A21J, I don't know about any media leakage, but it wouldn't make a difference.
The fact is that the Government, always looking to sell a good asset, decided circa 1995 that The Civil Aviation Authority (essentially a public service) would become ASA, a "Government Business Enterprise", turn a good profit, and make all the books look rosey for any prospective buyer (Serco
etc). Since then, no decision has been made in that organisation without express permission from a bean counter. If it is better for the books to restrict airspace than to call in an ED stand-down, they will restrict the airspace.
Air Traffic Control in this country is no longer about what's best for Airlines/Pilots/Passengers, it's about what's best for the shareholders (read the government).