David Dimbleby, Ian Gray, Nadine Dorries
Nicola Sturgeon, David Steel, Bruce Anderson
Purely by chance I happened to watch Question Time tonight and it held my attention for the whole 50 minutes. Would that be Ian Gray's first appearance on such a programme? Somehow I think it was. He really has to stop reading from a script although I admit he improved as the programme continued. Constantly looking down to read is off-putting to viewers who may well be entitled to think he didn't have a good grip of the subject.
Why was Nadine Dorries shipped up from England and with little or no preparation? She didn't even know Rosyth existed and admitted that. Not good from the Tories. What's wrong with an MSP being on the panel; I suggest Derek Brownlie. Do hope someone in the Scottish tory party reads this because I'm more than sure my tory friends will say the same.
In the past I've criticised David Dimbleby for side-stepping Nicola Sturgeon, but he certainly didn't do so tonight. She is such a steady performer and never disappoints. Even the most anti-SNP viewer must agree.
David Steel loosened up and by the end almost looked relaxed. Last time I saw him was a couple of years ago at Stobo Castle, but he had reserved the posh suite and didn't emerge to mix with the hoi polloi.
Tonight was the first time I've seen Bruce Anderson although I've read his work and heard him on radio. I like his direct responses and his common sense - that doesn't mean to say I agree with him!
Three questions stood out for me: Gordon Brown, Faslane and DNA record keeping. A good balance between the audience and panel was achieved and the panel's contribution was fairly good. Ian Gray should have quit when he was ahead with regard to his contribution on the DNA question as he sounded as if he was repeating a directive but couldn't explain is reasons.
The stars were Bruce Anderson and Nicola Sturgeon but credit has to be given to Ian Gray for attending and also doing not too badly for a first time panelist. It's a shame he's not a natural speaker and needs so many notes. I reiterate, the Scottish tories do need to get their act together and use a Scottish MSP for these events because they do the Scottish party no favours using Westminster MPs.
Posts
21 comments:
I usually try to get in the audience when the programme comes to (urbanized) Scotland, but I admit to being a little ambushed by tonight's locale. Good choice. I missed the non-Scottish Tory thing (are 'they' all blurring together now?), but my mindset was more on leadership qualities. Did Iain Gray look like the next First Minister of Scotland? Did Nicola Sturgeon look like the next Prime Minister of Scotland? (One of those propositions seems infinitely more ludicrous than the other...) In one telling moment, Nicola intervened to answer a question and everyone turned to listen to her. I'd rest on that case...
Good stuff. I missed QT tonight. I was glued to Newsnight and This Week. Watch the latter. Very good piece with Nicholas Parsons on why Brown is unfit to be PM.
I'll watch that on iPlayer Howard, possibly in the morning if these gales don't calm down.
Absolutely Mek. She never disappoints and has such a firm knowledge of her subjects that she put Ian Gray to shame in a way. Poor man.
"Currently BBC iPlayer TV programmes are available to play in the UK only, but all BBC iPlayer Radio programmes are available to you."
Bastards!
If you ask nicely scunnert someone with a PC might just put it on Youtube for you.
Anyone willing? I'm a Mac user and the BBC won't support the Mac platform. Scunnert's overseas.
SR,
Good morning madame,
I will watch this avo on IPlayer, I am overseas at the moment (Londra) but will be home shortly to enjoy all good things!
Loving The Telegraph's front page this morning! And then watch Harman et al trying to defend these outrageous sums of money.
I can't get my boiler fixed in my MoD house - 6 months I've waited - twice without heating when there's been 2 weeks of snow - well seeing these fuckers get done over will keep me glowing insdie and warm until my holidays!
Have a braw wan!
Crazy D
Hmm i have to disagree with you on Iain Gray Subrosa. He was terrible and owes the Norwegian gov an apologie for rubbishing the nations armed forces.
The guy looked if he had one to many before he came on air.
He had a go at a gentleman in the audience who dared to speak up on independence as if he was an MSP.
He was all over the place on Trident and the reasons for the move, ie it was a political one and not strategic.
He turned a totally unrelated question from someone to an attack on the SNP losing a vote in parliament.
His body chemistry was awkward and Nicola lambasted him into oblivion as did the guy from the Scots guards and the gentleman over DNA samples, sorry but he was a complete misguided ill informed buffoon but did make good viewing.
A Labour majority audience and a BBC set up to trap Nadine. Remind me, who is looking to get Snotty Jimmy into a witness box? Your NS is OK but a bit too tribal a la Jimmy Brown for my taste. The DNA argument was a stinker.
Nadine Dorries I almost felt sorry for her..But as she is a nasty piece of work that quickly wore of.
Iain dun alright although I disagree with the DNA database keeping innocent peoples DNA for any length of time.
I do wonder why some believe we have to organise society for the benefit of the police
the police will never be able carry out their duties successfully without the confidence and trust of the public
This use of limited resources and manpower to police innocent people is a complete waste.
Totally agree re. Nadine Dorries - if it was not for the McBride scandal she would have remained in backbench obscurity - because she really isn't equipped for senior politics. Uninformed, inarticulate, unable to think quickly, walked straight into traps laid by other politicians - it even fell to Bruce Anderson to gallantly rescue her at one point!
Also agree that Sturgeon got a much fairer crack from Dimbleby than last time, although I was disappointed that she tried to falsely suggest that more nuclear weapons are coming to Scotland - they're not, its more conventional nuclear powered subs, as Gray correctly pointed out. But overall a good performance and yes, looked and sounded the part.
Poor old Gray obviously found himself caught between Scottish politics/opinion and his Westminster master's agenda - and didn't come off at all well, particularly on the question of DNA retention. At least we knew that McConnell tried to privately stand up to Brown when things needed a different local approach, but politics has moved on and I suspect that Gray needs to assert himself far better. His performance last night just underlined to me why Jim Murphy is taking the lead as the public face of the Scottish Labour Party...
It's a rather moot point to argue that the toss between nuclear and non-nuclear missiles being launched from a nuclear submarine. After all what is the submarine itself if it isn't a significant part of the weapon?
More nuclear subs on the Clyde mean higher chance of radioactive leaks in the clyde and into Scottish waters - Faslane hasn't exactly covered itself in glory on this point, as SEPA recently highlighted.
The entire submarine fleet located at a single point? Which military genius decided that? or is it about money rather than effective military strategy... if that's the case, why are we bothering with Trident?
There is absolutely no case ever for these abhorrent weapons being based anywhere, never mind on the Clyde.
I haven't heard a single argument that couldn't be kicked into touch.
Economic - £25billion for 11000 jobs is the best offer yet - Not very efficient even by Labour terms.
Defence - As another young man dies in Afghanistan, I'm not really seeing the benefits.
Deterrent - from what?
CD can't you bring it up to the right person at one of these curry lunches in the officers mess? Alway handy these events to get your point over. Mind you when you've young children complaints are usually heard, or used to be.
It's been pouring here all morning. Seems like a day for indoor activities :(
Spook what you say is true. I was trying so hard to be kind to Gray just because it was his first time. Aren't you supposed to be kind to first timers? :)
Or I know you fancy Nadine, but honestly, she didn't have much of a clue about Scotland did she?
That programme is always packed with labour voters here OR. The other parties are minorities. Been the same for years.
LotL, a far better analysis than mine, thank you. Yes Nicola did boob on that one but Gray was just dreadful. I'm convinced he was speaking from his bullet pointed script, possibly emailed from London just prior to the recording.
If I was a member of the tory party I'd be emailing Annabel Goldie and telling her to get some MSPs organised for such events.
Tut tut LotL, Nadine's Iain Dale's pal didn't you know?
Niko, he should get points for turning up right enough. How many times did Wendy cancel her appearance on Question Time? About 4 if I remember rightly and always at very short notice.
Thank you SO very much for your very kind words, I'll be around, just try and stop me...LOL
Did anyone mention the alleged faking of evidence in the Lockerbie trial or the alleged US arming of dissidents in Pakistan or the strange silence on Jersey child abuse? - Aangirfan
MekQuarrie - In a word - no. Gray was awful, and at several points was taken apart my members of the audience. There was a point (DNA?) where he quoted a figure, and it looked that even he didn't know where the figure came from, i remember him using the phrase "estimate" (IE off the top of my head).
Agree about Dorres, she looked out of her depth. Then again i suppose the Tory big hitters are still fearful of venturing north.
Sturgeon was excellent though.
Aangirfan, I thought about you in my sleep you know, well I thought 'I was asked a question and I'm sure I didn't answer' flitted briefly through my brain. So here's the answer, no, no and no.
The Jersey child abuse business will quietly be laid to rest. I can't see anyone being punished for their crimes as the retired detective has tried so hard to get justice but to no avail.
Who said money doesn't buy influence?
Post a Comment