1 00:00:02,600 --> 00:00:06,660 [Music] 2 00:00:11,240 --> 00:00:14,799 [Music] 3 00:00:12,480 --> 00:00:18,280 Okay. 4 00:00:14,799 --> 00:00:18,280 I need some 5 00:00:23,230 --> 00:00:26,300 [Music] 6 00:00:29,660 --> 00:00:32,749 [Music] 7 00:00:35,680 --> 00:00:39,520 Welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 8 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,040 with me George Galloway 9 00:00:39,520 --> 00:00:43,360 and me Gayatri. 10 00:00:41,040 --> 00:00:46,160 200 children lose contact with their 11 00:00:43,360 --> 00:00:48,320 fathers every day in secret courts in 12 00:00:46,160 --> 00:00:50,719 this country where nearly 4 million 13 00:00:48,320 --> 00:00:53,760 children are fatherless. One in three 14 00:00:50,719 --> 00:00:55,920 children live without their father. 44 15 00:00:53,760 --> 00:00:59,600 billion pounds is the cost of family 16 00:00:55,920 --> 00:01:01,840 breakdown every year. 50% of children in 17 00:00:59,600 --> 00:01:04,799 the UK will have seen their parents 18 00:01:01,840 --> 00:01:06,640 divorce by the time they are 16. One in 19 00:01:04,799 --> 00:01:09,920 three children will lose contact with 20 00:01:06,640 --> 00:01:12,080 their father permanently. 70% of young 21 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:14,960 offenders come from lone parent 22 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:17,840 families. In many parts of the UK, the 23 00:01:14,960 --> 00:01:20,080 majority of children are fatherless. In 24 00:01:17,840 --> 00:01:23,200 London, Liverpool, Manchester, 25 00:01:20,080 --> 00:01:26,080 Birmingham, and Leeds, over 50% of 26 00:01:23,200 --> 00:01:28,560 children live in fatherless families. 27 00:01:26,080 --> 00:01:31,200 Fathers for Justice have scaled the 28 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:33,200 battlements of even Buckingham Palace in 29 00:01:31,200 --> 00:01:35,200 the early days in their Batman suits to 30 00:01:33,200 --> 00:01:37,200 draw attention to the elephant in the 31 00:01:35,200 --> 00:01:39,840 corner of the room, which the political 32 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:43,680 class and their media echo chamber hope 33 00:01:39,840 --> 00:01:45,280 you won't notice. Children need fathers. 34 00:01:43,680 --> 00:01:47,920 And if the father and mother have to 35 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:50,640 split up, then shared parenting is the 36 00:01:47,920 --> 00:01:53,439 best solution. We are joined by the 37 00:01:50,640 --> 00:01:56,159 happily enjoined married couple, Matt 38 00:01:53,439 --> 00:01:58,479 and Nadine Okconor, who founded Fathers 39 00:01:56,159 --> 00:02:01,040 for Justice 12 years ago this month and 40 00:01:58,479 --> 00:02:04,320 who are the most redoutable campaigners 41 00:02:01,040 --> 00:02:07,119 in the land. Welcome to both of you. Hi. 42 00:02:04,320 --> 00:02:09,759 These statistics are simply astounding. 43 00:02:07,119 --> 00:02:12,319 In these great cities of England, half 44 00:02:09,759 --> 00:02:15,599 of the children are living in fatherless 45 00:02:12,319 --> 00:02:17,280 families. And yet the justice system is 46 00:02:15,599 --> 00:02:19,200 feeling them. Tell us. 47 00:02:17,280 --> 00:02:20,800 Well, as you've rightly pointed out in 48 00:02:19,200 --> 00:02:24,800 your introduction there, George, that 49 00:02:20,800 --> 00:02:27,599 this is a major social catastrophe. It's 50 00:02:24,800 --> 00:02:29,360 unfolding uh before us and yet our 51 00:02:27,599 --> 00:02:31,440 political political class are doing 52 00:02:29,360 --> 00:02:34,000 absolutely nothing about it to address 53 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:36,720 this problem. We live in a country where 54 00:02:34,000 --> 00:02:39,440 it is easier to father somebody else's 55 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:41,040 children rather than your own. And what 56 00:02:39,440 --> 00:02:43,440 we've been trying to do since I started 57 00:02:41,040 --> 00:02:46,080 the campaign 12 years ago is to raise 58 00:02:43,440 --> 00:02:48,480 awareness of this issue. We have tried 59 00:02:46,080 --> 00:02:50,640 uh direct action, we have tried 60 00:02:48,480 --> 00:02:53,280 political engagement, but what we found 61 00:02:50,640 --> 00:02:54,959 is the people in parliament do not want 62 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,599 to speak to fathers for justice. They 63 00:02:54,959 --> 00:03:00,400 would rather speak to the Taliban than 64 00:02:57,599 --> 00:03:01,360 speak to us about this major social 65 00:03:00,400 --> 00:03:03,760 issue. 66 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:05,840 Nadine, was it the sight of Matt in a 67 00:03:03,760 --> 00:03:06,879 Batman suit that first attracted you to 68 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,800 him? 69 00:03:06,879 --> 00:03:11,519 Uh, actually I can honestly say, George, 70 00:03:08,800 --> 00:03:13,040 no. Um, but I was at a Fathers for 71 00:03:11,519 --> 00:03:14,159 Justice meeting. Um, I'd been going 72 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:15,599 through the family courts and a 73 00:03:14,159 --> 00:03:18,720 girlfriend of mine said, "You know, your 74 00:03:15,599 --> 00:03:20,720 case sounds very similar to that of many 75 00:03:18,720 --> 00:03:22,400 fathers. Why don't you go to Fathers of 76 00:03:20,720 --> 00:03:24,239 Justice and and ask them some questions, 77 00:03:22,400 --> 00:03:26,159 get some help and advice?" And I did. I 78 00:03:24,239 --> 00:03:28,800 went along to a meeting and that's where 79 00:03:26,159 --> 00:03:31,920 I met Matt. Nadine, the point that you 80 00:03:28,800 --> 00:03:34,879 make uh implicitly is that this is a 81 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:39,120 problem affecting both men and women as 82 00:03:34,879 --> 00:03:41,760 well as children. Uh the assumption is 83 00:03:39,120 --> 00:03:45,120 in the justice system. I can tell you as 84 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:48,319 a legislator as the Americans put my job 85 00:03:45,120 --> 00:03:50,879 uh that uh nobody's really listening. 86 00:03:48,319 --> 00:03:53,280 I've been trying through motions on the 87 00:03:50,879 --> 00:03:55,519 order paper and public meetings in the 88 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:58,400 parliament, as you well know, to 89 00:03:55,519 --> 00:04:01,360 interest more parliamentarians in this. 90 00:03:58,400 --> 00:04:05,280 Why are they so unmoved by these 91 00:04:01,360 --> 00:04:07,519 astounding statistics and the 44 billion 92 00:04:05,280 --> 00:04:08,799 pound price tag? You think that alone 93 00:04:07,519 --> 00:04:10,080 would attract the politicians? 94 00:04:08,799 --> 00:04:11,360 Well, you've kind of got the answer 95 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:12,799 there. It's not necessarily the price 96 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:14,799 tag, but it's the money that the family 97 00:04:12,799 --> 00:04:16,959 court justice system also generates. I 98 00:04:14,799 --> 00:04:18,880 mean I have a strong belief that while 99 00:04:16,959 --> 00:04:20,560 it's costing a lot of money I think that 100 00:04:18,880 --> 00:04:22,560 it's actually helping the economy in 101 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:24,960 this country at the moment and family 102 00:04:22,560 --> 00:04:26,479 breakdown as a direct result will create 103 00:04:24,960 --> 00:04:28,160 sort of two of everything. If you split 104 00:04:26,479 --> 00:04:29,600 up you both can't take the freezer so 105 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:30,720 you have to get another freezer in the 106 00:04:29,600 --> 00:04:32,560 new house. So everything gets 107 00:04:30,720 --> 00:04:33,840 multiplied. So actually I think that it 108 00:04:32,560 --> 00:04:36,080 generates a lot of money for this 109 00:04:33,840 --> 00:04:38,240 country. The family law industry the 110 00:04:36,080 --> 00:04:39,840 solicitors the barristers everybody is 111 00:04:38,240 --> 00:04:41,759 making an awful lot of money out of this 112 00:04:39,840 --> 00:04:44,720 and it's secret courts. This is 113 00:04:41,759 --> 00:04:45,919 something you see on the face of it, you 114 00:04:44,720 --> 00:04:47,520 would want these things to remain 115 00:04:45,919 --> 00:04:51,600 private because you don't want to expose 116 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:54,960 children to schoolyard uh ridicule and 117 00:04:51,600 --> 00:04:56,080 so on. But in secret courts, anything 118 00:04:54,960 --> 00:04:57,600 can happen by definition. 119 00:04:56,080 --> 00:04:59,199 It does. I mean, we've we've had several 120 00:04:57,600 --> 00:05:00,960 cases going on in the in the in the 121 00:04:59,199 --> 00:05:03,759 press at the moment where a father's 122 00:05:00,960 --> 00:05:06,000 been in court for 12 years trying to get 123 00:05:03,759 --> 00:05:07,520 contact with his his daughter. Now, I 124 00:05:06,000 --> 00:05:09,120 mean, 12 years is nearly the child's 125 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:10,720 lifetime. I mean, it's completely 126 00:05:09,120 --> 00:05:12,080 unacceptable. The statistics that you 127 00:05:10,720 --> 00:05:13,600 talk about at the beginning, they're not 128 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:15,520 statistics that we should be proud of in 129 00:05:13,600 --> 00:05:17,600 this country. It's absolutely disgusting 130 00:05:15,520 --> 00:05:19,360 that we're still sitting here 12, 13 131 00:05:17,600 --> 00:05:21,280 years after the start of our campaign 132 00:05:19,360 --> 00:05:23,360 talking to you about this. You would 133 00:05:21,280 --> 00:05:24,639 think that, as you say, nobody wants to 134 00:05:23,360 --> 00:05:26,639 discuss their, you know, their dirty 135 00:05:24,639 --> 00:05:28,479 linen in private that it is a private 136 00:05:26,639 --> 00:05:30,320 matter. But the secrecy of the courts 137 00:05:28,479 --> 00:05:32,160 does allow parents to pit themselves 138 00:05:30,320 --> 00:05:34,000 against each other. It does allow the 139 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,680 industry to carry on and then there's no 140 00:05:34,000 --> 00:05:37,360 accountability. Most important most 141 00:05:35,680 --> 00:05:39,919 important thing here is is is that we 142 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:42,800 have an unelected 143 00:05:39,919 --> 00:05:45,360 unaccountable unsackable judiciary 144 00:05:42,800 --> 00:05:47,039 operating in complete secrecy that 145 00:05:45,360 --> 00:05:48,720 refuses in the case of the father that's 146 00:05:47,039 --> 00:05:50,960 been discussed recently who's been going 147 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:53,280 for the court for 12 years has 100 court 148 00:05:50,960 --> 00:05:55,360 appearances. Not one of those court 149 00:05:53,280 --> 00:05:57,919 orders has been enforced. They are not 150 00:05:55,360 --> 00:06:00,320 worth the paper they're printed on. Yet 151 00:05:57,919 --> 00:06:02,000 we will send mothers to prison for not 152 00:06:00,320 --> 00:06:04,319 sending little Johnny to go to school. 153 00:06:02,000 --> 00:06:06,000 We will find motorists for going four 154 00:06:04,319 --> 00:06:07,600 miles an hour over the speed limit, but 155 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:09,759 we will do nothing when it comes to 156 00:06:07,600 --> 00:06:11,680 ensuring the rights of children to see 157 00:06:09,759 --> 00:06:14,160 their fathers are protected. And there's 158 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,919 more legislation protecting dogs in this 159 00:06:14,160 --> 00:06:17,919 country than there is the relationship, 160 00:06:15,919 --> 00:06:20,560 the sacred bond between children and 161 00:06:17,919 --> 00:06:23,759 their fathers. I've got three boys and I 162 00:06:20,560 --> 00:06:25,039 want my children to be judged not on the 163 00:06:23,759 --> 00:06:27,919 basis of their gender, but on the 164 00:06:25,039 --> 00:06:30,400 content of their character. What sort of 165 00:06:27,919 --> 00:06:33,039 society are we creating when children 166 00:06:30,400 --> 00:06:35,520 when boys grow up in fatherless families 167 00:06:33,039 --> 00:06:36,080 with all the consequences that flow from 168 00:06:35,520 --> 00:06:37,600 that? 169 00:06:36,080 --> 00:06:39,440 70% of young offenders. 170 00:06:37,600 --> 00:06:41,680 Absolutely. The highest rate the highest 171 00:06:39,440 --> 00:06:42,319 rate of young offending in Western 172 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:45,199 Europe. 173 00:06:42,319 --> 00:06:48,240 Most children who are harmed are harmed 174 00:06:45,199 --> 00:06:50,160 in domestic settings. Most children who 175 00:06:48,240 --> 00:06:53,360 are harmed in domestic settings are 176 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:54,080 harmed by their mother's new boyfriend. 177 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:55,840 Yeah. 178 00:06:54,080 --> 00:06:58,880 The mother's new boyfriend is never 179 00:06:55,840 --> 00:07:02,000 vetted by anybody. He can be literally 180 00:06:58,880 --> 00:07:04,479 anybody. He could have a long litter of 181 00:07:02,000 --> 00:07:06,160 convictions of all kinds behind him, but 182 00:07:04,479 --> 00:07:08,479 he can move in 183 00:07:06,160 --> 00:07:11,440 to the mother's life and therefore your 184 00:07:08,479 --> 00:07:13,520 children's life and no one will ever ask 185 00:07:11,440 --> 00:07:16,960 him a single question, at least until 186 00:07:13,520 --> 00:07:20,560 it's too late. Whilst the father has to 187 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:23,599 go through hoops to get a court order to 188 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:25,120 get contact with his child. 189 00:07:23,599 --> 00:07:27,199 Contact, what a word. Terrible. 190 00:07:25,120 --> 00:07:28,720 With your own child because you broke up 191 00:07:27,199 --> 00:07:31,280 from your child's mother. 192 00:07:28,720 --> 00:07:31,840 You have to apply for contact with your 193 00:07:31,280 --> 00:07:33,280 own children. 194 00:07:31,840 --> 00:07:34,160 You're worthy of it. That's 195 00:07:33,280 --> 00:07:35,599 prove you're worthy of it. 196 00:07:34,160 --> 00:07:36,560 The week before you were perfectly okay. 197 00:07:35,599 --> 00:07:38,160 You're doing the school run. You're 198 00:07:36,560 --> 00:07:40,160 doing dinner, taking them swimming, 199 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:41,680 everything. And then the day after that 200 00:07:40,160 --> 00:07:43,120 you separate, you have to prove 201 00:07:41,680 --> 00:07:44,639 because they always assume this of the 202 00:07:43,120 --> 00:07:45,199 father's role. Yeah. if he's the one who 203 00:07:44,639 --> 00:07:46,639 walks up. 204 00:07:45,199 --> 00:07:47,919 Yeah. But they've also assumed there's 205 00:07:46,639 --> 00:07:50,720 actually bought in a presumption where 206 00:07:47,919 --> 00:07:52,240 every father poses a risk to his child 207 00:07:50,720 --> 00:07:54,160 because every father is now risk 208 00:07:52,240 --> 00:07:55,840 assessed regardless. You are risk 209 00:07:54,160 --> 00:07:58,400 assessed when you go into the court 210 00:07:55,840 --> 00:08:00,879 system. CF gas will risk assess you 211 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:02,400 using soft evidence which is allegations 212 00:08:00,879 --> 00:08:04,080 and hard evidence which is anything 213 00:08:02,400 --> 00:08:06,240 relating to police and police reports. 214 00:08:04,080 --> 00:08:08,720 So you are assumed by this government, 215 00:08:06,240 --> 00:08:11,039 by this country, by the state to be a 216 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:13,599 risk to your children even though days 217 00:08:11,039 --> 00:08:14,400 or a week earlier you are safely at home 218 00:08:13,599 --> 00:08:15,360 looking after them. 219 00:08:14,400 --> 00:08:17,280 And that's where we come back to the 220 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:19,039 secret court thing because you say if 221 00:08:17,280 --> 00:08:21,039 you make an allegation against somebody 222 00:08:19,039 --> 00:08:22,800 on a criminal in a criminal court, you 223 00:08:21,039 --> 00:08:23,919 have to prove that allegations true. You 224 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,360 have to provide the evidence. In a 225 00:08:23,919 --> 00:08:27,440 family court, you have to provide no 226 00:08:25,360 --> 00:08:28,319 evidence whatsoever. They can simply act 227 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:30,080 on your word. 228 00:08:28,319 --> 00:08:31,599 It's like a Salem style witch hunt. I 229 00:08:30,080 --> 00:08:35,120 point a finger at you. 230 00:08:31,599 --> 00:08:38,240 You're guilty. You and I are married. We 231 00:08:35,120 --> 00:08:40,640 split up. You don't want me to have any 232 00:08:38,240 --> 00:08:43,680 role in the children's life. So you have 233 00:08:40,640 --> 00:08:46,000 an incentive to say bad things about me. 234 00:08:43,680 --> 00:08:48,560 Bad things which in a secret court will 235 00:08:46,000 --> 00:08:50,399 be implicitly believed unless I can 236 00:08:48,560 --> 00:08:51,040 really go the extra mile to disprove 237 00:08:50,399 --> 00:08:53,040 them. Am I right? 238 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:55,519 Yeah. And and and what's the best way of 239 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:56,959 me punishing you? What's my motivation? 240 00:08:55,519 --> 00:09:00,240 They want to punish you for whatever the 241 00:08:56,959 --> 00:09:03,360 reason is is to deny you access to the 242 00:09:00,240 --> 00:09:05,519 people you love and care about the most. 243 00:09:03,360 --> 00:09:09,440 And that's the motivating factor. We 244 00:09:05,519 --> 00:09:12,240 know full well that that men would do it 245 00:09:09,440 --> 00:09:15,200 to women given the opportunity. 246 00:09:12,240 --> 00:09:17,440 But the law itself is very cleverly 247 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:19,760 drafted. It doesn't discriminate in the 248 00:09:17,440 --> 00:09:21,839 legislation, but was what it does do is 249 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:24,480 discriminate in the application of the 250 00:09:21,839 --> 00:09:26,240 law. And the thing that makes a mockery 251 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:27,920 of it, as I've said already, is the fact 252 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:30,000 that the court orders 253 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:31,040 which are written are absolutely 254 00:09:30,000 --> 00:09:32,399 worthless. 255 00:09:31,040 --> 00:09:33,200 You can spend tens of thousands of 256 00:09:32,399 --> 00:09:35,440 pounds, 257 00:09:33,200 --> 00:09:38,399 as many, many, many people have done, 258 00:09:35,440 --> 00:09:40,160 and you have got nothing to show for it 259 00:09:38,399 --> 00:09:43,760 at the end of it. Well, I know some 260 00:09:40,160 --> 00:09:46,240 people well who have spent tens of 261 00:09:43,760 --> 00:09:49,120 thousands of pounds in court employing 262 00:09:46,240 --> 00:09:53,440 barristers, winning the case, getting an 263 00:09:49,120 --> 00:09:55,920 order and then as you said earlier, the 264 00:09:53,440 --> 00:09:58,480 other parent simply refuses to implement 265 00:09:55,920 --> 00:09:58,720 the order and nothing happens to them. 266 00:09:58,480 --> 00:09:59,600 No. 267 00:09:58,720 --> 00:10:00,959 How could that be? 268 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:02,080 Well, it's completely wrong. The judges 269 00:10:00,959 --> 00:10:03,760 wash their hands of it. I mean, we've 270 00:10:02,080 --> 00:10:05,279 seen this case recently of this this 271 00:10:03,760 --> 00:10:06,720 father who spent 12 years going through 272 00:10:05,279 --> 00:10:09,279 the court system, and the judges go, 273 00:10:06,720 --> 00:10:10,880 "There's nothing we can do really. You 274 00:10:09,279 --> 00:10:12,880 enforce the law. You send mothers to 275 00:10:10,880 --> 00:10:15,120 prison over not sending kids to school. 276 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:16,640 You you give fines to to motorists for 277 00:10:15,120 --> 00:10:19,760 going four miles an hour over the speed 278 00:10:16,640 --> 00:10:22,000 limit. Um, you can simply transfer 279 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:23,920 residents from one parent to the other 280 00:10:22,000 --> 00:10:26,000 if you're faced with a parent who is 281 00:10:23,920 --> 00:10:27,839 recalcitrant, who is failing to uphold 282 00:10:26,000 --> 00:10:29,519 that child's rights to see both 283 00:10:27,839 --> 00:10:31,680 parents." And and what we do, what we 284 00:10:29,519 --> 00:10:33,360 present as a team of Fathers and Justice 285 00:10:31,680 --> 00:10:34,480 is, you know, it's not just about men 286 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:36,399 versus women. 287 00:10:34,480 --> 00:10:37,519 We we're we're a team because we've been 288 00:10:36,399 --> 00:10:39,760 through it. Both of us have been through 289 00:10:37,519 --> 00:10:42,079 it. We've seen it from both sides. We've 290 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:44,800 seen how family law fails children 291 00:10:42,079 --> 00:10:47,839 repeatedly. So for us, what we're trying 292 00:10:44,800 --> 00:10:49,279 to do as a campaign gad is is is to get 293 00:10:47,839 --> 00:10:51,760 men and women to come together and say, 294 00:10:49,279 --> 00:10:53,519 "Hey, look, this is such a serious 295 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:53,920 social issue. We're failing our 296 00:10:53,519 --> 00:10:55,600 children." 297 00:10:53,920 --> 00:10:57,920 Well, that's the point. It's not that 298 00:10:55,600 --> 00:11:00,320 fathers have a right to see their 299 00:10:57,920 --> 00:11:01,120 children though in my view they do. 300 00:11:00,320 --> 00:11:03,680 Yeah. 301 00:11:01,120 --> 00:11:05,920 The real issue is that the child has the 302 00:11:03,680 --> 00:11:09,440 right to see its father 303 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:12,640 and be with its father not in a contact 304 00:11:09,440 --> 00:11:16,160 fleeting easily withdrawn 305 00:11:12,640 --> 00:11:19,200 uh timed with the the mother standing at 306 00:11:16,160 --> 00:11:20,480 the door uh with based on money. You 307 00:11:19,200 --> 00:11:22,240 don't pay any maintenance. You don't see 308 00:11:20,480 --> 00:11:23,839 the child. Sometimes it's it's a you 309 00:11:22,240 --> 00:11:25,600 know it's a straight trade. You know, 310 00:11:23,839 --> 00:11:26,000 fathers are simply cash points in most 311 00:11:25,600 --> 00:11:27,920 cases 312 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:29,279 and spurbacks are cash points for sperm 313 00:11:27,920 --> 00:11:30,399 backs. These aren't contact orders. 314 00:11:29,279 --> 00:11:32,640 These are control orders. I mean, they 315 00:11:30,399 --> 00:11:34,399 are control orders. They control you. I 316 00:11:32,640 --> 00:11:35,920 mean, men are often accused of being 317 00:11:34,399 --> 00:11:37,680 controlling. Well, I can tell you 318 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:39,519 there's nothing more controlling than 319 00:11:37,680 --> 00:11:41,519 the court telling you when you can and 320 00:11:39,519 --> 00:11:44,800 can't see your children or to have you 321 00:11:41,519 --> 00:11:47,760 put in a contact center for two hours on 322 00:11:44,800 --> 00:11:49,839 a Saturday to see your children. You 323 00:11:47,760 --> 00:11:52,399 know, unless you've posed some kind of 324 00:11:49,839 --> 00:11:54,480 serious risk to your children, no father 325 00:11:52,399 --> 00:11:56,320 should be put in a contact center. 326 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,160 Contact, as you've said, is something we 327 00:11:56,320 --> 00:11:59,200 used to have of aliens from outer space, 328 00:11:58,160 --> 00:12:01,680 not of our own flesh and blood. Not 329 00:11:59,200 --> 00:12:03,920 of our own. Last word to the mother of 330 00:12:01,680 --> 00:12:06,800 fathers for justice. Nadine, 331 00:12:03,920 --> 00:12:08,720 is it likely to get better anytime soon 332 00:12:06,800 --> 00:12:09,279 or are we still on a downward spiral 333 00:12:08,720 --> 00:12:10,399 with all this? 334 00:12:09,279 --> 00:12:12,160 No, I don't see it getting better 335 00:12:10,399 --> 00:12:14,399 anytime soon. I mean, we had all the 336 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:15,680 promises before the last election. Um, 337 00:12:14,399 --> 00:12:16,959 Conservative Party were going to change 338 00:12:15,680 --> 00:12:18,959 the law. we were going to hit the ground 339 00:12:16,959 --> 00:12:20,880 running. They failed to implement those 340 00:12:18,959 --> 00:12:21,920 promises. And at the moment, the 341 00:12:20,880 --> 00:12:23,519 children and families bill that's going 342 00:12:21,920 --> 00:12:25,120 through, I think, is just a fudge. It's 343 00:12:23,519 --> 00:12:26,720 not going to address the real issue. I 344 00:12:25,120 --> 00:12:28,639 think the problem is going to get worse. 345 00:12:26,720 --> 00:12:30,160 And to be honest, I really don't see 346 00:12:28,639 --> 00:12:32,720 this coming back on the proper political 347 00:12:30,160 --> 00:12:34,079 agenda until 2020 because I don't think 348 00:12:32,720 --> 00:12:36,079 anybody's going to raise it again before 349 00:12:34,079 --> 00:12:37,360 then. So, I don't want to be here 350 00:12:36,079 --> 00:12:39,040 campaigning. Matt doesn't want to be 351 00:12:37,360 --> 00:12:40,639 here campaigning. We simply want the law 352 00:12:39,040 --> 00:12:42,320 changed. Is it too much to ask for 353 00:12:40,639 --> 00:12:44,639 equality in today's day and age? 354 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:46,480 Nadine and Matt Oconor, Fathers for 355 00:12:44,639 --> 00:12:47,279 Justice. Thanks for joining us on the 356 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:47,839 Sputnik. 357 00:12:47,279 --> 00:12:49,519 Thank you. 358 00:12:47,839 --> 00:12:51,279 Coming up after the break is the only 359 00:12:49,519 --> 00:12:53,600 lobby correspondent at Westminster 360 00:12:51,279 --> 00:12:56,399 walking the corridors of power led by a 361 00:12:53,600 --> 00:12:58,399 guide dog. Though blind, Sha Dilly can 362 00:12:56,399 --> 00:13:00,160 see things more clearly than most of the 363 00:12:58,399 --> 00:13:02,399 poodles to power applying their 364 00:13:00,160 --> 00:13:04,399 journalistic trade in Parliament. We'll 365 00:13:02,399 --> 00:13:08,360 be reviewing the political year with him 366 00:13:04,399 --> 00:13:08,360 right after this break. 367 00:13:08,550 --> 00:13:13,600 [Music] 368 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:15,519 Welcome back to Sputnik. It's year three 369 00:13:13,600 --> 00:13:17,200 of the condemn coalition government. The 370 00:13:15,519 --> 00:13:20,000 beast with two backs or at least two 371 00:13:17,200 --> 00:13:22,399 heads, David Cameron and Nick Kle. There 372 00:13:20,000 --> 00:13:24,399 has been no previous peaceime wholesale 373 00:13:22,399 --> 00:13:26,079 coalition government in British history. 374 00:13:24,399 --> 00:13:27,600 And according to the opinion polls, the 375 00:13:26,079 --> 00:13:29,600 British people aren't enjoying the 376 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,920 novelty very much with the government 377 00:13:29,600 --> 00:13:35,200 trailing badly and seemingly headed for 378 00:13:31,920 --> 00:13:36,800 defeat. And yet the official opposition 379 00:13:35,200 --> 00:13:38,880 don't seem to be filling people with 380 00:13:36,800 --> 00:13:41,040 confidence either. On the two most 381 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:43,519 important polling questions, that of 382 00:13:41,040 --> 00:13:45,920 leadership and the economy, the prime 383 00:13:43,519 --> 00:13:48,160 minister still comes out ahead. So with 384 00:13:45,920 --> 00:13:50,240 millions unemployed and a fourth 385 00:13:48,160 --> 00:13:52,720 austerity winter, killing British 386 00:13:50,240 --> 00:13:55,040 pensioners in record numbers, is it 387 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:57,839 possible that in the general election in 388 00:13:55,040 --> 00:14:00,399 2015, the condemns could make a 389 00:13:57,839 --> 00:14:03,120 comeback? Who better to ask than the 390 00:14:00,399 --> 00:14:05,839 sage? That is Sha Dilly and his 391 00:14:03,120 --> 00:14:08,240 wonderful dog Chip. Sean, welcome on 392 00:14:05,839 --> 00:14:11,440 board the Sputnik. Let's begin with that 393 00:14:08,240 --> 00:14:14,959 question. Year three, is the coalition 394 00:14:11,440 --> 00:14:16,800 in good fatal? Do they look like a team 395 00:14:14,959 --> 00:14:17,199 that might succeed at the next general 396 00:14:16,800 --> 00:14:18,880 election? 397 00:14:17,199 --> 00:14:20,560 They seem like a very bickering team. 398 00:14:18,880 --> 00:14:22,880 Some have even called it in Westminster 399 00:14:20,560 --> 00:14:24,399 the knitting circle of hate. But I think 400 00:14:22,880 --> 00:14:26,480 we should actually be aware that in 401 00:14:24,399 --> 00:14:28,399 politics, as you know, George, anything 402 00:14:26,480 --> 00:14:30,399 can happen. Uh so the answer is yes. 403 00:14:28,399 --> 00:14:32,399 they can return at the next election. 404 00:14:30,399 --> 00:14:33,920 They are lower than a snake's belly in a 405 00:14:32,399 --> 00:14:35,760 dirt track at the moment in terms of 406 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:38,399 opinion polls. But when you look at the 407 00:14:35,760 --> 00:14:39,920 economy, the slight increase in the 408 00:14:38,399 --> 00:14:42,000 fortunes of the United Kingdom, which 409 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:43,920 are still fairly bleak at the moment, 410 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:46,800 it's at least possible that they could, 411 00:14:43,920 --> 00:14:48,399 as that election approaches, overcome 412 00:14:46,800 --> 00:14:49,920 sort of arguments about student tuition 413 00:14:48,399 --> 00:14:52,959 fees in the case of the smaller 414 00:14:49,920 --> 00:14:54,959 coalition uh party, in fact, the minute 415 00:14:52,959 --> 00:14:56,800 one of the Liberal Democrats, and of 416 00:14:54,959 --> 00:14:59,360 course, the economic handling, the age 417 00:14:56,800 --> 00:15:01,120 of austerity that would tighten uh any 418 00:14:59,360 --> 00:15:04,000 belt so tight that your thighs would 419 00:15:01,120 --> 00:15:06,560 surely split. Well, on that point of 420 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:08,000 split, uh, you say they're bickering 421 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:11,120 circle of hate, 422 00:15:08,000 --> 00:15:14,399 and it's true that they appear to be 423 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:16,079 making, as Markx put it, a narcissism of 424 00:15:14,399 --> 00:15:17,839 the small difference, 425 00:15:16,079 --> 00:15:20,320 magnifying it to extraordinary 426 00:15:17,839 --> 00:15:23,519 proportions. But there are real issues 427 00:15:20,320 --> 00:15:26,480 under like Europe. You kept arising on 428 00:15:23,519 --> 00:15:29,120 the Tories right making the European 429 00:15:26,480 --> 00:15:31,120 Union issue a big one whilst the Liberal 430 00:15:29,120 --> 00:15:33,920 Democrats couldn't be more in love with 431 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:35,600 the European Union if they tried. Is 432 00:15:33,920 --> 00:15:37,120 that going to split them aunder? 433 00:15:35,600 --> 00:15:38,399 Probably not. I think the biggest issue 434 00:15:37,120 --> 00:15:40,639 for Europe is the Conservatives 435 00:15:38,399 --> 00:15:42,240 themselves. Whilst you combine the Euro 436 00:15:40,639 --> 00:15:44,160 files and the Euro skeptics of the 437 00:15:42,240 --> 00:15:46,000 Liberal Democrats and Conservatives, at 438 00:15:44,160 --> 00:15:48,160 least the Liberal Democrats can use the 439 00:15:46,000 --> 00:15:50,079 excuse we have different views. the 440 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:52,160 Conservatives theoretically should be 441 00:15:50,079 --> 00:15:54,079 taking collective responsibility. So 442 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:56,720 there's a a huge cloud hanging over 443 00:15:54,079 --> 00:15:58,079 their head. Indeed, as the uh as as the 444 00:15:56,720 --> 00:16:00,079 matters progressed through the House of 445 00:15:58,079 --> 00:16:01,759 Commons over the last year, we've seen a 446 00:16:00,079 --> 00:16:03,680 conservative backbencher, a chap called 447 00:16:01,759 --> 00:16:06,800 James Wharton, uh laying a private 448 00:16:03,680 --> 00:16:08,240 members bill, trying to not only uh 449 00:16:06,800 --> 00:16:09,600 well, I would say not not not so much 450 00:16:08,240 --> 00:16:11,279 undermine what the prime minister is 451 00:16:09,600 --> 00:16:13,279 doing in terms of having a referendum in 452 00:16:11,279 --> 00:16:14,959 or out, but certainly undermining the 453 00:16:13,279 --> 00:16:16,399 timing, embarrassing number 10 and 454 00:16:14,959 --> 00:16:17,759 saying that referendum should happen 455 00:16:16,399 --> 00:16:20,800 now, not 456 00:16:17,759 --> 00:16:23,360 Michael Dobs, author of course on House 457 00:16:20,800 --> 00:16:26,720 of Cards, he's introducing a referendum 458 00:16:23,360 --> 00:16:28,480 bill into the Lord. So, uh, there's a 459 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:30,880 europobic, 460 00:16:28,480 --> 00:16:32,160 you'd call it skeptic, I would say. 461 00:16:30,880 --> 00:16:32,959 You would probably call it xenophobic, 462 00:16:32,160 --> 00:16:36,560 George. 463 00:16:32,959 --> 00:16:39,040 Indeed, rabbid xenophobic, europhobic 464 00:16:36,560 --> 00:16:40,560 wing of the Conservative Party. They're 465 00:16:39,040 --> 00:16:40,800 not letting David Cameron off the hook 466 00:16:40,560 --> 00:16:41,920 on. 467 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:44,480 Well, see, one of the things as well, 468 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:46,000 you mentioned the UK independence party. 469 00:16:44,480 --> 00:16:48,720 I would always suggest that the UK 470 00:16:46,000 --> 00:16:50,160 independence party is just Nigel Farage. 471 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:52,240 Very charismatic politician. And 472 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:53,920 Aristotle said it's a mark of education 473 00:16:52,240 --> 00:16:56,000 to be able to entertain a view without 474 00:16:53,920 --> 00:16:58,000 necessarily holding it oneself. So no 475 00:16:56,000 --> 00:16:59,680 matter where you stand on the political 476 00:16:58,000 --> 00:17:01,360 sphere and actually George politically 477 00:16:59,680 --> 00:17:03,040 you're like this in the United Kingdom 478 00:17:01,360 --> 00:17:04,319 people can support the oratory 479 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,240 regardless of where they stand 480 00:17:04,319 --> 00:17:08,640 politically. Certainly when I 481 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:10,480 interviewed Nigel Farra for my own show 482 00:17:08,640 --> 00:17:12,319 the hear here show earlier in the year 483 00:17:10,480 --> 00:17:13,679 it was just fascinating that he he more 484 00:17:12,319 --> 00:17:15,520 or less has an answer to everything. 485 00:17:13,679 --> 00:17:17,919 Now, you would say that that's true of 486 00:17:15,520 --> 00:17:19,439 every politician, but David Cameron, the 487 00:17:17,919 --> 00:17:20,799 conservatives recognize that they're 488 00:17:19,439 --> 00:17:23,439 dealing with someone who's making an 489 00:17:20,799 --> 00:17:26,079 argument which is incredibly seductive 490 00:17:23,439 --> 00:17:27,919 to uh some might argue the less informed 491 00:17:26,079 --> 00:17:30,799 in society and then some might call 492 00:17:27,919 --> 00:17:33,840 people whether they're wellinformed or 493 00:17:30,799 --> 00:17:36,160 not. It's it's millions of people. What 494 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:37,520 about the economy? Um as Bill Clinton 495 00:17:36,160 --> 00:17:41,200 famously said, it's the economy 496 00:17:37,520 --> 00:17:44,000 economy stupid. Um uh there there is a 497 00:17:41,200 --> 00:17:46,240 slight increase in product in growth in 498 00:17:44,000 --> 00:17:48,960 the British economy. There is an 499 00:17:46,240 --> 00:17:51,520 increase big one in some parts of one 500 00:17:48,960 --> 00:17:53,520 city London in the housing market. 501 00:17:51,520 --> 00:17:55,520 U but most of the country and most of 502 00:17:53,520 --> 00:17:57,039 the people in the country are still 503 00:17:55,520 --> 00:17:58,320 shivering in an austerity winter. 504 00:17:57,039 --> 00:18:01,039 This is it. I'm going to come on to that 505 00:17:58,320 --> 00:18:02,880 very serious matter um and and flipping 506 00:18:01,039 --> 00:18:04,640 aside the flippency which I will do very 507 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:07,039 quickly saying that George Osborne's 508 00:18:04,640 --> 00:18:08,559 argument uh that we may be lying in the 509 00:18:07,039 --> 00:18:10,000 political gutter but we're at least 510 00:18:08,559 --> 00:18:12,000 looking at the pavement probably isn't 511 00:18:10,000 --> 00:18:14,400 any comfort to those who are at the 512 00:18:12,000 --> 00:18:17,120 moment literally freezing cold because 513 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:21,440 of the gas and electricity prices huge 514 00:18:17,120 --> 00:18:23,200 huge huge uh impact on the average man 515 00:18:21,440 --> 00:18:25,520 and child in the streets. So we talk 516 00:18:23,200 --> 00:18:27,039 about a recovering economy. You tell 517 00:18:25,520 --> 00:18:29,280 that to the people whose standard of 518 00:18:27,039 --> 00:18:31,440 life is going down. You tell that to all 519 00:18:29,280 --> 00:18:33,840 the increased people who are visiting. 520 00:18:31,440 --> 00:18:36,000 Here in the UK, we have food banks for 521 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:38,480 people in extreme poverty. A bridging 522 00:18:36,000 --> 00:18:41,360 step theoretically who need to turn 523 00:18:38,480 --> 00:18:42,240 effectively to charity to feed their 524 00:18:41,360 --> 00:18:45,600 children and their 525 00:18:42,240 --> 00:18:48,799 and yet and yet however low the condemn 526 00:18:45,600 --> 00:18:51,120 coalition are in the polls, nobody much 527 00:18:48,799 --> 00:18:51,600 is in love with the opposition. Well, 528 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:53,440 how could 529 00:18:51,600 --> 00:18:54,000 neither its leader nor its shadow 530 00:18:53,440 --> 00:18:55,679 chancellor 531 00:18:54,000 --> 00:18:58,080 but I I think the problem is this 532 00:18:55,679 --> 00:18:59,600 actually in fairness to uh the leader 533 00:18:58,080 --> 00:19:02,559 and the shadow chancellor that's Ed 534 00:18:59,600 --> 00:19:04,000 Milliband and Ed Bulls uh who enjoy the 535 00:19:02,559 --> 00:19:06,320 traditional relationship between a 536 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:07,520 leader and their treasury spokesman 537 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:09,120 they hate each other you mean? 538 00:19:07,520 --> 00:19:10,799 Yeah, exactly. Well, I mean, um, I think 539 00:19:09,120 --> 00:19:12,880 David Cameron has joked in the past that 540 00:19:10,799 --> 00:19:15,840 he and Ed Milliband having in common 541 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:17,280 their hatred of of of Ed Bulls, but I 542 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:18,960 think in fairness to them, it's very 543 00:19:17,280 --> 00:19:21,440 hard if you are the opposition to be 544 00:19:18,960 --> 00:19:23,440 taken at all seriously in the media 545 00:19:21,440 --> 00:19:25,360 because you are reacting. Uh, all 546 00:19:23,440 --> 00:19:26,960 parties do this. Labor particularly hot 547 00:19:25,360 --> 00:19:29,120 on whatever announcement they'll stick a 548 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:30,480 naysaying statement out. So, you know, 549 00:19:29,120 --> 00:19:31,919 they might say, "Oh, yes, it's fine for 550 00:19:30,480 --> 00:19:33,280 the home secretary to say this, but they 551 00:19:31,919 --> 00:19:34,880 need to get their house in order with 552 00:19:33,280 --> 00:19:36,640 the hope of being quoted in the press." 553 00:19:34,880 --> 00:19:38,720 Thing is though, here in the United 554 00:19:36,640 --> 00:19:40,160 Kingdom domestically, as indeed is 555 00:19:38,720 --> 00:19:42,799 internationally the case around the 556 00:19:40,160 --> 00:19:44,720 world, is as we run into the 2015 557 00:19:42,799 --> 00:19:47,120 election and I would suggest from next 558 00:19:44,720 --> 00:19:49,200 year's party political conferences, 559 00:19:47,120 --> 00:19:51,280 suddenly they're going to have and enjoy 560 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:52,799 a much bigger platform and that's where 561 00:19:51,280 --> 00:19:53,360 they're going to start making the 562 00:19:52,799 --> 00:19:56,559 impact. 563 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:58,480 Now, you pay uh more attention than I do 564 00:19:56,559 --> 00:20:02,080 as a member of the House of Commons uh 565 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:04,000 to who's up, who's down. Give me some 566 00:20:02,080 --> 00:20:05,679 rising figures if you would in the 567 00:20:04,000 --> 00:20:08,320 conservatives and in the labor. 568 00:20:05,679 --> 00:20:09,840 Well, I mean I tell you very very um 569 00:20:08,320 --> 00:20:11,360 relevant at the moment at the time of 570 00:20:09,840 --> 00:20:12,880 recording. Don't know so much as raising 571 00:20:11,360 --> 00:20:16,160 in the conservatives but in politics 572 00:20:12,880 --> 00:20:18,559 generally. Zack Goldmith of course we 573 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:20,080 saw him on 574 00:20:18,559 --> 00:20:21,840 he's amazing. Very good. Yes. Well, the 575 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,440 thing is, of course, he he came in um 576 00:20:21,840 --> 00:20:26,080 under this kind of era of new 577 00:20:23,440 --> 00:20:28,080 conservatism uh with the green economy 578 00:20:26,080 --> 00:20:30,480 and there there was, you know, some 579 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:32,000 might remember me saying at the time um 580 00:20:30,480 --> 00:20:33,200 in terms of various shows that you, you 581 00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:34,880 know, once upon a time, you vote red, 582 00:20:33,200 --> 00:20:36,400 you get blue. If you vote blue, you get 583 00:20:34,880 --> 00:20:38,559 green. If you vote yellow, you're just 584 00:20:36,400 --> 00:20:40,400 being stupid. Whereas now, it's you 585 00:20:38,559 --> 00:20:42,320 know, if you vote blue or you vote 586 00:20:40,400 --> 00:20:44,559 yellow, you'll probably get a strange 587 00:20:42,320 --> 00:20:46,240 haze of gray. Um I think at the moment 588 00:20:44,559 --> 00:20:48,240 Zach Goldsmith's a rising star because 589 00:20:46,240 --> 00:20:51,440 he's saying that he may even cause a 590 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:53,520 bi-election in his constituency. Um you 591 00:20:51,440 --> 00:20:55,679 and I probably disagree on this because 592 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:57,120 uh the position that Grant Shap the 593 00:20:55,679 --> 00:20:58,320 Conservative Party chairman is in. I 594 00:20:57,120 --> 00:21:00,640 know that in the past you've interviewed 595 00:20:58,320 --> 00:21:01,919 him and gather that he's taken common 596 00:21:00,640 --> 00:21:04,000 sense lines. I think he's being 597 00:21:01,919 --> 00:21:05,200 restricted in that somewhat because uh 598 00:21:04,000 --> 00:21:05,600 at the moment obviously he's the 599 00:21:05,200 --> 00:21:08,960 Conservative. 600 00:21:05,600 --> 00:21:11,360 So that's Goldmith and Shaps in the Tory 601 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:14,320 party. Any Labour figures catching your 602 00:21:11,360 --> 00:21:15,760 eye? Chukamana star was rising earlier 603 00:21:14,320 --> 00:21:17,679 in the year and it seemed to be kind of 604 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:19,919 falling down a bit. Rachel Reeves has 605 00:21:17,679 --> 00:21:22,559 had some very interesting coverage. The 606 00:21:19,919 --> 00:21:24,480 uh the Labour spokesperson of course uh 607 00:21:22,559 --> 00:21:26,960 being attacked by the Newsight editor 608 00:21:24,480 --> 00:21:29,520 unwittingly in a Twitter art, a little 609 00:21:26,960 --> 00:21:31,520 Twitter mistake by saying that she was 610 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,840 boring snoring Rachel Reef. So I'd say 611 00:21:31,520 --> 00:21:35,679 that despite the Newsight attack on her, 612 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:37,200 she's probably rising there. The Liberal 613 00:21:35,679 --> 00:21:39,600 Democrats, they are all playing the 614 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:41,280 violins, I'm afraid, on the Titanic. And 615 00:21:39,600 --> 00:21:43,039 unfortunately, of course, the Titanic is 616 00:21:41,280 --> 00:21:44,880 dead and gone. The trouble for the 617 00:21:43,039 --> 00:21:47,440 Liberal Democrats, of course, is their 618 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:49,840 new Titanic seems to be being steered by 619 00:21:47,440 --> 00:21:51,840 the captain of the Conquer Concordia, 620 00:21:49,840 --> 00:21:54,000 Captain Chatino, at the moment, 621 00:21:51,840 --> 00:21:56,799 headed for the rocks. Well, that's a 622 00:21:54,000 --> 00:22:01,559 bold prediction. Sean Dilly, as always, 623 00:21:56,799 --> 00:22:01,559 thanks for coming on board the Sputnik. 624 00:22:02,240 --> 00:22:07,200 Well, now it's your turn in our social 625 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:10,880 media roundup coming in through our 626 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:12,159 portal, RT_SP Sputnik. Gatri, what's 627 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:15,440 rattling the pipes? 628 00:22:12,159 --> 00:22:17,679 Well, this week I tweeted the stats 629 00:22:15,440 --> 00:22:20,400 about Fathers for Justice that you 630 00:22:17,679 --> 00:22:22,320 mentioned in your intro earlier. Uh, the 631 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:24,640 shocking stats, including the one that 632 00:22:22,320 --> 00:22:27,200 one in three children lose contact with 633 00:22:24,640 --> 00:22:28,880 their fathers permanently, which is just 634 00:22:27,200 --> 00:22:31,039 shocking. Stunning. 635 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:34,000 Nuts. Swan replies to that. One in 636 00:22:31,039 --> 00:22:36,080 three. I am in total shock. What has 637 00:22:34,000 --> 00:22:37,039 gone wrong? That can't be a worldwide 638 00:22:36,080 --> 00:22:39,520 syndrome. 639 00:22:37,039 --> 00:22:42,240 Well, of course, the Muslim world, it's 640 00:22:39,520 --> 00:22:45,039 virtually unknown for children to be 641 00:22:42,240 --> 00:22:47,039 separated from their fathers. Many parts 642 00:22:45,039 --> 00:22:48,480 of the world, this phenomenon simply 643 00:22:47,039 --> 00:22:51,039 doesn't exist. Wouldn't even be 644 00:22:48,480 --> 00:22:53,039 recognized. I would think it's uh as 645 00:22:51,039 --> 00:22:55,760 Matt put it, a first world syndrome. 646 00:22:53,039 --> 00:22:57,520 It's a syndrome in the United States, in 647 00:22:55,760 --> 00:22:59,280 Britain, and in mainland Europe, 648 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:01,520 of which Britain is at 649 00:22:59,280 --> 00:23:03,760 Britain's undoubtedly one of the worst. 650 00:23:01,520 --> 00:23:05,600 No doubt that the great cities of 651 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,240 England have half of their children 652 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:07,360 without fathers. 653 00:23:06,240 --> 00:23:09,600 What amazing interview we have. 654 00:23:07,360 --> 00:23:11,919 No wonder we have antisocial behavior 655 00:23:09,600 --> 00:23:14,960 and crime uh rampant 656 00:23:11,919 --> 00:23:16,799 because 70% of the young offenders come 657 00:23:14,960 --> 00:23:19,039 from fatherless. 658 00:23:16,799 --> 00:23:22,159 It's amazing. And now this is a comment 659 00:23:19,039 --> 00:23:24,400 that um was the overall sentiment 660 00:23:22,159 --> 00:23:25,840 throughout Twitter and I hope this 661 00:23:24,400 --> 00:23:28,240 sentiment will change after they've seen 662 00:23:25,840 --> 00:23:30,240 the interview because Scott Marray says 663 00:23:28,240 --> 00:23:32,159 how any father can choose to walk away 664 00:23:30,240 --> 00:23:32,880 from their own children is beyond me and 665 00:23:32,159 --> 00:23:34,400 disgusting. 666 00:23:32,880 --> 00:23:36,559 Well, of course there are many fathers 667 00:23:34,400 --> 00:23:38,960 who do walk away from their children but 668 00:23:36,559 --> 00:23:41,360 there are far more fathers who are being 669 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:43,360 pushed away uh from their children by 670 00:23:41,360 --> 00:23:45,039 the system that we have. 671 00:23:43,360 --> 00:23:47,679 Then I asked about the political year 672 00:23:45,039 --> 00:23:49,200 2013. what the heroes and villain 673 00:23:47,679 --> 00:23:50,080 what the people's heroes and villains 674 00:23:49,200 --> 00:23:52,960 are. 675 00:23:50,080 --> 00:23:54,720 Mark Hebite responds, "Sorry, but at the 676 00:23:52,960 --> 00:23:57,200 moment I feel all politicians are 677 00:23:54,720 --> 00:23:59,200 villains who deliberately lie to us, 678 00:23:57,200 --> 00:24:01,200 lost trust and belief." 679 00:23:59,200 --> 00:24:03,760 Thanks, mate. 680 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:06,960 James H. Hotman mentions as a political 681 00:24:03,760 --> 00:24:09,039 hero Putin and the villain John McCain 682 00:24:06,960 --> 00:24:11,279 because he's such a prized pillock. for 683 00:24:09,039 --> 00:24:14,000 Putin. He gives us two reasons, Syria 684 00:24:11,279 --> 00:24:16,159 and Snowden, and that he has that Putin 685 00:24:14,000 --> 00:24:17,039 has had a magnificent political spell 686 00:24:16,159 --> 00:24:20,000 this year. 687 00:24:17,039 --> 00:24:22,559 Well, I I think there has never been a 688 00:24:20,000 --> 00:24:24,799 more obvious politician of the year than 689 00:24:22,559 --> 00:24:28,400 President Putin in this year. 690 00:24:24,799 --> 00:24:32,880 He has played a blinder over Snowden, 691 00:24:28,400 --> 00:24:34,799 over Syria, uh, and now over this 692 00:24:32,880 --> 00:24:37,279 provocation that John McCain has 693 00:24:34,799 --> 00:24:40,000 mounted. he and the European social 694 00:24:37,279 --> 00:24:42,880 democrats and Christian democrats in on 695 00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:46,080 the streets of Kiev. So definitely 696 00:24:42,880 --> 00:24:47,440 President Putin has to be the political 697 00:24:46,080 --> 00:24:49,840 man of the year. 698 00:24:47,440 --> 00:24:52,240 Shoko says that the highlight is the 699 00:24:49,840 --> 00:24:56,159 wicked witch is no more to which evil 700 00:24:52,240 --> 00:24:58,559 McBad adds that Mandela one a hero the 701 00:24:56,159 --> 00:24:59,840 other a villain one going to heaven the 702 00:24:58,559 --> 00:25:02,559 other to hell. 703 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:03,600 No prizes for guessing which is going in 704 00:25:02,559 --> 00:25:05,200 either direction 705 00:25:03,600 --> 00:25:07,279 indeed. And then the last tweet comes 706 00:25:05,200 --> 00:25:09,120 from Patrick or Sullivan who says, "Come 707 00:25:07,279 --> 00:25:12,120 on, George. Please tell us what's in the 708 00:25:09,120 --> 00:25:12,120 suitcase." 709 00:25:12,159 --> 00:25:17,039 Patrick, I couldn't possibly tell you 710 00:25:14,720 --> 00:25:19,520 because if I told you, I'd then have to 711 00:25:17,039 --> 00:25:21,440 kill you. 712 00:25:19,520 --> 00:25:22,400 Well, okay. Well, that's tweets for this 713 00:25:21,440 --> 00:25:25,120 year. 714 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:27,919 Ah, this year. That means there's no 715 00:25:25,120 --> 00:25:31,919 time left to do anything other than wish 716 00:25:27,919 --> 00:25:35,440 you and yours a very happy new year. But 717 00:25:31,919 --> 00:25:37,679 do please keep tweeting us on r_putnik. 718 00:25:35,440 --> 00:25:40,400 That's it for me guyatri wishing you a 719 00:25:37,679 --> 00:25:44,919 very blessed new year. And from me 720 00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:44,919 George Galloway it's been marvelous. 721 00:25:54,430 --> 00:25:57,499 [Music]