1 00:00:01,640 --> 00:00:05,960 [Music] 2 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:17,080 Hey, thank I 3 00:00:35,120 --> 00:00:39,680 Welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 4 00:00:37,120 --> 00:00:42,640 with me George Galloway and me Gatri. 5 00:00:39,680 --> 00:00:44,960 The European Union and its Euro zone may 6 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:47,520 be coming apart at the seams. Following 7 00:00:44,960 --> 00:00:49,920 Brexit, demand for referenda to quit is 8 00:00:47,520 --> 00:00:51,600 growing in the Netherlands and in Italy. 9 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:54,000 Switzerland has abandoned its 10 00:00:51,600 --> 00:00:56,480 application to join and Greece may have 11 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,559 to default. Spain and Portugal are 12 00:00:56,480 --> 00:01:01,359 facing sanctions from Brussels. Where 13 00:00:58,559 --> 00:01:03,359 did it all go wrong? Dr. Russell Foster 14 00:01:01,359 --> 00:01:05,280 of King's College London is a 15 00:01:03,359 --> 00:01:07,680 considerable expert on the European 16 00:01:05,280 --> 00:01:10,240 project and so we are considerably 17 00:01:07,680 --> 00:01:12,720 interested in what he has to say about 18 00:01:10,240 --> 00:01:15,439 the state Europe's in and he joins us 19 00:01:12,720 --> 00:01:17,920 now. Dr. Russell, thanks for coming on 20 00:01:15,439 --> 00:01:21,759 board. Let's start with the Netherlands, 21 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:23,240 which we all know well. Uh what's the 22 00:01:21,759 --> 00:01:26,000 state of play there? What's the 23 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:29,360 possibility of a referendum being held? 24 00:01:26,000 --> 00:01:31,920 And if it were, how would it go? The 25 00:01:29,360 --> 00:01:33,759 state of uh of the Netherlands is uh 26 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:35,680 indicative of the state across Europe of 27 00:01:33,759 --> 00:01:37,520 growing euroskeepticism and hostility 28 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,680 not to the European idea but to the 29 00:01:37,520 --> 00:01:42,320 specific institutions of the European 30 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:44,320 Union. the possibility of an exit or a 31 00:01:42,320 --> 00:01:47,040 Dutch referendum on membership can't be 32 00:01:44,320 --> 00:01:49,920 ruled out, especially as we saw in April 33 00:01:47,040 --> 00:01:51,840 earlier this year, the referendum on uh 34 00:01:49,920 --> 00:01:54,880 the Netherlands association agreement 35 00:01:51,840 --> 00:01:56,799 with Ukraine, which was ostensibly a 36 00:01:54,880 --> 00:01:58,560 referendum about the Ukraine, but in 37 00:01:56,799 --> 00:02:00,320 reality was a referendum on Dutch 38 00:01:58,560 --> 00:02:03,000 opinion of the European Union and it was 39 00:02:00,320 --> 00:02:06,079 a catastrophic defeat for the Europilic 40 00:02:03,000 --> 00:02:08,239 parties. So there is a growing sense of 41 00:02:06,079 --> 00:02:09,920 euroskepticism among the Dutch as there 42 00:02:08,239 --> 00:02:12,080 is among the French to a lesser degree 43 00:02:09,920 --> 00:02:13,840 among the Germans but most substantially 44 00:02:12,080 --> 00:02:16,800 a growing euroskeepticism in the 45 00:02:13,840 --> 00:02:18,160 Mediterranean literal nations in Spain 46 00:02:16,800 --> 00:02:21,000 in Greece which obviously has been 47 00:02:18,160 --> 00:02:23,680 euroskeptic for several years and in 48 00:02:21,000 --> 00:02:25,360 Italy and in the last couple of months 49 00:02:23,680 --> 00:02:28,720 well the last month we've seen that 50 00:02:25,360 --> 00:02:30,640 Brexit has given a precedent has been 51 00:02:28,720 --> 00:02:32,800 the first occasion apart from Greenland 52 00:02:30,640 --> 00:02:35,680 in the 1980s where a member state has 53 00:02:32,800 --> 00:02:38,080 withdrawn from the union without dire 54 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:40,400 economic consequences at least in the 55 00:02:38,080 --> 00:02:42,640 immediate short term and this will act 56 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:44,879 as a rallying point for Dutch 57 00:02:42,640 --> 00:02:47,680 euroskeepics for German for Danish 58 00:02:44,879 --> 00:02:50,000 Swedish euroskeptics to say we can do it 59 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:52,800 as well. I couldn't have put that better 60 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:55,360 myself but I want to focus in on one of 61 00:02:52,800 --> 00:02:57,760 the first things that you said. I was a 62 00:02:55,360 --> 00:02:59,920 campaigner for Brexit, not because I'm 63 00:02:57,760 --> 00:03:02,800 against Europe. I love Europe. I hate 64 00:02:59,920 --> 00:03:05,040 the EU. That's a different thing. That 65 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,200 put me in the same camp as some people 66 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:09,360 who don't just hate the EU, but probably 67 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:11,440 hate Europe and anyone that they think 68 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:14,319 of as Johnny foreigner. And that's an 69 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:16,640 uncomfortable place to be. 70 00:03:14,319 --> 00:03:20,560 I wish we could rip it up and start 71 00:03:16,640 --> 00:03:24,319 again. And if we could uh then we could 72 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:28,000 all happily build a new European Union 73 00:03:24,319 --> 00:03:30,799 on a human basis. But if we have to take 74 00:03:28,000 --> 00:03:33,120 this European Union, I say no. And I 75 00:03:30,799 --> 00:03:35,599 think more and more people uh think like 76 00:03:33,120 --> 00:03:37,599 that. Wouldn't it be possible therefore 77 00:03:35,599 --> 00:03:40,720 if we could get a referendum in the 78 00:03:37,599 --> 00:03:43,280 Netherlands, in Italy, in Denmark and so 79 00:03:40,720 --> 00:03:46,720 on and people started voting out and 80 00:03:43,280 --> 00:03:48,640 then had this 2-year interregnum 81 00:03:46,720 --> 00:03:51,120 uh at which point the European Union 82 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:53,280 institutions might be prepared to say, 83 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:56,159 "Well, this isn't working. We're going 84 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:58,879 to have to try something new." It's a 85 00:03:56,159 --> 00:04:00,720 nice thought. Now, unlike you, I was 86 00:03:58,879 --> 00:04:02,480 campaigning for Britain to remain in the 87 00:04:00,720 --> 00:04:05,360 European Union. That I'm aware that the 88 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:07,040 EU has manifold problems, endless 89 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:09,200 faults, but I thought that it was better 90 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:11,439 than uh the alternative of not having a 91 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:13,280 Europe. It would be a nice idea to be 92 00:04:11,439 --> 00:04:15,920 able to move on from the European Union 93 00:04:13,280 --> 00:04:18,400 to, as you say, a new European Union, 94 00:04:15,920 --> 00:04:20,400 one that is not predicated on an 95 00:04:18,400 --> 00:04:22,320 economic basis, but one which is built 96 00:04:20,400 --> 00:04:24,720 upon social trust and social 97 00:04:22,320 --> 00:04:27,199 institutions. I I can't foresee that 98 00:04:24,720 --> 00:04:30,560 happening in uh in the short term or 99 00:04:27,199 --> 00:04:34,000 long-term future. The Brexit referendum 100 00:04:30,560 --> 00:04:36,240 revealed a deep uh hostility to the 101 00:04:34,000 --> 00:04:38,639 European project, not specifically the 102 00:04:36,240 --> 00:04:40,720 European Union, but broadly the European 103 00:04:38,639 --> 00:04:42,720 project. Now, the day after Brexit, we 104 00:04:40,720 --> 00:04:45,840 saw the former Belgian Prime Minister Ga 105 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:47,680 Hofat, who quite uh quite tellingly 106 00:04:45,840 --> 00:04:50,000 stated that this is a sign that people 107 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:52,560 are not against the European idea, 108 00:04:50,000 --> 00:04:54,960 they're against the European Union. Now 109 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:56,600 the way I see it, the European Union and 110 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:59,600 the European idea have become 111 00:04:56,600 --> 00:05:02,160 inextricable. That if the European Union 112 00:04:59,600 --> 00:05:04,800 goes, it takes the European idea with 113 00:05:02,160 --> 00:05:06,720 it. That the idea that we can dismantle 114 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:08,639 the union and create some sort of a new 115 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,720 European economic community or some sort 116 00:05:08,639 --> 00:05:13,039 of looser 117 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:14,720 uh alliance of European states. I I 118 00:05:13,039 --> 00:05:16,800 can't really see that happening anytime 119 00:05:14,720 --> 00:05:20,160 in the future. But why not? Uh it was 120 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:23,840 never intended uh that this should be an 121 00:05:20,160 --> 00:05:27,199 ever closer uh political union. It was 122 00:05:23,840 --> 00:05:30,440 never intended that it must encompass 123 00:05:27,199 --> 00:05:33,039 every single country in the European con 124 00:05:30,440 --> 00:05:36,720 continent. And it certainly was never 125 00:05:33,039 --> 00:05:39,039 intended that the poorest countries in 126 00:05:36,720 --> 00:05:41,440 the European continent should lose all 127 00:05:39,039 --> 00:05:43,520 their population, especially their young 128 00:05:41,440 --> 00:05:46,240 population. more than half of all young 129 00:05:43,520 --> 00:05:50,080 Latvians are working somewhere else 130 00:05:46,240 --> 00:05:53,120 other than Latvia. Uh and it seems to me 131 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:55,520 that that these are design faults uh 132 00:05:53,120 --> 00:05:57,039 that have crept into the to the whole 133 00:05:55,520 --> 00:05:58,320 business. Well, the union has many 134 00:05:57,039 --> 00:05:59,759 design faults which have been there 135 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,600 since the early inceptions of the 136 00:05:59,759 --> 00:06:02,960 European coal and steel community. Now 137 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:04,639 the three points you raised there, the 138 00:06:02,960 --> 00:06:07,039 third one I cannot disagree with. It was 139 00:06:04,639 --> 00:06:09,360 never a plan for the union to split 140 00:06:07,039 --> 00:06:11,919 between the richer industrial countries 141 00:06:09,360 --> 00:06:13,759 and the less wealthy Mediterranean or 142 00:06:11,919 --> 00:06:16,960 eastern nations. But the first two 143 00:06:13,759 --> 00:06:18,479 points you raised on uh the union was 144 00:06:16,960 --> 00:06:20,479 never meant to encompass all of Europe 145 00:06:18,479 --> 00:06:22,240 and it was never meant to pursue ever 146 00:06:20,479 --> 00:06:25,479 closer union. I think that these have 147 00:06:22,240 --> 00:06:28,720 been a part of the European idea since 148 00:06:25,479 --> 00:06:31,440 1945. that the European idea, whether 149 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:34,240 it's the ECSC, the EEC, the EU, has 150 00:06:31,440 --> 00:06:37,280 always been built upon the idea of a 151 00:06:34,240 --> 00:06:38,639 manifest destiny of Europe to be united. 152 00:06:37,280 --> 00:06:40,560 Yeah. But they accepted the Cold War 153 00:06:38,639 --> 00:06:42,800 division of Europe. They didn't seek to 154 00:06:40,560 --> 00:06:44,560 recruit they didn't seek to recruit uh 155 00:06:42,800 --> 00:06:46,240 the socialist countries of Eastern 156 00:06:44,560 --> 00:06:47,840 Europe into the European Union. They 157 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,600 pretended they weren't in Europe. 158 00:06:47,840 --> 00:06:52,160 Absolutely not. There were empty seats 159 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:54,240 at the European Parliament for those uh 160 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,919 European states which were still 161 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,280 shackled behind the Iron Curtain. And 162 00:06:55,919 --> 00:06:59,120 once the curtain came down and the 163 00:06:57,280 --> 00:07:00,720 Berlin wall came down, the European 164 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:03,199 Union did extend its hand and 165 00:07:00,720 --> 00:07:05,360 invitations to Eastern European member 166 00:07:03,199 --> 00:07:07,360 states. So I think that the European 167 00:07:05,360 --> 00:07:10,720 Union has its leaders and institutions 168 00:07:07,360 --> 00:07:13,440 have always desired to expand the union 169 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:15,680 across the whole of the continent. Now 170 00:07:13,440 --> 00:07:18,080 the second point, why not Russia? Then 171 00:07:15,680 --> 00:07:20,880 Russia's too big. Its economy is is 172 00:07:18,080 --> 00:07:23,440 simply too vast. uh the European 173 00:07:20,880 --> 00:07:25,520 economies wouldn't be able to compete uh 174 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,120 with with a Russia within the union. But 175 00:07:25,520 --> 00:07:29,599 this raises a very important point of 176 00:07:27,120 --> 00:07:30,960 where do we draw the boundary of Europe. 177 00:07:29,599 --> 00:07:32,400 This is a question that keeps coming 178 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:34,160 back when we talk about potential 179 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:37,039 Turkish membership when we saw the 180 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:39,840 enlargements in 2004 and 2007 of where 181 00:07:37,039 --> 00:07:42,000 does Europe end of who is European who 182 00:07:39,840 --> 00:07:44,199 is not European and significantly who 183 00:07:42,000 --> 00:07:46,240 should and should not be considered 184 00:07:44,199 --> 00:07:48,560 European. Now the other point that you 185 00:07:46,240 --> 00:07:50,160 made there on ever closer union, 186 00:07:48,560 --> 00:07:52,880 political union, ever closer political 187 00:07:50,160 --> 00:07:54,879 union. This points to what for me is the 188 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:58,160 fundamental design flaw of the European 189 00:07:54,879 --> 00:07:59,919 project from the late 1940s. That what 190 00:07:58,160 --> 00:08:02,400 worked for the European project in the 191 00:07:59,919 --> 00:08:05,599 midentth century is now an active 192 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:07,280 hindrance to the EU in the 21st century. 193 00:08:05,599 --> 00:08:10,319 That the early institutions and the 194 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:12,400 early leaders based further European 195 00:08:10,319 --> 00:08:14,400 integration upon the theory of 196 00:08:12,400 --> 00:08:17,039 neofunctionalism. 197 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:19,199 the assumption that closer economic, 198 00:08:17,039 --> 00:08:21,440 financial ties would then spill over 199 00:08:19,199 --> 00:08:24,160 into closer political ties and political 200 00:08:21,440 --> 00:08:27,199 unions which would then spill over into 201 00:08:24,160 --> 00:08:28,720 a social a psychological union whereby 202 00:08:27,199 --> 00:08:32,240 people no longer thought of themselves 203 00:08:28,720 --> 00:08:34,320 as Portuguese or Bulgarian or Fins but 204 00:08:32,240 --> 00:08:36,880 as Europeans. 205 00:08:34,320 --> 00:08:40,399 Now to a small extent that has happened 206 00:08:36,880 --> 00:08:42,399 with uh the wealthier citydwelling 207 00:08:40,399 --> 00:08:44,640 elites in Europe who may have more in 208 00:08:42,399 --> 00:08:46,320 common with their peers in other cities 209 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:49,040 than with their peers within the same 210 00:08:46,320 --> 00:08:51,399 country. But for the large numbers of 211 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:53,440 Europeans who have been left behind by 212 00:08:51,399 --> 00:08:56,720 globalization, who have been left behind 213 00:08:53,440 --> 00:08:58,959 by the neoliberal project, this has this 214 00:08:56,720 --> 00:09:03,080 spillover has not happened and people 215 00:08:58,959 --> 00:09:06,240 have not uh accepted this identity as 216 00:09:03,080 --> 00:09:08,519 European. Now when this neofunctionalist 217 00:09:06,240 --> 00:09:11,200 doctrine was created in the late 218 00:09:08,519 --> 00:09:13,120 1950s, it it became taken up by the 219 00:09:11,200 --> 00:09:16,000 European institutions almost as a gospel 220 00:09:13,120 --> 00:09:17,440 of Jean Monet that further economic 221 00:09:16,000 --> 00:09:20,880 union will lead to further political 222 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:24,399 union will lead to continued peace. It 223 00:09:20,880 --> 00:09:26,640 hasn't happened. And a consequence of 224 00:09:24,399 --> 00:09:28,560 the European institutions continually 225 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:31,279 following this dogma is that they have 226 00:09:28,560 --> 00:09:34,560 continued to place economic rationale 227 00:09:31,279 --> 00:09:35,920 ahead of social well-being. And since 228 00:09:34,560 --> 00:09:37,440 the beginning of the Great Recession and 229 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,440 the credit crunch, we've seen the 230 00:09:37,440 --> 00:09:41,920 European 231 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:44,480 Union's unelected technical experts who 232 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:46,640 were doing a great job in the 1970s and 233 00:09:44,480 --> 00:09:49,200 the 1980s when the European Union was a 234 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,680 distant economic entity. We've seen the 235 00:09:49,200 --> 00:09:53,600 same unelected experts implementing 236 00:09:51,680 --> 00:09:56,399 policies which make perfect economic 237 00:09:53,600 --> 00:09:58,880 sense, but without consideration of the 238 00:09:56,399 --> 00:10:01,120 social consequences that this has. And 239 00:09:58,880 --> 00:10:03,680 this points to what is for me the 240 00:10:01,120 --> 00:10:06,160 fundamental problem of the current EU. 241 00:10:03,680 --> 00:10:09,200 Not only its democratic deficit, but its 242 00:10:06,160 --> 00:10:11,519 emotional deficit that it is still being 243 00:10:09,200 --> 00:10:14,360 run like a corporation like it was in 244 00:10:11,519 --> 00:10:16,959 the 1960s and the 1970s, which was 245 00:10:14,360 --> 00:10:18,720 necessary. we couldn't we can't put 246 00:10:16,959 --> 00:10:20,240 fishing quotas and trade agreements to 247 00:10:18,720 --> 00:10:22,480 the public vote because nothing would 248 00:10:20,240 --> 00:10:24,600 get done. So that was fine in the 20th 249 00:10:22,480 --> 00:10:26,480 century. But now when the EU's 250 00:10:24,600 --> 00:10:28,800 institutions start implementing 251 00:10:26,480 --> 00:10:30,720 austerity packages, when they start 252 00:10:28,800 --> 00:10:33,120 telling uh the Italian government that 253 00:10:30,720 --> 00:10:36,560 it can't bail out its failing banks for 254 00:10:33,120 --> 00:10:38,560 the third time, when it starts uh 255 00:10:36,560 --> 00:10:40,399 stating to Eastern European members that 256 00:10:38,560 --> 00:10:44,160 they may not fortify their borders 257 00:10:40,399 --> 00:10:46,880 against the migration crisis. these uh 258 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:49,680 other sanctioning Spain and Portugal 259 00:10:46,880 --> 00:10:50,720 seeking uh to throw off austerity. 260 00:10:49,680 --> 00:10:52,079 Absolutely. And sanctioning the 261 00:10:50,720 --> 00:10:55,200 Mediterranean countries who have been 262 00:10:52,079 --> 00:10:57,240 hardest hit by austerity. What happens 263 00:10:55,200 --> 00:11:00,399 is that people will look at the EU's 264 00:10:57,240 --> 00:11:03,440 policies not as sound economic 265 00:11:00,399 --> 00:11:06,880 strategies, but as dictats being handed 266 00:11:03,440 --> 00:11:08,640 down by an unelected elite. It's doomed 267 00:11:06,880 --> 00:11:10,480 then, isn't it, doctor? as you describe 268 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:13,360 it. 269 00:11:10,480 --> 00:11:17,279 Yes, with a very long if. I think that 270 00:11:13,360 --> 00:11:20,240 the EU can be saved. If if four changes 271 00:11:17,279 --> 00:11:22,480 are made. The first one is that the EU 272 00:11:20,240 --> 00:11:24,240 needs to make significant reforms to 273 00:11:22,480 --> 00:11:26,480 make itself democratically accountable 274 00:11:24,240 --> 00:11:29,040 to the people. Since the introduction of 275 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:30,640 the euro at the beginning of 2002, the 276 00:11:29,040 --> 00:11:32,240 European Union has changed from a 277 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:34,800 distant economic entity that was 278 00:11:32,240 --> 00:11:36,800 concerned with tariffs and corporations 279 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:39,279 into something that has a genuine impact 280 00:11:36,800 --> 00:11:41,800 on the everyday lives of 500 million 281 00:11:39,279 --> 00:11:43,760 people. That requires democratic 282 00:11:41,800 --> 00:11:46,560 accountability. The second one is that 283 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:49,680 the EU should consider scaling back some 284 00:11:46,560 --> 00:11:52,640 of its powers of not handing down 285 00:11:49,680 --> 00:11:55,160 dictats from Brussels. The third one is 286 00:11:52,640 --> 00:11:57,600 to abandon the outdated doctrine of 287 00:11:55,160 --> 00:12:00,160 neofunctionalism. Ernst Har who created 288 00:11:57,600 --> 00:12:02,720 neofunctionalism in his 1958 book 289 00:12:00,160 --> 00:12:04,399 uniting Europe 17 years later published 290 00:12:02,720 --> 00:12:06,160 a second book in which he stated 291 00:12:04,399 --> 00:12:08,800 actually it's not working. We should 292 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:11,440 abandon it. And that was in 1975. It's 293 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:12,800 still being pursued today. And the 294 00:12:11,440 --> 00:12:14,720 fourth one that needs to be done is that 295 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:17,440 the European Union's leaders need to 296 00:12:14,720 --> 00:12:19,760 acknowledge that there is a significant 297 00:12:17,440 --> 00:12:21,839 emotional power in Europe today of 298 00:12:19,760 --> 00:12:23,839 active hostility to the European 299 00:12:21,839 --> 00:12:26,160 project. So it can be saved if these 300 00:12:23,839 --> 00:12:29,760 four things are done. The problem is 301 00:12:26,160 --> 00:12:32,160 that these are rather vague strategies. 302 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:34,880 And the second problem is who's going to 303 00:12:32,160 --> 00:12:36,240 do that? If the technocrats in Brussels 304 00:12:34,880 --> 00:12:38,399 start implementing these, it's going to 305 00:12:36,240 --> 00:12:41,120 appear like another series of dictats. 306 00:12:38,399 --> 00:12:43,920 If an elected politician such as Angela 307 00:12:41,120 --> 00:12:45,440 Merkel or Franis Holland, if they try to 308 00:12:43,920 --> 00:12:47,680 implement these, they'll be committing 309 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:50,560 political suicide as they'll lose votes. 310 00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:52,880 None of them are up to that kind of 311 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:54,800 task. Uh none of them have the 312 00:12:52,880 --> 00:12:56,720 credibility. There is no European 313 00:12:54,800 --> 00:12:59,040 political leadership that people have 314 00:12:56,720 --> 00:13:00,480 sufficient credibility in. There is a 315 00:12:59,040 --> 00:13:03,200 European leadership, but they lack 316 00:13:00,480 --> 00:13:05,519 credibility. Totally. Uh they absolutely 317 00:13:03,200 --> 00:13:08,240 lack credibility just like the British 318 00:13:05,519 --> 00:13:09,760 political leadership uh does. But I must 319 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:11,760 say, you've made a better case for the 320 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:13,920 European Union than I've heard for quite 321 00:13:11,760 --> 00:13:16,240 some time. Dr. Russell Foster, thanks 322 00:13:13,920 --> 00:13:18,800 for joining us on board the Sputnik. 323 00:13:16,240 --> 00:13:21,920 Coming up after the break, weaponized 324 00:13:18,800 --> 00:13:24,240 humor from South London. Another great 325 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:28,200 upand cominging black comedy talent 326 00:13:24,240 --> 00:13:28,200 joins us. Don't miss it. 327 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:35,200 Welcome back to Sputnik. We like people 328 00:13:32,720 --> 00:13:37,680 who weaponize humor in the cause of 329 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:39,680 peace, justice, and equality. as long as 330 00:13:37,680 --> 00:13:41,680 they're funny. It is an amazingly 331 00:13:39,680 --> 00:13:44,079 powerful weapon. If a picture paints a 332 00:13:41,680 --> 00:13:46,079 thousand words, a joke can travel even 333 00:13:44,079 --> 00:13:48,399 further than that. Our next guest has 334 00:13:46,079 --> 00:13:50,639 traveled only from South London. But 335 00:13:48,399 --> 00:13:53,040 he's going far, I can tell you. He's 336 00:13:50,639 --> 00:13:56,000 just been commissioned by BBC 3 for a 337 00:13:53,040 --> 00:13:58,160 new series called Sunny D. He's Dane 338 00:13:56,000 --> 00:14:00,079 Baptiste and he's with us now. Dane, 339 00:13:58,160 --> 00:14:02,000 thanks for coming on the Sputnik. First 340 00:14:00,079 --> 00:14:04,639 of all, congratulations on your uh 341 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:08,160 commission. Tell us what the sitcom is 342 00:14:04,639 --> 00:14:09,920 about. The sitcom is uh basically a 343 00:14:08,160 --> 00:14:11,680 semi-autobiographical 344 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:14,240 uh look at my life before I started 345 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:15,199 doing standup comedy and just it's uh 346 00:14:14,240 --> 00:14:16,399 kind of deals with some of the 347 00:14:15,199 --> 00:14:18,880 frustrations I had with working a 348 00:14:16,399 --> 00:14:20,720 dead-end job and tries to capture I 349 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:23,680 guess what's the quarter life crisis for 350 00:14:20,720 --> 00:14:25,440 a lot of uh uh people of my generation 351 00:14:23,680 --> 00:14:26,800 who were kind of given the promise of 352 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:28,959 being able to go to university and 353 00:14:26,800 --> 00:14:31,680 pursue a higher education and now find 354 00:14:28,959 --> 00:14:34,240 themselves unable to uh realize any kind 355 00:14:31,680 --> 00:14:35,680 of professional fulfillment uh or 356 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:37,040 industrial feel fulfillment and also 357 00:14:35,680 --> 00:14:39,199 just some of the basics of just being 358 00:14:37,040 --> 00:14:42,160 able to afford a home. So, it kind of 359 00:14:39,199 --> 00:14:44,560 the planes of reality are between like 360 00:14:42,160 --> 00:14:46,560 the work and then the home life and then 361 00:14:44,560 --> 00:14:47,760 just I kind and just the things I try 362 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,360 and do to escape. So, there's a lot of 363 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:51,360 like cut scenes, a lot of fancy scenes 364 00:14:49,360 --> 00:14:52,720 about how I would imagine my ideal life 365 00:14:51,360 --> 00:14:55,199 and it's just how working towards how I 366 00:14:52,720 --> 00:14:57,519 can achieve that um with hilarious 367 00:14:55,199 --> 00:14:59,920 results. Did you write it? I did as well 368 00:14:57,519 --> 00:15:01,600 as perform. Yes. All of it. You wrote 369 00:14:59,920 --> 00:15:04,639 everything? I did. Yes. Fantastic. 370 00:15:01,600 --> 00:15:06,320 You're a very talented uh guy. I saw you 371 00:15:04,639 --> 00:15:08,160 were telling me he's just one of Well, I 372 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:10,560 think you were um you were you were 373 00:15:08,160 --> 00:15:12,800 nominated as one of the first uh best 374 00:15:10,560 --> 00:15:15,279 newcomers. Yes. Britain. I was nominated 375 00:15:12,800 --> 00:15:17,199 for best newcomer in uh 2014 at the 376 00:15:15,279 --> 00:15:18,720 Edinburgh Finch Festival and uh 377 00:15:17,199 --> 00:15:20,000 transpired. The Guardian picked up that 378 00:15:18,720 --> 00:15:22,480 I'm the first Black Britain to be 379 00:15:20,000 --> 00:15:24,320 nominated so far. Um which was an 380 00:15:22,480 --> 00:15:26,320 additional uh acclaim which I was very 381 00:15:24,320 --> 00:15:29,279 happy to embrace which I hope is the 382 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:31,040 catalyst uh for more uh creatives of 383 00:15:29,279 --> 00:15:33,360 color to go to the festival. And uh 384 00:15:31,040 --> 00:15:35,120 yeah, well, there's not many black 385 00:15:33,360 --> 00:15:37,199 people around the Edinburgh Festival. 386 00:15:35,120 --> 00:15:39,920 Not many workingass people. I grew up 387 00:15:37,199 --> 00:15:42,639 just a few miles away and uh I was a 388 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:45,040 grown man of well into my 30s before I 389 00:15:42,639 --> 00:15:47,199 ever crossed the threshold Yeah. of uh 390 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:50,399 of the Edinburgh Festival. So, you're 391 00:15:47,199 --> 00:15:52,399 obviously going places. Did you have to 392 00:15:50,399 --> 00:15:53,880 go looking for the BBC or did they come 393 00:15:52,399 --> 00:15:57,040 looking for you? 394 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:59,680 Um as a a mixture of both. So I guess I 395 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:01,920 had uh initially some performances uh to 396 00:15:59,680 --> 00:16:04,720 get visibility in front of uh uh the 397 00:16:01,920 --> 00:16:07,680 BBC. Um, and then with my debut show, 398 00:16:04,720 --> 00:16:09,040 they uh came and uh uh BBC commissioner 399 00:16:07,680 --> 00:16:11,120 Shane Allen came to watch the show and 400 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:12,800 asked me if I had a treatment that um I 401 00:16:11,120 --> 00:16:14,800 could submit for the BBC comedy feeds, 402 00:16:12,800 --> 00:16:17,519 which is a scheme they have which allows 403 00:16:14,800 --> 00:16:19,360 uh new and undiscovered talent to uh you 404 00:16:17,519 --> 00:16:22,399 know uh to have some experimental uh 405 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:24,639 projects on the BBC and from there um 406 00:16:22,399 --> 00:16:27,120 that kind of precipitated into the 407 00:16:24,639 --> 00:16:28,800 series being commissioned. Um, so I 408 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:30,639 would say as far as the BBC over the 409 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:32,320 last two to three years, they've been uh 410 00:16:30,639 --> 00:16:33,839 very instrumental in helping me develop 411 00:16:32,320 --> 00:16:35,279 my talent and working closely with me. 412 00:16:33,839 --> 00:16:36,800 So yeah, they've been actually quite 413 00:16:35,279 --> 00:16:39,040 good in kind of seeking me out. So it's 414 00:16:36,800 --> 00:16:40,560 been great. You've also been across the 415 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:42,320 water in the United States. Were you 416 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:43,680 performing there? Yeah, I went to the 417 00:16:42,320 --> 00:16:45,680 States a few years ago before I did 418 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:48,800 debut show. Uh, I did a few gigs there 419 00:16:45,680 --> 00:16:50,639 as well, just to gauge how my material 420 00:16:48,800 --> 00:16:53,199 received and it was it was Yeah, it was 421 00:16:50,639 --> 00:16:55,120 good. And um I'm hoping to continue to 422 00:16:53,199 --> 00:16:57,040 do that a lot more as well because um 423 00:16:55,120 --> 00:17:00,160 I've been uh largely influenced by a lot 424 00:16:57,040 --> 00:17:02,959 of US comics and uh US narrative. Um I 425 00:17:00,160 --> 00:17:07,120 would say some Bill Burr, Chris Rock, 426 00:17:02,959 --> 00:17:09,520 Eddie Griffin, George Carlin, uh Bruce 427 00:17:07,120 --> 00:17:10,799 as well. So just um Dick Gregory 428 00:17:09,520 --> 00:17:12,880 probably one of be one of my biggest 429 00:17:10,799 --> 00:17:16,400 influences. Um I just think some of the 430 00:17:12,880 --> 00:17:18,720 work he's done so far as comedy and his 431 00:17:16,400 --> 00:17:20,319 level of social activism is all 432 00:17:18,720 --> 00:17:22,799 inspiring. Do you see a different 433 00:17:20,319 --> 00:17:25,520 response? Is is there like a different 434 00:17:22,799 --> 00:17:26,959 culture and attitude towards this Yeah. 435 00:17:25,520 --> 00:17:29,039 this industry in which you work as a 436 00:17:26,959 --> 00:17:32,960 black artist? Um there there is to an 437 00:17:29,039 --> 00:17:35,039 extent I'd say. Um in the UK it's very 438 00:17:32,960 --> 00:17:36,400 different in terms of just in the same 439 00:17:35,039 --> 00:17:38,880 way I guess there's the social 440 00:17:36,400 --> 00:17:40,080 difference. So in the states where a lot 441 00:17:38,880 --> 00:17:42,240 there's the narrative about race 442 00:17:40,080 --> 00:17:43,919 relations um seems to be a lot easier 443 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:46,799 because people are aware and they accept 444 00:17:43,919 --> 00:17:48,640 that uh race is woven into the social 445 00:17:46,799 --> 00:17:50,240 fabric of the states whereas there 446 00:17:48,640 --> 00:17:51,679 whereas the Brits are in denial to some 447 00:17:50,240 --> 00:17:53,440 extent. I would say there there is a lot 448 00:17:51,679 --> 00:17:56,240 of denial there. I think a lot of people 449 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:58,080 uh there is the general idea that class 450 00:17:56,240 --> 00:18:00,720 breeds more than race in the UK. 451 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:02,400 However, I would argue that uh maybe 452 00:18:00,720 --> 00:18:03,840 mostly your post-war wind rush 453 00:18:02,400 --> 00:18:05,919 generation that would have been from the 454 00:18:03,840 --> 00:18:08,160 Caribbean or from uh West Africa or 455 00:18:05,919 --> 00:18:10,559 former British uh colonies in Africa 456 00:18:08,160 --> 00:18:12,960 would have come to the UK and been a 457 00:18:10,559 --> 00:18:13,679 part of the working class and then 458 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:15,039 therefore would have dealt with 459 00:18:13,679 --> 00:18:17,440 discrimination on two fronts, whether it 460 00:18:15,039 --> 00:18:20,960 be on a class or race-based one. Is 461 00:18:17,440 --> 00:18:23,760 there is there any crossover difficulty? 462 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:25,919 I mean, do you find it I suppose if I 463 00:18:23,760 --> 00:18:28,240 put it crudely, do you find it easier to 464 00:18:25,919 --> 00:18:30,080 make black people laugh or white people 465 00:18:28,240 --> 00:18:31,600 laugh or is it exactly the same? No, 466 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:33,440 it's a fair question. I I say it's 467 00:18:31,600 --> 00:18:35,840 exactly the same. I think uh with any 468 00:18:33,440 --> 00:18:36,640 group, you you have to deal with uh most 469 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:38,000 people if you speak to them 470 00:18:36,640 --> 00:18:40,320 individually, you can be quite rational 471 00:18:38,000 --> 00:18:42,080 and you can identify or find a mutuality 472 00:18:40,320 --> 00:18:43,840 with somebody. Whereas sometimes when 473 00:18:42,080 --> 00:18:45,679 groups get together, they can uh form a 474 00:18:43,840 --> 00:18:47,360 mob mentality. So that can be a lot 475 00:18:45,679 --> 00:18:49,600 harder to penetrate. And then I'd say 476 00:18:47,360 --> 00:18:51,360 I'd say that they're equal in that there 477 00:18:49,600 --> 00:18:53,280 are uh so far as a spectrum of topics 478 00:18:51,360 --> 00:18:55,280 you can discuss on stage, there are some 479 00:18:53,280 --> 00:18:56,960 uh taboos for predominantly black 480 00:18:55,280 --> 00:18:59,520 audiences and then some taboos for uh 481 00:18:56,960 --> 00:19:02,160 predominantly white audiences. So um I'd 482 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:03,679 say creatively is you just have to hold 483 00:19:02,160 --> 00:19:04,720 people's the mirror of humanity up to 484 00:19:03,679 --> 00:19:08,000 people and just deal with it in that 485 00:19:04,720 --> 00:19:10,160 way. So um they are they're challenging 486 00:19:08,000 --> 00:19:12,320 for their for different reasons. Yeah. 487 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:13,919 And is it the same in the United States? 488 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:16,320 Uh you're absolutely right that 489 00:19:13,919 --> 00:19:18,880 everybody in the United States knows 490 00:19:16,320 --> 00:19:21,039 that uh that race is the elephant not 491 00:19:18,880 --> 00:19:22,640 just in the room but sitting on the sofa 492 00:19:21,039 --> 00:19:24,799 next to you. Well, I mean I mean the 493 00:19:22,640 --> 00:19:26,480 elephant is is the symbol for one of 494 00:19:24,799 --> 00:19:28,559 their for along their bipartisan system 495 00:19:26,480 --> 00:19:30,480 anyway. So well I'm glad you got your uh 496 00:19:28,559 --> 00:19:32,559 trips into the United States cuz who 497 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:34,960 knows whether if President Trump might 498 00:19:32,559 --> 00:19:36,720 might let you in or President Clinton 499 00:19:34,960 --> 00:19:39,679 for that matter. Who knows that we'll 500 00:19:36,720 --> 00:19:41,919 want to go uh to the United States under 501 00:19:39,679 --> 00:19:44,960 either of them. But the United States 502 00:19:41,919 --> 00:19:49,520 right now looks like it's on the cusp of 503 00:19:44,960 --> 00:19:52,320 uh almost generalized uh racial warfare. 504 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:54,720 Hardly a day goes by without an incident 505 00:19:52,320 --> 00:19:58,080 because of the technology we have now. 506 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:59,600 Hardly an incident isn't filmed and once 507 00:19:58,080 --> 00:20:03,919 distributed 508 00:19:59,600 --> 00:20:07,200 uh new incidents and new levels of aggro 509 00:20:03,919 --> 00:20:10,720 uh follow. uh under a black president. 510 00:20:07,200 --> 00:20:14,240 Uh we've got more black kids in prison 511 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:16,960 than we do in university. We've got Bill 512 00:20:14,240 --> 00:20:19,600 Clinton's policy of three strikes and 513 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:22,880 you're out leading to a situation where 514 00:20:19,600 --> 00:20:24,960 a small nation, not quite small nation, 515 00:20:22,880 --> 00:20:27,200 or black people are in prison uh in 516 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:30,919 America and black people are beginning 517 00:20:27,200 --> 00:20:34,799 to fight back. Yeah. Uh in some cases, 518 00:20:30,919 --> 00:20:38,880 literally fight back. Uh, none of that's 519 00:20:34,799 --> 00:20:41,200 very funny, but you've got to uh be an 520 00:20:38,880 --> 00:20:42,720 observer of that and find the humor 521 00:20:41,200 --> 00:20:44,720 within it. There's a task for you. Go 522 00:20:42,720 --> 00:20:46,400 on. Yeah. No, no, but it's a good task. 523 00:20:44,720 --> 00:20:48,159 I mean, the thing is, you know, the 524 00:20:46,400 --> 00:20:50,240 saying is uh it's one of two things that 525 00:20:48,159 --> 00:20:51,840 comedy is tragedy plus timing. And then 526 00:20:50,240 --> 00:20:54,400 also the other That's a good quote. What 527 00:20:51,840 --> 00:20:55,679 is that? Tragedy plus timing. That's a 528 00:20:54,400 --> 00:20:56,960 very good quote. Yeah. And and also the 529 00:20:55,679 --> 00:21:00,000 fact that if you don't laugh, you cry. 530 00:20:56,960 --> 00:21:02,159 And I think um one of the reasons why uh 531 00:21:00,000 --> 00:21:04,799 you've seen a lot of uh some of the more 532 00:21:02,159 --> 00:21:06,240 prominent or prolific comics uh either 533 00:21:04,799 --> 00:21:07,760 coming from either Jewish or black 534 00:21:06,240 --> 00:21:09,520 background is that this is how people 535 00:21:07,760 --> 00:21:12,159 rationalize what they perceive as 536 00:21:09,520 --> 00:21:14,960 historical uh discrimination um is by 537 00:21:12,159 --> 00:21:16,640 using humor. And I think uh especially 538 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:18,320 for the black community that I'm aware 539 00:21:16,640 --> 00:21:21,919 of is that uh humor has always been a 540 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:24,240 great way of uh I guess mitigating the 541 00:21:21,919 --> 00:21:25,520 uh the uh I guess the conflict you deal 542 00:21:24,240 --> 00:21:26,880 with when you you feel that you're being 543 00:21:25,520 --> 00:21:29,679 discriminated against or you are 544 00:21:26,880 --> 00:21:32,080 generally hated by a uh by a government 545 00:21:29,679 --> 00:21:32,880 or or or as the systems oppressing you. 546 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:37,520 I guess that's how you kind of 547 00:21:32,880 --> 00:21:38,799 rationalize it. Um and it's uh it can be 548 00:21:37,520 --> 00:21:40,320 very difficult but I think it's probably 549 00:21:38,799 --> 00:21:41,600 one of the better ways in in dealing 550 00:21:40,320 --> 00:21:43,440 with it. You know, laughter is one of 551 00:21:41,600 --> 00:21:45,360 the best medicine and yeah, it's a great 552 00:21:43,440 --> 00:21:47,600 way of self-medicating. It's a great uh 553 00:21:45,360 --> 00:21:50,480 medicine. Now, you grew up black and 554 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:53,520 workingass in South London and now 555 00:21:50,480 --> 00:21:56,480 you've made it onto the BBC. How do your 556 00:21:53,520 --> 00:22:00,320 peers look at that? With envy, bit of 557 00:21:56,480 --> 00:22:02,799 jealousy, pride, mixture of all. Um I 558 00:22:00,320 --> 00:22:04,320 would say for the larger it's uh it's 559 00:22:02,799 --> 00:22:05,840 it's more pride and support. I think 560 00:22:04,320 --> 00:22:08,240 that's been one of the best things about 561 00:22:05,840 --> 00:22:10,240 working in this industry is that uh most 562 00:22:08,240 --> 00:22:13,440 of my peers and contemporaries have been 563 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:15,679 supportive. Um there's a very uh strong 564 00:22:13,440 --> 00:22:17,440 uh sense of fraternity amongst a lot of 565 00:22:15,679 --> 00:22:19,840 my peers in terms of and that's because 566 00:22:17,440 --> 00:22:21,520 I guess people look at is that if if 567 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:23,520 he's if he's doing it therefore it can 568 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:26,640 be done. So people have been very 569 00:22:23,520 --> 00:22:30,240 supportive in that respect. Um so far as 570 00:22:26,640 --> 00:22:31,760 uh envy um it's nec I don't think 571 00:22:30,240 --> 00:22:34,720 necessarily think that's predisposed to 572 00:22:31,760 --> 00:22:36,720 like my black peers. I think comedy is a 573 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:38,720 solitary art form. So sometimes people 574 00:22:36,720 --> 00:22:40,080 feel if I'm not on that stage then it 575 00:22:38,720 --> 00:22:41,280 means I've lost out and that's not 576 00:22:40,080 --> 00:22:44,400 necessarily and that's not always 577 00:22:41,280 --> 00:22:46,640 necessarily the case. So So um few weeks 578 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:49,039 ago we had Ava sitting where you were 579 00:22:46,640 --> 00:22:52,559 sat with her baby with her baby first 580 00:22:49,039 --> 00:22:54,400 time and uh well she uh you worked with 581 00:22:52,559 --> 00:22:56,880 her before and she has been very active 582 00:22:54,400 --> 00:22:58,080 with the with the Corbin movement and 583 00:22:56,880 --> 00:23:00,080 understand yourself as well. Could you 584 00:22:58,080 --> 00:23:02,080 tell us about that? Yeah. Uh recently I 585 00:23:00,080 --> 00:23:04,880 uh performed at a fundraiser for Jeremy 586 00:23:02,080 --> 00:23:06,159 Corbyn uh which on the same day was 587 00:23:04,880 --> 00:23:07,280 revealed that he'd be able to appear 588 00:23:06,159 --> 00:23:09,280 again on the ballot as well for 589 00:23:07,280 --> 00:23:11,760 leadership of the Labour party. So yeah, 590 00:23:09,280 --> 00:23:14,159 it ended up going from potentially tense 591 00:23:11,760 --> 00:23:16,400 night to a very jovial one. So yeah, it 592 00:23:14,159 --> 00:23:18,799 was great and uh it's wonderful working 593 00:23:16,400 --> 00:23:21,919 with uh people who are intelligent and 594 00:23:18,799 --> 00:23:24,559 as politically active as uh Ava um 595 00:23:21,919 --> 00:23:27,679 Jeremy Hardy is also a comic who's also 596 00:23:24,559 --> 00:23:28,799 yeah very clued up and uh yeah very 597 00:23:27,679 --> 00:23:31,919 helpful and obviously given me a lot 598 00:23:28,799 --> 00:23:33,840 more uh knowledge in terms of uh I guess 599 00:23:31,919 --> 00:23:36,640 performing for the left and kind of 600 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:38,640 understanding uh a lot more about how to 601 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:41,600 apply a socialist paradigm to my comedy 602 00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:43,360 as well in the milure now that you 603 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:45,600 travel amongst amongst amongst 604 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:47,679 comedians, amongst uh people in the 605 00:23:45,600 --> 00:23:51,039 comedy industry, 606 00:23:47,679 --> 00:23:55,360 how would you calibrate their politics? 607 00:23:51,039 --> 00:23:58,000 You see, in the 80s, almost all comics 608 00:23:55,360 --> 00:23:58,880 were left-wing, anti- Thatcher. Some of 609 00:23:58,000 --> 00:24:00,400 them went on to become 610 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:02,960 multi-millionaires and turned into 611 00:24:00,400 --> 00:24:07,600 tourists themselves. But it was the 612 00:24:02,960 --> 00:24:09,919 zeitgeist. Yes. Is it now? I would say 613 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:11,200 the majority, yes. But then I think a 614 00:24:09,919 --> 00:24:12,400 lot of people that do make uh 615 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:15,760 declarations about their political 616 00:24:12,400 --> 00:24:18,320 leanings uh I think they uh care more 617 00:24:15,760 --> 00:24:19,679 about you know I guess their this world 618 00:24:18,320 --> 00:24:21,279 and the world. Yeah. More more than 619 00:24:19,679 --> 00:24:23,919 their careers. Well look Den we really 620 00:24:21,279 --> 00:24:25,679 look forward to the series. When does it 621 00:24:23,919 --> 00:24:27,600 start? Uh series will be out in autumn. 622 00:24:25,679 --> 00:24:28,559 I haven't got a confirmed date but uh 623 00:24:27,600 --> 00:24:30,320 people should pay attention around 624 00:24:28,559 --> 00:24:32,000 October time or saying. So just uh 625 00:24:30,320 --> 00:24:34,320 giving people time to enjoy their summer 626 00:24:32,000 --> 00:24:37,440 first. Uh and then enjoy autumn with 627 00:24:34,320 --> 00:24:40,240 enjoy autumn. Sunny D with Dan Baptiste 628 00:24:37,440 --> 00:24:43,290 on BBC 3. Thanks very much for coming on 629 00:24:40,240 --> 00:24:44,720 board the Sputnik. 630 00:24:43,290 --> 00:24:46,480 [Music] 631 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:48,400 And now it's your turn to tell us what 632 00:24:46,480 --> 00:24:51,200 you think through the portals of social 633 00:24:48,400 --> 00:24:53,200 media. What's right? So from Italy to 634 00:24:51,200 --> 00:24:55,279 Greece, uh France and Netherlands, 635 00:24:53,200 --> 00:24:57,200 economic and social crisis worsening. 636 00:24:55,279 --> 00:24:59,600 What is this the end of the EU? At 637 00:24:57,200 --> 00:25:02,240 Montante says the EU project was a 638 00:24:59,600 --> 00:25:05,360 disaster. Unelected elites stealing our 639 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:07,760 sovereignty. good by NWO. 640 00:25:05,360 --> 00:25:10,559 Well, you know, the the doctor made the 641 00:25:07,760 --> 00:25:13,679 point that the only way that the EU can 642 00:25:10,559 --> 00:25:16,000 be saved was his four-point program, 643 00:25:13,679 --> 00:25:19,279 none of which has any possibility of 644 00:25:16,000 --> 00:25:21,840 being achieved. So, I think in his heart 645 00:25:19,279 --> 00:25:24,480 he and the rest of the Eurekats know 646 00:25:21,840 --> 00:25:26,799 that it's its day has gone and it's uh 647 00:25:24,480 --> 00:25:28,799 demise is coming. Well, that's all the 648 00:25:26,799 --> 00:25:30,799 tweets that we have for today, which 649 00:25:28,799 --> 00:25:32,559 alas means that's the end of the show. 650 00:25:30,799 --> 00:25:35,440 You can stay in touch with us though on 651 00:25:32,559 --> 00:25:37,600 Twitter at RT_Sputnik or on Facebook 652 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:40,159 Sputnik on Russia Today. It's goodbye 653 00:25:37,600 --> 00:25:43,559 from me guy and from me George Galloway. 654 00:25:40,159 --> 00:25:43,559 It's been marvelous.