

As the reporters became less attentive, a healthy distance to politicians was created at the same time.

Power could be scrutinized, the winners became the public who were given better opportunities to make informed decisions.

Nowadays for reporters like SVT Nyheter Uppsala's Erik Leijonhufvud and others continue the important tradition.

Welcome if our elected representatives get in touch

Our journalism should be factual, engaging, sometimes upsetting.

For us, it is welcome if our elected representatives also hear from us with criticism.

It is a sign that we are doing our job, and that we have the necessary professional distance to our politicians. 

And of course, politicians can trust us to do our job. 

You can all trust that we will continue to examine power and publish relevant journalism.

Even if it means that the municipal council calls and barks.