Theresa May’s sacking of Gavin Williamson won’t stop cabinet leaks – the practice is integral to our democracy

The rules of engagement between politicians and the media are understood by everyone at Westminster

“I suppose you’re going to ask me what’s in the Budget,” the cabinet member told me. To my surprise, the minister then divulged the rabbit George Osborne would pull out of his hat the following day. It made The Independent’s splash.

The Treasury, furious that its media strategy had been wrecked by the unauthorised leak, denied my story. Then the chancellor confirmed it in his Budget statement.

My exclusive was the exception to the norm as far as Budget stories go. When I moved into the Westminster village in 1982, there were plenty of speculative pieces ahead of the event, many of which proved wrong. Genuine leaks were rare and a serious matter. Hugh Dalton resigned as chancellor in 1947 after details of his package were leaked minutes before he unveiled it.