Why do Labour ministers bother going on Question Time?

NorthernMonkey Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 03:43:27 AM GMT Print-friendly version Facebook

Tonight's episode of Question Time really was the lowest of the low. I don't even know why the BBC even pretends that the programme is neutral anymore.




Now I'm no fan of Ruth Kelly but she took tonight's verbal bullying with grace and good humour whilst Ming and George Osborne got off scott free.

The entire episode seemed to consist of 'let's have fifty minutes of Labour-bashing'. Considering we are, according to most polls, the most popular party in the country would you not expect to see at least one member of the audience either agree with Labour policy or show some support for the government. But no.

The entire programme was just pure stirring up hatred of Labour. Not one person attacked the Tories for the gross unfairness and injustice of raising the inheritance tax threshold to £1million just so members of the Tory cabinet can net an extra £280,000 for themselves when their parents die and pass on the mansion. Not one person attacked Ming after his desperately low poll ratings.

Ian Hislop, quite possibly the most smug, big-headed person in Britain, used every moment he could to take an anti-Labour swipe. Dimbleby seemed to be in his absolute element when he encouraged the audience to cheer practically everything Ming and Osborne said. And the attacks on Ruth Kelly were pretty much tantamount to bullying.

Tories and LibDems no longer need to pay for party political broadcasts because Question Time does a perfectly good job for them. And this is what our license fee goes on. What a shambles. Labour would probably be better off if we simply didn't send anyone on the show. At least QT would then lose all credibility and then hopefully they'd finally learn what impartiality means.

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Why do Labour ministers bother going on Question Time? | 21 comments (21 topical)

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#1)

by newsnight on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 06:58:16 AM GMT

What a horrible, snivelling, pernicious, little man you are; Why don't you wake up and smell the death and destruction that this Government has rained down on the innocent peoples of Iraq? Or why don't you stop your carping and reflect upon Ruth Kelly's 'christian' view of standing shoulder to shoulder with the war criminals in the White House. Or perhaps you can explain why the great british public should not have an opportunity to question ministers who allow planes to refuel in this country on their way to supplying Isreal with the bombs that they dropped on innocent civillians in the Lebenon.

You are so typical 'New Labour' in your answer to criticism. Don't face your detractors, run away, don't answer difficult questions and only address  carefully screened 'invited' audiences.

Look around you, this is the most unpopular Government in living memory, the only reason they are higher than their political opponents in opinion polls is the fact that the opposition are even more objectionable than New Labour. That is why very few people in any gathering would support this gang of incompetents in Government.

You are a coward, just like those cowards in the PLP who ran away from allowing a challenge to the Dear Leader, and like most cowards you carp and cry when faced with the truth. 

If you can't stand the heat, get out of the kitchen.  


Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#2)

by JM on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 08:06:36 AM GMT

Constructive


[ Parent ]

toy town politics (#3)

by grayee on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 08:12:27 AM GMT

"Newnight" although I thought NorthernMonekey was a bit over the top with his criticisms of Question Time (the government of the day always gets bashed on such programmes) I think it is a bit rich to accuse him of carping.  Face facts, as usual you lot lost and the forces of light and reason won. 

It is really quite funny how you seem not to realise how much people are put off your arguments by such pomposity and righteousness?  No, I suppose you don’t – Mind you, keep it up! “Viva La Revolucion”!!! (I won’t wait up)


[ Parent ]

Re: toy town politics (#4)

by JM on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 08:37:34 AM GMT

To be fair, it must really annoy Newsnight to see his fellow BBC current affairs programmes, like Question Time, attacked.

:) 


[ Parent ]

Re: toy town politics (#10)

by Lorin on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 05:57:44 PM GMT

Lol :)


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#5)

by TonyHannon on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 09:28:12 AM GMT

At last - a good row!!!!

I disagree with Northern Monkey - Question Time is impartial - the Government of the day always gets a bit of a thumping and if we want to make our case we should send out someone a little smarter than Ruth "Roy of the Rovers" Kelly.

(Doesn't she look like some 17-year-old lad who just got promoted to the senior team when she poses in cabinet photos? - perhaps that's just me...)

I'm personally sick to the back teeth of Tories whining about BBC bias so I’m disappointed at the prospect of hearing it from our side.

Having said that – Newsnight, you’re clearly a crank. Firstly, the destruction “rained down on the Peoples of Iraq” (you even write like a crank!) is an action that may eventually lead to a stable peaceful Iraq. What they had before was a mass murderous [expletive deleted] whose party was set to lead for 1,000 years. No hope and no future. There are many many criticisms of the war in Iraq but the introduction of violence is not one of them. Your conceit in invoking it is typical of the most prominent anti-war screeching. Not measured, fair and contextualised argument – screeching and it’s very vexing.  I’m not a war defender or apologist but I will happily dismiss this undisciplined righteousness.

Unlike pre-Invasion Iraq, the Great British public do have an opportunity every day to question ministers and tackle them on issues that concern them. It’s called a constituency office and ministers emblazon their contact details on it all the time. People can get in touch and they will be answered. It’s not as fun as howling at a minister on television but it’s what we have. What Northern Monkey was complaining about was that last night hundreds of people were press ganging one hapless minister. That’s not “questioning a minister” – it’s baiting one. For his pains – you called him a coward.

Then there is the eye-stretching claim that this is the most unpopular government in living memory. Can I refer you to 1995?

Have I run away from criticism Newsnight? Am I a coward?


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#17)

by Angiem on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 09:39:53 PM GMT

Re: your comment on Ruth Kelly looking like a seventeen year old lad. I have always thought that there is more than a passing resemblance to Daniel Radcliff. Have they ever been seen in the same place together?


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#6)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 12:53:14 PM GMT

Well thank you Newsnight - I see you're as polite as ever.

You may have had a valid point but sadly it was lost in all the hatred that you seem to have.


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#7)

by MM on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 01:11:46 PM GMT

To be honest Question Time always gives the party that is in power a good bashing.  When the Major Government was in power during the 90s their Ministers would be hammered week in and week out.

In recent times I think a problem has been David Dimbleby performances as Chairman, he seems well out of his depth.  Perhaps the BBC should consider replacing him with a proper big beast such as Paxman, Andrew Neil or Eddie Mair.

One problem for Labour is that alot of our Minister's are not very good on programs such as Question Time, they much prefer a cosy chat on GMTV where they can about talk in soundbites.

On the question of Brown's announcment in Iraq about so-called troop withdrawal's Ruth Kelly was defending the indefensible.  Everybody knows that Brown spun the figures and made the trip to undermine the Tories, for once in my life I actually thought Sir John Major had a point.

If there is not an election announced on Tuesday, I would not fancy being the Minister who appears on QT next Thursday.


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#8)

by rwendland on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 02:21:17 PM GMT

It should be a chairman's position, not a questioner. Both Paxman & Andrew Neil would be unsuitable for this, they wouldn't resist putting their oars in too deep.  Besides, both seem essentially right-wing characters.  Not seen Eddie Mair much on TV, so don't really have a view there - maybe.

I think David Dimbleby handles it pretty well, though does seem to favour the LibDems a bit from time-to-time. But that seems to balance the fact that LibDems barely get a look-in with Andrew Neil's This Week following QT.


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#9)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 05:38:21 PM GMT

Yes, Brown shouldn't have gone to Iraq last week - it's not acceptable to make announcements when another major party conference is on.

To be honest, I think Andrew Neil is miles better than Dimbleby - I think it's about time they retired him off. As far as I'm aware, both Paxman and Neil are actually quite left-wing (well moderately left-wing anyway) where as Dimbleby is more right-wing.


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#19)

by SocialistAC on Sat Oct 06, 2007 at 02:52:38 PM GMT

Neil has a history of union-bashing so I'd never place him anywhere on the "left".


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#11)

by Lorin on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 06:07:28 PM GMT

Ah Newsnight on one of his anti "nulab" rants, like always he is always full of facts and he puts them in the most persuasive way. Just for the sake of it I would like to know how old newsnight is.
NorthernMonkey: Though I do disagree with you I hope you don't take Newsnight seriously.
Now to the point: I think Ruth Kelly is a horrible homophobic and carrerist minister, I don't think there is an anti-labour bias in the BBC, it wouldn't look good for us if the media never critisized or scruitenised the government, and we always get to see Redwood making a twat of himself trying to sing the Welsh national anthem.


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#12)

by newsnight on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 06:50:13 PM GMT

I'm 52 next month, why do you want to know? Florin! do you want a date? I'm available, based in the North West, outrageously handsome, have a great sense of humour and one of my many interests is winding up right wing dipsticks who blog on this site.

Oh! by the way I am male, but don't let that put you off, I'm extremely broad minded.


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#14)

by Lorin on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 08:39:35 PM GMT

Nothing more than your age, since you argue your points like a 4 year old I was just interested in that. Since to you everyone who doesn't stand in line and heil McDonnell as the supreme leader of the "True Labour" party is a tory/thatcherite who has no place in the "pure" party. All you do is insult people, and are extremely rude, so take that in mind if you want people to take you seriously! 


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#15)

by Lorin on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 08:41:02 PM GMT

Oh and btw I'm 16 so I think 52 is a bit too old for my taste, no offence


[ Parent ]

Re: Why bother going on Question Time? (#13)

by NorthernMonkey on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 06:59:57 PM GMT

Don't worry, I take newsnight with a pinch of salt! I'm sure he's a Tory anyway ;-)


[ Parent ]

Question Time (#16)

by JoeRoberts on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 09:03:39 PM GMT

I would be inclined to agree with NorthernMonkey. I gave up watching Question Time about two years ago.

The audiences are among the most politically unrepresentative gatherings of people in Britain today. 200 angry middle-class people, most of them completely obsessed about Iraq to the exclusion of all else. The only thing that comes close is the 'Any Questions' audience on Radio 4.

They always seemed to be packed with LibDems - I remember watching an episode from Liverpool a few years ago and recognising various LibDem councillors asking questions and pretending to be ordinary punters.

My other beef with Question Time was that it was becoming more like 'Opinion Time' with most of the audience contributions being more like speeches than genuine questions.

At the end of the day, though, hardly anyone watches it, and those that do will be people who are interested in politics and know who they are going to vote for anyway.


Re: Why do Labour ministers [ (#18)

by Loz on Fri Oct 05, 2007 at 11:04:16 PM GMT

Well me an Northern Monkey don't tend to agree on a lot of things, but I'm in agreement that the show generally is pretty anti Labour - from the panel (i.e. the 'other' guests) to the audience.


With the exception of the actual BBC News programmes, it is pretty anti Labour for all the hits it takes about a pro government bias. Just look at that odious cretin that does the daily politics - Andrew Neil, and even 'This Week' - hardly a fair representation there - a Tory MP, and one of the very, very worst and self serving MPs to have ever been elected - also usually anti government.

  

The audience always seems to be pretty anti Labour on QT and I do agree, as a party in government - you should expect a harder time.

As for Ian Hislop - I don't think anyone likes him - god knows, all his 'funniest gags' in Have I Got News For You were written for him.

I would also say - Ruth Kelly does herself no favours, she really isn't up to the job, and IMO, never has been.


We do have some pretty popular MPs who could do a much better job, for example, Alan Johnson.


But Ruth Kelly, isn't popular, I don't think even in parliament, so it probably isn't a good idea that she gets that sort of show.


Fair play to Ming - he went on that show and he is for all his political faults, quite likeable.


Now all that aside when Brown does call an election - we should ALL demand we get a debate like pretty much every other country does these days, in fact more than one.


Re: Why do Labour ministers [ (#20)

by Wilberforce on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 10:00:53 AM GMT

Well, I think Labour Minister's have to go on the show, but I agree that the show has degenerated almost into a bear pit... with the audience baying for Labour blood.

Some of the non-political guests are very ill informed and have no place on that platform. Hislop was awful as was that lady from the Daily Mail the week before.

Its no longer 'must see' TV for me...its more like 'must turnover' once I start to watch it. I find This Week much more civilsed.


[ Parent ]

Re: Why do Labour ministers [ (#21)

by NorthernMonkey on Mon Oct 08, 2007 at 07:18:07 PM GMT

Yep, at least This Week is entertaining and fairly pleasant.


[ Parent ]

Why do Labour ministers bother going on Question Time? | 21 comments (21 topical)