1 00:00:01,920 --> 00:00:06,010 [Music] 2 00:00:11,840 --> 00:00:17,639 Okay, 3 00:00:14,160 --> 00:00:17,639 I need some 4 00:00:29,360 --> 00:00:32,410 [Music] 5 00:00:35,440 --> 00:00:39,120 Welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 6 00:00:37,520 --> 00:00:40,480 with me George Galloway 7 00:00:39,120 --> 00:00:42,640 and me Guyatri. 8 00:00:40,480 --> 00:00:45,120 There are some guests who really don't 9 00:00:42,640 --> 00:00:46,640 need an introduction and one of those is 10 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,879 Tuker Sulleman 11 00:00:46,640 --> 00:00:51,360 star of the BBC jewel in the crown 12 00:00:48,879 --> 00:00:53,920 dragon's den and himself a hugely 13 00:00:51,360 --> 00:00:56,399 successful entrepreneur. Tuker sits in 14 00:00:53,920 --> 00:00:58,800 judgment of the business ideas of others 15 00:00:56,399 --> 00:01:01,039 with flashes of kindness and amusement 16 00:00:58,800 --> 00:01:03,920 and blinding business wisdom. 17 00:01:01,039 --> 00:01:07,520 St. George famously slew the dragon, but 18 00:01:03,920 --> 00:01:10,080 I neither would nor could seek to slay 19 00:01:07,520 --> 00:01:12,960 Sullean the magnificent Tuker. I'm just 20 00:01:10,080 --> 00:01:15,680 glad that he's here and that I'm here to 21 00:01:12,960 --> 00:01:18,720 talk to him. Tuker, thanks very much for 22 00:01:15,680 --> 00:01:21,280 joining us. Let me pitch an idea to you. 23 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:24,000 Whoa. Britain is a member of a 500 24 00:01:21,280 --> 00:01:27,119 million single market called the 25 00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:29,680 European Union. I have an idea that we 26 00:01:27,119 --> 00:01:30,880 might leave it. What would you say to 27 00:01:29,680 --> 00:01:33,439 that as an idea? 28 00:01:30,880 --> 00:01:36,400 The idea in principle 29 00:01:33,439 --> 00:01:38,079 is great for the British people, but I 30 00:01:36,400 --> 00:01:41,280 think you know there's expression 31 00:01:38,079 --> 00:01:44,640 there's no pain without gain. So, we're 32 00:01:41,280 --> 00:01:48,560 now going to enter that pain period 33 00:01:44,640 --> 00:01:51,920 uh in in the UK and uh I think a lot of 34 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:54,079 the um British people were misled in 35 00:01:51,920 --> 00:01:55,840 what it really meant. 36 00:01:54,079 --> 00:01:58,240 Both ways really, don't you think? 37 00:01:55,840 --> 00:02:00,799 Yes. Both ways. You know, I think there 38 00:01:58,240 --> 00:02:02,479 are winners and there are losers 39 00:02:00,799 --> 00:02:05,840 w within the British people. 40 00:02:02,479 --> 00:02:08,720 Tell us about the winners. What parts of 41 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:11,760 the British economy can gain from going 42 00:02:08,720 --> 00:02:15,200 it alone? Well, look, the biggest impact 43 00:02:11,760 --> 00:02:17,920 that we've seen with the forthcoming 44 00:02:15,200 --> 00:02:20,000 Brexit is the pound. The pound is 45 00:02:17,920 --> 00:02:22,640 devalued against the dollar 46 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:26,560 approximately 20 odd percent. 47 00:02:22,640 --> 00:02:28,160 Uh so those companies that are 48 00:02:26,560 --> 00:02:32,319 manufacturing, 49 00:02:28,160 --> 00:02:34,959 producing in this country, their exports 50 00:02:32,319 --> 00:02:36,959 will become much cheaper and hopefully 51 00:02:34,959 --> 00:02:38,400 their exports will grow. In theory, 52 00:02:36,959 --> 00:02:40,720 that's what should happen and there 53 00:02:38,400 --> 00:02:43,519 should be import substitution instead of 54 00:02:40,720 --> 00:02:45,440 buying things from uh abroad. People 55 00:02:43,519 --> 00:02:46,720 should start making them here now and 56 00:02:45,440 --> 00:02:50,160 we'll buy them here. 57 00:02:46,720 --> 00:02:51,760 Well, funny thing is um we used to buy 58 00:02:50,160 --> 00:02:54,959 for one of my businesses called Horse 59 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:57,840 and Curtis. We used to buy packaging 60 00:02:54,959 --> 00:03:01,360 from the Far East and an English company 61 00:02:57,840 --> 00:03:03,040 came to me last week and he pitched 62 00:03:01,360 --> 00:03:03,440 for the business and do you know 63 00:03:03,040 --> 00:03:04,239 something? 64 00:03:03,440 --> 00:03:05,920 He got it. 65 00:03:04,239 --> 00:03:10,000 He got it. It was cheaper. Yeah, 66 00:03:05,920 --> 00:03:12,480 cuz by the time you pay the increase in 67 00:03:10,000 --> 00:03:15,440 the dollar 68 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:18,000 and the duty and the transportation, 69 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:19,120 it was very competitive. So, I think we 70 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:21,200 His plant was here. 71 00:03:19,120 --> 00:03:22,879 His plant was in Cambridge, a big 72 00:03:21,200 --> 00:03:24,879 packaging company, and they're now 73 00:03:22,879 --> 00:03:28,640 supplying everybody in the UK. 74 00:03:24,879 --> 00:03:33,760 Let me as it were then pitch another uh 75 00:03:28,640 --> 00:03:37,840 idea at you. Should we go for the full 76 00:03:33,760 --> 00:03:41,040 monty on the principle that we can take 77 00:03:37,840 --> 00:03:44,560 advantage of a boom in homegrown 78 00:03:41,040 --> 00:03:47,200 industries, a boom in exports and a fall 79 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:49,040 in the labor supply because if we go for 80 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:52,560 the full monte, there'll be no free 81 00:03:49,040 --> 00:03:55,519 movement of labor and more and more 82 00:03:52,560 --> 00:04:00,000 British people will be able to enter the 83 00:03:55,519 --> 00:04:02,480 labor market. We've seen a boom 84 00:04:00,000 --> 00:04:05,360 in the UK the last 10 years and that's 85 00:04:02,480 --> 00:04:07,760 because we've had a big influx of good 86 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:09,200 labor. I mean we talk about good labor 87 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:10,080 the Polish people 88 00:04:09,200 --> 00:04:12,400 fantastic labor 89 00:04:10,080 --> 00:04:15,360 great workers you know the Indian people 90 00:04:12,400 --> 00:04:18,079 the the people that bring at value 91 00:04:15,360 --> 00:04:20,079 they've also kept down inflation because 92 00:04:18,079 --> 00:04:23,040 they've done jobs which nobody else will 93 00:04:20,079 --> 00:04:25,199 do. So, so, so in a way I I would say 94 00:04:23,040 --> 00:04:28,080 this. I would say we shouldn't close our 95 00:04:25,199 --> 00:04:30,240 doors to professional hardworking 96 00:04:28,080 --> 00:04:32,960 people, but we should differentiate 97 00:04:30,240 --> 00:04:36,000 between what what I would call people 98 00:04:32,960 --> 00:04:40,160 that come here to abuse our national 99 00:04:36,000 --> 00:04:41,440 health service as social services. But 100 00:04:40,160 --> 00:04:43,840 that's the Tory government you're 101 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:46,479 talking about. 102 00:04:43,840 --> 00:04:48,320 Look, whatever government, whatever 103 00:04:46,479 --> 00:04:52,160 government, you know, it is what's right 104 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:54,320 for this country. And to me um that that 105 00:04:52,160 --> 00:04:56,400 there's good things bad things. I mean 106 00:04:54,320 --> 00:04:59,520 the one thing we haven't spoken about is 107 00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,759 the effect on goods that are going to 108 00:04:59,520 --> 00:05:04,240 arrive in this country from outside. So 109 00:05:01,759 --> 00:05:06,479 the next time you go and buy a phone, 110 00:05:04,240 --> 00:05:09,840 whether it's a iPhone or whatever, 111 00:05:06,479 --> 00:05:10,800 you'll pay £60, 70 more. Next time you 112 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:11,840 buy a piece of clothing 113 00:05:10,800 --> 00:05:14,000 because of the currency fluctuation 114 00:05:11,840 --> 00:05:16,160 because the currency fluctuation all the 115 00:05:14,000 --> 00:05:19,039 clothing you see and we've seen clothing 116 00:05:16,160 --> 00:05:21,120 in the last 30 years 117 00:05:19,039 --> 00:05:23,600 go down in price. 118 00:05:21,120 --> 00:05:25,360 We're about to see the first inflation 119 00:05:23,600 --> 00:05:26,160 in clothing in 30 years. 120 00:05:25,360 --> 00:05:29,120 Yeah. 121 00:05:26,160 --> 00:05:31,199 Clothing will go up anywhere between 122 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:33,280 8 and 12%. 123 00:05:31,199 --> 00:05:35,280 Then again, we can get into the clothing 124 00:05:33,280 --> 00:05:37,360 business then ourselves. Some of these 125 00:05:35,280 --> 00:05:39,520 some of these sweat shops in the east 126 00:05:37,360 --> 00:05:42,479 end might have to reopen. Let me pitch 127 00:05:39,520 --> 00:05:45,759 another idea at you. I'm a knight of the 128 00:05:42,479 --> 00:05:48,720 realm. I own one of the most historic 129 00:05:45,759 --> 00:05:51,919 pieces of British retail uh uh 130 00:05:48,720 --> 00:05:54,479 architecture. It has three initials. 131 00:05:51,919 --> 00:05:56,400 Right. I know exactly where you've been. 132 00:05:54,479 --> 00:05:58,560 And I'm thinking of selling it to a guy 133 00:05:56,400 --> 00:06:00,160 I met on the corner and he's going to 134 00:05:58,560 --> 00:06:02,479 look after everything including the 135 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:04,479 pensions uh uh liabilities of the 136 00:06:02,479 --> 00:06:06,960 company. Should I sell it to him for a 137 00:06:04,479 --> 00:06:10,080 pound or not? 138 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:14,000 Look, um I think 139 00:06:10,080 --> 00:06:18,000 all I can tell you is 140 00:06:14,000 --> 00:06:21,039 the person in question made a mistake. 141 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:24,479 And the fact is that if he couldn't turn 142 00:06:21,039 --> 00:06:25,840 that business around, nobody could. So 143 00:06:24,479 --> 00:06:27,520 when he sold that business, he was 144 00:06:25,840 --> 00:06:29,039 already bankrupt. 145 00:06:27,520 --> 00:06:29,919 Yeah, that has to be the case. 146 00:06:29,039 --> 00:06:31,600 That has to be the case. 147 00:06:29,919 --> 00:06:33,199 He should have closed it himself and 148 00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:36,800 honored the uh commitments. 149 00:06:33,199 --> 00:06:39,199 Well, I I I I cannot speak for himself, 150 00:06:36,800 --> 00:06:41,440 but I think the fact really is is that 151 00:06:39,199 --> 00:06:45,440 he's a very good retailer. 152 00:06:41,440 --> 00:06:47,280 Um he's a he's a shrewd businessman and 153 00:06:45,440 --> 00:06:50,479 he should have put his hand up and say I 154 00:06:47,280 --> 00:06:52,960 made a mistake guys. This hasn't worked 155 00:06:50,479 --> 00:06:55,199 you know and I I think it was what I 156 00:06:52,960 --> 00:06:55,840 call the boomerang sale. 157 00:06:55,199 --> 00:06:57,680 Yeah. 158 00:06:55,840 --> 00:07:00,960 He sold it. It came back to haunt him. 159 00:06:57,680 --> 00:07:04,160 Yeah. Yeah. And and may may yet further. 160 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:06,800 How did you get into television? You're 161 00:07:04,160 --> 00:07:09,199 a very successful uh entrepreneur and 162 00:07:06,800 --> 00:07:11,680 you've you've you've performed a miracle 163 00:07:09,199 --> 00:07:14,639 really of being both a successful 164 00:07:11,680 --> 00:07:16,720 entrepreneur and a very very engaging 165 00:07:14,639 --> 00:07:19,039 and popular television figure. How does 166 00:07:16,720 --> 00:07:21,440 that work? I'm asking because I'm maybe 167 00:07:19,039 --> 00:07:22,479 coming out of my own business. 168 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:24,240 Well, let's see. 169 00:07:22,479 --> 00:07:25,919 Well, one thing's for sure, I'm not a 170 00:07:24,240 --> 00:07:27,840 celebrity, I'm an entrepreneur. So, 171 00:07:25,919 --> 00:07:30,160 that's the first thing. But it was 172 00:07:27,840 --> 00:07:32,560 sheerely the fact that um a good friend 173 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:35,440 of mine called James Henderson from Bel 174 00:07:32,560 --> 00:07:38,560 Pottinger and he was approached. Does he 175 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:40,800 know anybody who who could be a dragon? 176 00:07:38,560 --> 00:07:44,880 So I went up 177 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:46,639 for an interview and they said we'll 178 00:07:44,880 --> 00:07:48,639 come back to you. And then they came 179 00:07:46,639 --> 00:07:51,039 back to me said can you go to Manchester 180 00:07:48,639 --> 00:07:53,599 to meet the the producer? I thought 181 00:07:51,039 --> 00:07:55,360 Manchester on the train anyway. So when 182 00:07:53,599 --> 00:07:57,680 I got there, sat down for lunch and 183 00:07:55,360 --> 00:08:00,400 within five minutes, he said, "I I want 184 00:07:57,680 --> 00:08:01,599 you." And I said, "I want you my show." 185 00:08:00,400 --> 00:08:02,319 It took 5 minutes. 186 00:08:01,599 --> 00:08:02,879 Wow. 187 00:08:02,319 --> 00:08:05,759 Amazing. 188 00:08:02,879 --> 00:08:07,520 She is your biggest fan and the show's 189 00:08:05,759 --> 00:08:09,360 biggest fan. When I came home and told 190 00:08:07,520 --> 00:08:11,680 her that we'd met in another television 191 00:08:09,360 --> 00:08:12,960 studio, she was her knees were 192 00:08:11,680 --> 00:08:16,000 because I Yeah, that was the one time 193 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:17,039 that I didn't go with him. The one time. 194 00:08:16,000 --> 00:08:19,520 But here you are now. 195 00:08:17,039 --> 00:08:23,199 Yeah. The show is phenomenally 196 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:25,680 successful even though no one can really 197 00:08:23,199 --> 00:08:27,360 identify with the I mean there must be 198 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:30,639 billions of pounds worth of value 199 00:08:27,360 --> 00:08:33,680 sitting on that panel. Uh you you and 200 00:08:30,639 --> 00:08:37,039 your fellow dragons have at least made 201 00:08:33,680 --> 00:08:39,839 if not still got billions and not many 202 00:08:37,039 --> 00:08:42,880 of us come up with great ideas uh that 203 00:08:39,839 --> 00:08:45,920 we could dream of pitching to you. Yet 204 00:08:42,880 --> 00:08:47,440 millions of people uh watch it. a kind 205 00:08:45,920 --> 00:08:51,040 of escapism or what? 206 00:08:47,440 --> 00:08:54,720 Look, I think it is an escapism. It's 207 00:08:51,040 --> 00:08:58,160 it's it's a realistic show. All of us 208 00:08:54,720 --> 00:09:00,320 deep inside have this entrepreneurial 209 00:08:58,160 --> 00:09:01,680 urge and and I always say this, you 210 00:09:00,320 --> 00:09:04,000 know, you know, if you don't knock on 211 00:09:01,680 --> 00:09:06,000 the door, they won't open it for you. 212 00:09:04,000 --> 00:09:08,800 Yeah. But they have to do it on a public 213 00:09:06,000 --> 00:09:11,120 door. But but look, there are some 214 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:13,600 genuine people who come on the show 215 00:09:11,120 --> 00:09:16,160 who've got genuine ideas who just want 216 00:09:13,600 --> 00:09:17,760 that helped taken to another level. 217 00:09:16,160 --> 00:09:19,760 There are the others who come on the 218 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:20,240 show just for the PR. 219 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:23,279 Yeah. 220 00:09:20,240 --> 00:09:24,800 So there are situations where you think 221 00:09:23,279 --> 00:09:26,080 you've made an investment and then 222 00:09:24,800 --> 00:09:26,800 afterwards they change their minds. 223 00:09:26,080 --> 00:09:29,519 Oh, really? 224 00:09:26,800 --> 00:09:31,440 Because they've had the PR. 225 00:09:29,519 --> 00:09:34,800 See, I've I was going to ask you that 226 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:38,320 last question, unfortunately. Uh what 227 00:09:34,800 --> 00:09:41,120 happens afterwards? How many of the 228 00:09:38,320 --> 00:09:43,920 successful bids that you've made to back 229 00:09:41,120 --> 00:09:46,640 or offers rather to to back somebody, 230 00:09:43,920 --> 00:09:47,760 how many of them have gone on to be 231 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:49,360 profitable businesses? 232 00:09:47,760 --> 00:09:50,800 Well, it's a bit early yet. 233 00:09:49,360 --> 00:09:53,279 You know, I've got So, for instance, 234 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:56,720 I've I invested last year in timber 235 00:09:53,279 --> 00:09:58,640 kits. Timber kits have now increased 236 00:09:56,720 --> 00:09:59,839 their turnover, started to make a 237 00:09:58,640 --> 00:10:02,480 profit, but they're not quite there yet. 238 00:09:59,839 --> 00:10:04,720 The journey is not there. I invested in 239 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:06,240 something called liquor. They doubled 240 00:10:04,720 --> 00:10:08,320 their turnover. 241 00:10:06,240 --> 00:10:09,760 Um, so it takes about two or three 242 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:12,959 years. 243 00:10:09,760 --> 00:10:14,959 We're not wizard. You wave magic wand 244 00:10:12,959 --> 00:10:18,320 out it comes. Um, but I'll give you 245 00:10:14,959 --> 00:10:19,760 another example outside the den. 246 00:10:18,320 --> 00:10:22,959 A girl came to me with so-called 247 00:10:19,760 --> 00:10:25,920 matchick monkey. It's a TV brush for 248 00:10:22,959 --> 00:10:27,680 babies. That alone would be a 249 00:10:25,920 --> 00:10:28,160 multi-million pound business. That's a 250 00:10:27,680 --> 00:10:30,480 great idea 251 00:10:28,160 --> 00:10:33,920 because because it's a TV brush that's 252 00:10:30,480 --> 00:10:35,440 got scope to do other products, 253 00:10:33,920 --> 00:10:37,120 books, 254 00:10:35,440 --> 00:10:38,160 animated cartoons, 255 00:10:37,120 --> 00:10:40,560 complete merchandise 256 00:10:38,160 --> 00:10:42,160 merchandise. We've even got Mike 257 00:10:40,560 --> 00:10:44,240 Chapman, the famous Mike Chapman 258 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:46,399 songwriter, right? That's a jingle. 259 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:47,360 And that's outside the den. So it's not 260 00:10:46,399 --> 00:10:49,200 only in the den. 261 00:10:47,360 --> 00:10:51,760 Yeah. I mean, I knew when I because I 262 00:10:49,200 --> 00:10:54,480 was late, I knew that my wife would tell 263 00:10:51,760 --> 00:10:57,279 you that she's got a vintage clothes. 264 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,880 would ask advice from you that you would 265 00:10:57,279 --> 00:11:00,800 that would otherwise be worth a lot of 266 00:10:58,880 --> 00:11:02,800 money uh at the time. 267 00:11:00,800 --> 00:11:03,040 Uh is does that happen to you all the 268 00:11:02,800 --> 00:11:05,360 time? 269 00:11:03,040 --> 00:11:06,959 All the time. Especially taxi drivers 270 00:11:05,360 --> 00:11:08,880 put them in the back of the taxi. 271 00:11:06,959 --> 00:11:10,240 They've always got say they've got 272 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:11,440 they're a driver and they've got a small 273 00:11:10,240 --> 00:11:14,000 business on the side. 274 00:11:11,440 --> 00:11:15,920 Um going back to your wonderful wife, 275 00:11:14,000 --> 00:11:17,680 beautiful wife, may I say is that she 276 00:11:15,920 --> 00:11:20,560 did ask me and I think I gave her a few. 277 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:23,600 He did definitely I gave him some tuka 278 00:11:20,560 --> 00:11:28,079 time. And you see that's not cheap. Took 279 00:11:23,600 --> 00:11:31,519 her time. Have you as it were profited 280 00:11:28,079 --> 00:11:33,040 profited or lost from becoming also 281 00:11:31,519 --> 00:11:36,720 involved in television? 282 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:39,120 Look, I I don't do it for the profit. I 283 00:11:36,720 --> 00:11:39,680 think in most cases I love to help 284 00:11:39,120 --> 00:11:40,800 people. 285 00:11:39,680 --> 00:11:43,279 Yeah. And you know, 286 00:11:40,800 --> 00:11:45,120 I I love to help. Like this morning, 287 00:11:43,279 --> 00:11:47,040 somebody came to me got a little 288 00:11:45,120 --> 00:11:49,920 problem. I helped them that's over the 289 00:11:47,040 --> 00:11:51,920 moon. And the problem I've got is time. 290 00:11:49,920 --> 00:11:54,480 How much time? because everybody wants 291 00:11:51,920 --> 00:11:56,640 your time, you know, and it's very 292 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,880 difficult, you know, I I get direct 293 00:11:56,640 --> 00:12:02,480 messages and some of my I try to answer 294 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:04,720 back and it's difficult. I should really 295 00:12:02,480 --> 00:12:06,560 um create a day when everybody can queue 296 00:12:04,720 --> 00:12:09,279 up and come to me for 10 minutes 297 00:12:06,560 --> 00:12:12,240 like Sullean the Magnificent. 298 00:12:09,279 --> 00:12:14,000 You could have a majus and the people 299 00:12:12,240 --> 00:12:16,000 could queue up and you could see as many 300 00:12:14,000 --> 00:12:18,880 as you were able to see that day and if 301 00:12:16,000 --> 00:12:20,560 not next week. Tuker, you are a real 302 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:20,800 star and it's a pleasure and a 303 00:12:20,560 --> 00:12:23,600 privilege. 304 00:12:20,800 --> 00:12:24,959 Thank you. It's been a pleasure for me. 305 00:12:23,600 --> 00:12:27,920 Thanks for joining us. 306 00:12:24,959 --> 00:12:30,399 Coming up next, have the walls of racism 307 00:12:27,920 --> 00:12:32,959 come tumbling down? Before the trumpets 308 00:12:30,399 --> 00:12:36,519 of rock and roll, we meet a man with the 309 00:12:32,959 --> 00:12:36,519 answers after. 310 00:12:38,720 --> 00:12:44,800 Welcome back to Sputnik. Rock against 311 00:12:41,440 --> 00:12:47,680 racism was born in the 1970s out of the 312 00:12:44,800 --> 00:12:49,519 struggle against the National Front. If 313 00:12:47,680 --> 00:12:51,440 you don't know who they are, you will by 314 00:12:49,519 --> 00:12:54,399 the end of this interview and other 315 00:12:51,440 --> 00:12:57,200 far-right extremists as well as to stand 316 00:12:54,399 --> 00:13:00,800 up to what its founders perceived was a 317 00:12:57,200 --> 00:13:04,160 wider racist malaise in the rock scene. 318 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:06,399 Uniting pop, rock, punk, and reggae 319 00:13:04,160 --> 00:13:09,440 artists. The campaign has gone down in 320 00:13:06,399 --> 00:13:10,639 history of British anti-fascism and 321 00:13:09,440 --> 00:13:12,639 protest music. 322 00:13:10,639 --> 00:13:15,360 Who better to talk us through its legacy 323 00:13:12,639 --> 00:13:18,320 than Daniel Rachel, author of Walls Come 324 00:13:15,360 --> 00:13:21,760 Tumbling Down, the music and politics, 325 00:13:18,320 --> 00:13:24,320 of rock against racism, two-tone and red 326 00:13:21,760 --> 00:13:27,040 wedge. Daniel, thanks for joining us. 327 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:29,920 This book is the soundtrack of my life. 328 00:13:27,040 --> 00:13:32,800 I became a political activist as it 329 00:13:29,920 --> 00:13:36,320 happens in the early 1970s just before 330 00:13:32,800 --> 00:13:39,040 the first rise of the national front and 331 00:13:36,320 --> 00:13:42,240 moved to London in ' 83 got involved in 332 00:13:39,040 --> 00:13:44,000 many of these movements. So I and I 333 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:46,639 think a lot of people are going to want 334 00:13:44,000 --> 00:13:48,959 to get this book. Tell us why you wrote 335 00:13:46,639 --> 00:13:50,800 it and why you were the best person to 336 00:13:48,959 --> 00:13:53,519 write it. 337 00:13:50,800 --> 00:13:57,040 Well, I was living in Birmingham in the 338 00:13:53,519 --> 00:13:59,360 mid 80s and I went to see Billy Bragg uh 339 00:13:57,040 --> 00:14:00,560 for the first time on the Jobs for 340 00:13:59,360 --> 00:14:03,680 Industry tour 341 00:14:00,560 --> 00:14:05,839 and I went expecting to pogo down the 342 00:14:03,680 --> 00:14:07,920 front to Billy and his electric guitar 343 00:14:05,839 --> 00:14:10,320 and the the cleansing rock of the 344 00:14:07,920 --> 00:14:12,639 cleansing fire of punk rock as he calls 345 00:14:10,320 --> 00:14:15,440 it. But when I stepped into the 346 00:14:12,639 --> 00:14:18,480 auditorium at the Birmingham Powerhouse, 347 00:14:15,440 --> 00:14:20,959 Cla Short was there. I wasn't certain 348 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:24,480 who Cla Short was, but I knew she was an 349 00:14:20,959 --> 00:14:28,079 MP. And so there was a connection made 350 00:14:24,480 --> 00:14:30,959 between politics and going in to see a 351 00:14:28,079 --> 00:14:33,920 musician. And out of that came the idea 352 00:14:30,959 --> 00:14:37,440 of Red Wedge a year later. And as a 353 00:14:33,920 --> 00:14:38,959 person in my mid- teens, it was music 354 00:14:37,440 --> 00:14:41,839 and politics were being brought together 355 00:14:38,959 --> 00:14:45,279 by an artist I like. And it set me on on 356 00:14:41,839 --> 00:14:46,959 a um a road I guess of exploration of 357 00:14:45,279 --> 00:14:50,560 culture, politics. 358 00:14:46,959 --> 00:14:54,160 This fusion of uh music, art, culture, 359 00:14:50,560 --> 00:14:59,120 politics of course uh had happened 360 00:14:54,160 --> 00:15:01,279 before. Uh we're uh in the anniversary 361 00:14:59,120 --> 00:15:03,760 coming up to the uh to the Bolevik 362 00:15:01,279 --> 00:15:06,959 revolution. There was a lot of uh such 363 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:08,720 fusion then, but in Britain it hadn't 364 00:15:06,959 --> 00:15:09,600 actually happened before. 365 00:15:08,720 --> 00:15:12,240 No. 366 00:15:09,600 --> 00:15:14,959 uh and your book uh chronicles how it 367 00:15:12,240 --> 00:15:18,000 happened and also why it happened. And 368 00:15:14,959 --> 00:15:22,079 for younger viewers, whilst Britain has 369 00:15:18,000 --> 00:15:25,440 no far right problem today in an 370 00:15:22,079 --> 00:15:28,240 organized sense, at least as compared to 371 00:15:25,440 --> 00:15:30,000 some other European countries. 372 00:15:28,240 --> 00:15:32,639 There are plenty of racists around, of 373 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:36,160 course, but but there's not a big and 374 00:15:32,639 --> 00:15:39,040 powerful fascist movement and 375 00:15:36,160 --> 00:15:43,279 organizations in Britain now. But in the 376 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:46,079 70s and 80s there was first the national 377 00:15:43,279 --> 00:15:50,560 front which as farright groups do 378 00:15:46,079 --> 00:15:53,040 imploded and morphed became the BNP. 379 00:15:50,560 --> 00:15:55,759 These were organizations with thousands 380 00:15:53,040 --> 00:15:58,480 of members who marched and intimidated 381 00:15:55,759 --> 00:16:01,040 and threatened people. And so the 382 00:15:58,480 --> 00:16:02,880 artistic community rising up to meet it 383 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,639 was a really significant political 384 00:16:02,880 --> 00:16:07,440 thing, wasn't it? Well, the significance 385 00:16:04,639 --> 00:16:10,399 was that the the the talk of far-right 386 00:16:07,440 --> 00:16:13,120 politics was very much within pop music 387 00:16:10,399 --> 00:16:14,880 and rock music. Rod Stewart had made 388 00:16:13,120 --> 00:16:17,600 comments about immigration in the early 389 00:16:14,880 --> 00:16:19,920 '7s. David Bowie was talking about the 390 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:23,120 idea of Adolf Hitler being the first 391 00:16:19,920 --> 00:16:26,399 rock and roll superstar. Uh Eric Clapton 392 00:16:23,120 --> 00:16:28,800 then in 1976 at a gig in Birmingham m 393 00:16:26,399 --> 00:16:31,199 made outrageous racist comments 394 00:16:28,800 --> 00:16:33,199 continually throughout the evening 395 00:16:31,199 --> 00:16:35,360 calling for non-white people to get out 396 00:16:33,199 --> 00:16:38,399 of the country. Now that gig was 397 00:16:35,360 --> 00:16:40,480 reviewed in the music papers and got an 398 00:16:38,399 --> 00:16:43,040 immediate response by an activist called 399 00:16:40,480 --> 00:16:44,800 Red Saunders and the he wrote a letter 400 00:16:43,040 --> 00:16:48,240 that was printed in all the music papers 401 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:50,560 and right at the end he said we need a 402 00:16:48,240 --> 00:16:53,120 rank and file movement against the 403 00:16:50,560 --> 00:16:54,880 racist poison in rock music. And there 404 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:57,440 was a P.O. box address at the end of 405 00:16:54,880 --> 00:17:00,560 this letter. And within weeks, hundreds 406 00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:03,120 and hundreds of handwritten letters came 407 00:17:00,560 --> 00:17:06,959 to what ostensibly became Rock Against 408 00:17:03,120 --> 00:17:09,919 Racism. And out of that, a grassroots 409 00:17:06,959 --> 00:17:13,600 movement that originated in London, 410 00:17:09,919 --> 00:17:15,600 spread nationally. Um, groups popped up 411 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:19,039 all over the country that led to 412 00:17:15,600 --> 00:17:21,839 carnivals, mass carnivals where tens and 413 00:17:19,039 --> 00:17:24,079 tens of thousands of people came. And 414 00:17:21,839 --> 00:17:27,439 the important thing was that it was 415 00:17:24,079 --> 00:17:30,240 white people saying that racism is our 416 00:17:27,439 --> 00:17:32,480 problem and we need to speak out against 417 00:17:30,240 --> 00:17:34,799 it and crush it because as you rightly 418 00:17:32,480 --> 00:17:37,039 say the National Front was scoring 419 00:17:34,799 --> 00:17:38,640 incredibly high in local elections 420 00:17:37,039 --> 00:17:40,960 around the country. They were 421 00:17:38,640 --> 00:17:42,880 threatening at the next general election 422 00:17:40,960 --> 00:17:44,480 which turned out to be as you know 1979 423 00:17:42,880 --> 00:17:49,280 to put a candidate in every 424 00:17:44,480 --> 00:17:52,080 constituency. the the need to crush 425 00:17:49,280 --> 00:17:54,559 fascism or neofascism was immense and 426 00:17:52,080 --> 00:17:58,640 and the answer came culturally which was 427 00:17:54,559 --> 00:18:00,640 very very exciting. Um so that the the 428 00:17:58,640 --> 00:18:02,880 and the core principle of rock against 429 00:18:00,640 --> 00:18:05,520 racism was very very simple. It was 430 00:18:02,880 --> 00:18:07,679 let's put on a white band let's put on a 431 00:18:05,520 --> 00:18:10,080 black band on the same bill and at the 432 00:18:07,679 --> 00:18:12,960 end they both have to come on stage and 433 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:15,919 jam together. So the vision of the 434 00:18:12,960 --> 00:18:19,600 audience is black and white united on 435 00:18:15,919 --> 00:18:23,840 stage which Jared Damas who would go on 436 00:18:19,600 --> 00:18:26,400 to form two-tone and form the specials 437 00:18:23,840 --> 00:18:29,120 in the image of rock against racism i.e. 438 00:18:26,400 --> 00:18:31,520 black and white members. He took that a 439 00:18:29,120 --> 00:18:33,280 step further and said, "Let's have a 440 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:35,760 band with black and white members." And 441 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:39,120 suddenly you have the two-tone movement 442 00:18:35,760 --> 00:18:41,840 ex exploding across the nation where 443 00:18:39,120 --> 00:18:44,080 singles went every single one of the 444 00:18:41,840 --> 00:18:46,000 first 10 two-tone records went into the 445 00:18:44,080 --> 00:18:48,240 top 10. They were selling hundreds of 446 00:18:46,000 --> 00:18:50,160 thousands of records. The high streets 447 00:18:48,240 --> 00:18:53,039 were full of people wearing black and 448 00:18:50,160 --> 00:18:54,960 white clothing. And suddenly racism was 449 00:18:53,039 --> 00:18:59,520 being flipped from this idea of the rock 450 00:18:54,960 --> 00:19:04,000 gods to to core workingclass audiences 451 00:18:59,520 --> 00:19:05,919 who were equally being uh lured by the 452 00:19:04,000 --> 00:19:08,799 National Front and and and they were 453 00:19:05,919 --> 00:19:11,440 being told you can go that way 454 00:19:08,799 --> 00:19:13,520 or you can go this way which is the way 455 00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:15,280 of the angels is how it's described by 456 00:19:13,520 --> 00:19:17,760 Robert Elms in the book. the way of the 457 00:19:15,280 --> 00:19:19,120 great records, the way of the musicians, 458 00:19:17,760 --> 00:19:22,080 the way that the majority of the 459 00:19:19,120 --> 00:19:24,799 audience are dancing and enjoying music 460 00:19:22,080 --> 00:19:26,640 and politically saying there has to be a 461 00:19:24,799 --> 00:19:27,760 social and there has to be a political 462 00:19:26,640 --> 00:19:29,840 change in our country. 463 00:19:27,760 --> 00:19:32,640 Well, if your writing is as good as your 464 00:19:29,840 --> 00:19:37,679 talking, I'm going to uh start reading 465 00:19:32,640 --> 00:19:41,200 this book uh this evening. Um, there was 466 00:19:37,679 --> 00:19:45,039 an organized left-wing political core to 467 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:49,520 the movement. Uh, far-left parties like 468 00:19:45,039 --> 00:19:52,720 the SWP, for example, were involved. I I 469 00:19:49,520 --> 00:19:55,919 I think it's to their credit that they, 470 00:19:52,720 --> 00:19:59,120 and I'm no fan of theirs, uh, that they 471 00:19:55,919 --> 00:20:01,760 knew and organized on the principle that 472 00:19:59,120 --> 00:20:04,240 they knew that this had to be much wider 473 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:05,919 and bigger than them. How wide and big 474 00:20:04,240 --> 00:20:08,080 did it get? 475 00:20:05,919 --> 00:20:11,039 It was absolutely enormous. And and the 476 00:20:08,080 --> 00:20:13,280 crucial intervention was in a year after 477 00:20:11,039 --> 00:20:15,360 the formation of Rock Against Racism was 478 00:20:13,280 --> 00:20:16,960 the formation of the Anti-Nazi League 479 00:20:15,360 --> 00:20:19,039 with people like Peter Hayne. 480 00:20:16,960 --> 00:20:21,120 I was in it 481 00:20:19,039 --> 00:20:23,600 and Neil Kinnick at the at the helm. And 482 00:20:21,120 --> 00:20:26,559 you all know from being in Scotland that 483 00:20:23,600 --> 00:20:29,039 that's the the mobilization that Rock 484 00:20:26,559 --> 00:20:32,320 Against Racism needed culturally could 485 00:20:29,039 --> 00:20:35,919 be brought to a mass audience because of 486 00:20:32,320 --> 00:20:37,919 their ability to to feed out across the 487 00:20:35,919 --> 00:20:39,919 whole of the United Kingdom. So you you 488 00:20:37,919 --> 00:20:42,880 had the music first, you had exciting 489 00:20:39,919 --> 00:20:45,679 concerts and before these events, you 490 00:20:42,880 --> 00:20:47,600 then had political engagements and it's 491 00:20:45,679 --> 00:20:50,960 a lesson that Red Wedge, which is the 492 00:20:47,600 --> 00:20:54,159 last third of the story, very much uh 493 00:20:50,960 --> 00:20:56,400 learned from where you would have a Red 494 00:20:54,159 --> 00:20:59,840 Wedge concert in the evening. But in the 495 00:20:56,400 --> 00:21:03,360 daytime they would fill church halls, 496 00:20:59,840 --> 00:21:06,400 youth clubs and with disenfranchised 497 00:21:03,360 --> 00:21:08,720 youth and they would bring them to meet 498 00:21:06,400 --> 00:21:11,520 the pop stars of the day, number one 499 00:21:08,720 --> 00:21:13,600 artist of the day, but also to bring in 500 00:21:11,520 --> 00:21:16,000 the local politician and to bring in a 501 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:18,480 national politician. And Red Wedge said 502 00:21:16,000 --> 00:21:22,240 to the politicians in the Labour Party, 503 00:21:18,480 --> 00:21:24,640 "Your job is simply to listen. You're 504 00:21:22,240 --> 00:21:27,039 you I want them they they were there to 505 00:21:24,640 --> 00:21:28,799 listen to the grievances of people that 506 00:21:27,039 --> 00:21:31,200 felt they didn't have a voice and 507 00:21:28,799 --> 00:21:33,280 therefore didn't want to register on the 508 00:21:31,200 --> 00:21:35,600 electoral role and therefore didn't even 509 00:21:33,280 --> 00:21:37,200 want to vote and decide their own 510 00:21:35,600 --> 00:21:38,480 future. 511 00:21:37,200 --> 00:21:43,600 Where did it all go wrong? 512 00:21:38,480 --> 00:21:45,520 Exactly. Uh this was a golden era and 513 00:21:43,600 --> 00:21:47,760 especially listening to you talk, 514 00:21:45,520 --> 00:21:50,400 looking back on it, thinking back on it, 515 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:51,679 a real golden era when 516 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:54,240 unimaginable almost 517 00:21:51,679 --> 00:21:56,559 were at their best. 518 00:21:54,240 --> 00:21:59,120 No, we don't have fascist organizations 519 00:21:56,559 --> 00:22:01,760 of any size. 520 00:21:59,120 --> 00:22:07,200 Not just the National Front, but the BNP 521 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:10,240 are also history. the EDL can't fill two 522 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:14,559 or three coaches to go and kick people 523 00:22:10,240 --> 00:22:17,360 in uh various northern towns. Uh but 524 00:22:14,559 --> 00:22:20,559 there is mass racism in the country. 525 00:22:17,360 --> 00:22:24,559 Again, not as bad as it is in some other 526 00:22:20,559 --> 00:22:27,679 countries, but still very bad. And most 527 00:22:24,559 --> 00:22:30,799 of these cultural icons have kind of 528 00:22:27,679 --> 00:22:33,600 faded from the scene. Some even changed 529 00:22:30,799 --> 00:22:36,799 sides to some extent. 530 00:22:33,600 --> 00:22:40,799 um when's where's the next wave coming 531 00:22:36,799 --> 00:22:43,520 from of resistance to racism? 532 00:22:40,799 --> 00:22:46,159 That's incredibly pertinent question. 533 00:22:43,520 --> 00:22:48,559 And of course, when pop music involves 534 00:22:46,159 --> 00:22:50,960 itself in politics, pop music invariably 535 00:22:48,559 --> 00:22:53,520 only has a very limited lifespan. You 536 00:22:50,960 --> 00:22:55,120 know, you're lucky if a band lasts two, 537 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:57,120 three years. You know, the Beatles 538 00:22:55,120 --> 00:23:00,320 recorded lifespan is is barely seven 539 00:22:57,120 --> 00:23:02,400 years. So for these artists they took 540 00:23:00,320 --> 00:23:03,840 they seized their moment and incredibly 541 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:05,600 seized the moment where they were 542 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:08,000 becoming famous for the first time in 543 00:23:05,600 --> 00:23:11,280 their lives. So where you could just 544 00:23:08,000 --> 00:23:13,760 enjoy the the the you know the the the 545 00:23:11,280 --> 00:23:15,600 rewards of success they chose to align 546 00:23:13,760 --> 00:23:19,600 themselves politically and take the 547 00:23:15,600 --> 00:23:21,919 journey as a as a hand a dualhanded uh 548 00:23:19,600 --> 00:23:24,559 initiative if you like. So that takes a 549 00:23:21,919 --> 00:23:26,480 lot of courage. Um but that was then 550 00:23:24,559 --> 00:23:28,799 that was the 70s that was the 80s. It 551 00:23:26,480 --> 00:23:31,360 was a different social political time. 552 00:23:28,799 --> 00:23:34,640 Now we live in a new age. And I I I'm 553 00:23:31,360 --> 00:23:36,880 not one for saying that movements should 554 00:23:34,640 --> 00:23:38,960 be replicated. I think history and 555 00:23:36,880 --> 00:23:41,440 reading perhaps books like this can 556 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:44,240 teach us what works and what doesn't 557 00:23:41,440 --> 00:23:46,240 work and what youth movements want, 558 00:23:44,240 --> 00:23:48,799 where they come from, and why people are 559 00:23:46,240 --> 00:23:51,360 inspired to be part of them. But really, 560 00:23:48,799 --> 00:23:53,440 they have to come from the grassroots. 561 00:23:51,360 --> 00:23:55,919 And I think in many ways the grime 562 00:23:53,440 --> 00:23:58,799 movement has been doing that for at 563 00:23:55,919 --> 00:24:01,200 least 10 years. But there but do we know 564 00:23:58,799 --> 00:24:03,200 about grime in a national way? Perhaps 565 00:24:01,200 --> 00:24:05,840 not. And why is that? Then we we could 566 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:09,440 then look at media and and how does 567 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:12,159 media control um the outlets of 568 00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:13,520 underground resistance groups. So 569 00:24:12,159 --> 00:24:15,679 therefore, if it's being pushed out of 570 00:24:13,520 --> 00:24:20,400 the mainstream, maybe therefore it's 571 00:24:15,679 --> 00:24:23,440 online and and online offers incredible 572 00:24:20,400 --> 00:24:24,720 uh opportunities for mass resistance. 573 00:24:23,440 --> 00:24:25,600 And I think perhaps that's where the 574 00:24:24,720 --> 00:24:27,279 answers will come. 575 00:24:25,600 --> 00:24:29,600 Rachel, the very best of luck with this 576 00:24:27,279 --> 00:24:34,039 book. You deserve every success. Thanks 577 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:34,039 for joining us on the split, Nicknick. 578 00:24:34,880 --> 00:24:38,799 And now it's your turn to tell us what 579 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:41,360 you think through the portals of social 580 00:24:38,799 --> 00:24:44,000 media. What's rattling? So we first 581 00:24:41,360 --> 00:24:46,720 asked uh the audience um how they would 582 00:24:44,000 --> 00:24:50,640 like to see Britain post Brexit and 583 00:24:46,720 --> 00:24:52,880 Jennis Carr answers Krikey there so much 584 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:55,520 securing human rights employment 585 00:24:52,880 --> 00:24:59,840 environmental protection encouraging 586 00:24:55,520 --> 00:25:02,159 fair trade with third world and Agathlas 587 00:24:59,840 --> 00:25:04,400 says as Mr. Galloway has said, "Let the 588 00:25:02,159 --> 00:25:07,600 pound fall and encourage import 589 00:25:04,400 --> 00:25:10,799 substitution." And in regards to music, 590 00:25:07,600 --> 00:25:13,440 uh, combined with politics. Um, Echo 591 00:25:10,799 --> 00:25:16,080 Marley says, "Reggae and Bruce Lee 592 00:25:13,440 --> 00:25:19,200 films, music is my art of fighting 593 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:21,360 without fighting. I disrupt the corrupt. 594 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:23,520 I turn music into food." 595 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:25,520 Good for you, Mr. Marley. 596 00:25:23,520 --> 00:25:27,360 That's all we've got time for, 597 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:29,200 which alas means that's the end of the 598 00:25:27,360 --> 00:25:32,480 show. But you can stay in touch with us 599 00:25:29,200 --> 00:25:35,120 on social media Twitter RT_Sputnik 600 00:25:32,480 --> 00:25:37,279 or Facebook Sputnik onRussia today. It's 601 00:25:35,120 --> 00:25:39,520 goodbye from meatri 602 00:25:37,279 --> 00:25:42,520 and from me George Galloway. It's been 603 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,520 marvelous. 604 00:25:46,090 --> 00:25:49,150 [Music]