1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,360 [Music] 2 00:00:08,530 --> 00:00:12,160 [Music] 3 00:00:09,740 --> 00:00:15,160 [Applause] 4 00:00:12,160 --> 00:00:15,160 I 5 00:00:17,960 --> 00:00:24,670 [Music] 6 00:00:33,680 --> 00:00:39,200 welcome to a special Westminster edition 7 00:00:36,440 --> 00:00:42,879 of Sputnik orbiting the world with me 8 00:00:39,200 --> 00:00:47,039 George Galloway the reason is obvious 9 00:00:42,879 --> 00:00:49,879 all bets are off all plans scrapped when 10 00:00:47,039 --> 00:00:52,760 Tesa May announced that at 11 00:00:49,879 --> 00:00:55,440 11:15 she was going to make a statement 12 00:00:52,760 --> 00:00:57,960 outside number 10 Downing Street I for 13 00:00:55,440 --> 00:01:00,079 one had no doubt well I had a slight 14 00:00:57,960 --> 00:01:02,480 cintilla of doubt it was either a 15 00:01:00,079 --> 00:01:05,080 general election or it was another war 16 00:01:02,480 --> 00:01:08,320 and these days who knows which of those 17 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:11,159 two it would be as some wag put it this 18 00:01:08,320 --> 00:01:13,920 morning polling stations are sometimes 19 00:01:11,159 --> 00:01:16,439 used as primary schools the country has 20 00:01:13,920 --> 00:01:17,920 been going back and back and back to the 21 00:01:16,439 --> 00:01:20,680 polls particularly in the north of 22 00:01:17,920 --> 00:01:24,320 Ireland or in Scotland there seems no 23 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:27,159 end to the number of polls but does more 24 00:01:24,320 --> 00:01:29,960 mean better are we going to get better 25 00:01:27,159 --> 00:01:32,720 governance in Britain now that the fixed 26 00:01:29,960 --> 00:01:35,280 term Parliament act has been scrapped 27 00:01:32,720 --> 00:01:39,680 and we're going to the polls on June the 28 00:01:35,280 --> 00:01:42,520 eth well the first ball has been kicked 29 00:01:39,680 --> 00:01:45,640 all the players and parties are in 30 00:01:42,520 --> 00:01:48,360 action so who better to ruminate about 31 00:01:45,640 --> 00:01:51,200 it all with me than my old friend Steve 32 00:01:48,360 --> 00:01:53,520 Norris Steve is a former conservative 33 00:01:51,200 --> 00:01:57,119 government Minister twice stood for the 34 00:01:53,520 --> 00:01:59,200 Tores to be mayor of London he's a wise 35 00:01:57,119 --> 00:02:03,479 man and a fine one and I'm glad he's 36 00:01:59,200 --> 00:02:07,160 joined me on the Sputnik I've got to be 37 00:02:03,479 --> 00:02:11,000 blunt I believe that this rushed 38 00:02:07,160 --> 00:02:13,239 election has more to do with internal 39 00:02:11,000 --> 00:02:15,120 problems for the conservative party than 40 00:02:13,239 --> 00:02:17,480 it does for the country what would you 41 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:19,920 say to that I think there's no doubt 42 00:02:17,480 --> 00:02:21,680 about it that um Theresa May thinks that 43 00:02:19,920 --> 00:02:24,040 she's going to get at least two things 44 00:02:21,680 --> 00:02:25,840 out of this election firstly she looks 45 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:27,519 at Labor's weakness you know there are 46 00:02:25,840 --> 00:02:30,239 many people who say that there was one 47 00:02:27,519 --> 00:02:31,720 single word that summed up her very 48 00:02:30,239 --> 00:02:33,599 considerable change of heart because 49 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:35,080 until recently as you as you know she's 50 00:02:33,599 --> 00:02:37,000 been saying 51 00:02:35,080 --> 00:02:38,840 absolutely five times we're not going to 52 00:02:37,000 --> 00:02:39,640 have an election suddenly we're going to 53 00:02:38,840 --> 00:02:42,800 have an 54 00:02:39,640 --> 00:02:46,319 election when the labor party is now 55 00:02:42,800 --> 00:02:48,760 according to poll's 24 points behind the 56 00:02:46,319 --> 00:02:50,959 conservatives I think the logic you know 57 00:02:48,760 --> 00:02:53,280 becomes absolutely unassailable and and 58 00:02:50,959 --> 00:02:55,040 you know as kan's John mayard Kan said 59 00:02:53,280 --> 00:02:57,959 when the facts change I changed my 60 00:02:55,040 --> 00:03:00,360 opinions um but there also true that 61 00:02:57,959 --> 00:03:01,959 she's concerned about the extent to 62 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:05,040 which with her current very slim 63 00:03:01,959 --> 00:03:09,120 majority she could be Boxed In by some 64 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:11,120 of the ultra rightwing uh levers in her 65 00:03:09,120 --> 00:03:12,920 party that is those who are very very 66 00:03:11,120 --> 00:03:15,080 keen to see a complete break with the 67 00:03:12,920 --> 00:03:18,040 European Union indeed almost a complete 68 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:20,920 break with Europe an absolute ban on 69 00:03:18,040 --> 00:03:22,760 migration for a number of years which 70 00:03:20,920 --> 00:03:24,080 they see as somehow encouraging our 71 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:26,760 economy whereas some of us think it 72 00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:28,280 would be disastrous and she will get out 73 00:03:26,760 --> 00:03:30,760 of this what she's looking for out of 74 00:03:28,280 --> 00:03:32,599 this is the kind of majority which a 75 00:03:30,760 --> 00:03:34,840 gives her a mandate of her own something 76 00:03:32,599 --> 00:03:37,239 that she hasn't had until now and B 77 00:03:34,840 --> 00:03:39,840 gives her the room to be able to manage 78 00:03:37,239 --> 00:03:42,159 her own party now when you're faced with 79 00:03:39,840 --> 00:03:45,360 those two opportunities and an 80 00:03:42,159 --> 00:03:47,720 opposition who really does seem to be 81 00:03:45,360 --> 00:03:50,080 incredibly weak right now I think 82 00:03:47,720 --> 00:03:51,920 frankly the logic became unassailable 83 00:03:50,080 --> 00:03:55,400 well we we'll come to the polls and 84 00:03:51,920 --> 00:03:57,360 labor and Corbin uh later I just entered 85 00:03:55,400 --> 00:03:59,159 the caveat that there have been many 86 00:03:57,360 --> 00:04:00,319 polls that have turned out to be 87 00:03:59,159 --> 00:04:04,200 disastrous 88 00:04:00,319 --> 00:04:07,040 wrong I sat over the river in the uh RT 89 00:04:04,200 --> 00:04:08,840 Studios the only man it would appear in 90 00:04:07,040 --> 00:04:11,879 Britain who believed that brexit was 91 00:04:08,840 --> 00:04:14,599 going to win and at one stage the 92 00:04:11,879 --> 00:04:17,440 betting Merchants were saying it was a 93 00:04:14,599 --> 00:04:20,840 90% certainty that we were going to 94 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:22,840 remain in the EU I sat in this studio as 95 00:04:20,840 --> 00:04:24,919 they started the count in the United 96 00:04:22,840 --> 00:04:26,560 States apparently the only man in 97 00:04:24,919 --> 00:04:30,080 Britain who thought that Donald Trump 98 00:04:26,560 --> 00:04:33,160 was going to win so um of course things 99 00:04:30,080 --> 00:04:35,000 can change especially in a long election 100 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,199 yeah but let me put to you something 101 00:04:35,000 --> 00:04:40,520 that only Channel 4 News has really been 102 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:43,560 running with it appears that the 103 00:04:40,520 --> 00:04:46,440 prosecuting authorities are poised to 104 00:04:43,560 --> 00:04:49,759 make recommendations which would involve 105 00:04:46,440 --> 00:04:53,919 the prosecution of conservative election 106 00:04:49,759 --> 00:04:56,479 uh Wallas including it said some MPS for 107 00:04:53,919 --> 00:05:00,560 overspending or rather under recording 108 00:04:56,479 --> 00:05:02,400 their spending in the 2015 General ction 109 00:05:00,560 --> 00:05:04,880 opening up the possibility that there 110 00:05:02,400 --> 00:05:08,160 might have been a series of byelections 111 00:05:04,880 --> 00:05:09,840 upon conviction if convicted uh which 112 00:05:08,160 --> 00:05:11,759 would have whittled away that very 113 00:05:09,840 --> 00:05:13,039 narrow majority do you think there's 114 00:05:11,759 --> 00:05:16,400 anything in 115 00:05:13,039 --> 00:05:19,759 that I you and I know and I mean you and 116 00:05:16,400 --> 00:05:21,720 I amongst very few people know just how 117 00:05:19,759 --> 00:05:23,759 ludicrous our rules are about how much 118 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,840 you can spend in elections but for 119 00:05:23,759 --> 00:05:28,319 perhaps for those who aren't familiar 120 00:05:25,840 --> 00:05:31,600 it's worth just saying that individual 121 00:05:28,319 --> 00:05:33,479 uh candidates have very very tight 122 00:05:31,600 --> 00:05:35,880 spending limits which they must not 123 00:05:33,479 --> 00:05:38,039 exceed if you're seen to have exceeded 124 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:41,000 that very tight spending limit by even a 125 00:05:38,039 --> 00:05:42,479 few pounds you can be in jail uh and 126 00:05:41,000 --> 00:05:44,600 it's happened before and it could have 127 00:05:42,479 --> 00:05:46,560 happened in any of these cases I don't 128 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:49,840 know the details and I wouldn't want to 129 00:05:46,560 --> 00:05:52,000 neither but nonetheless primer fasy 130 00:05:49,840 --> 00:05:54,080 there was a case to be made But the 131 00:05:52,000 --> 00:05:57,080 irony is that in this comp in this 132 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:58,400 country the national parties are able to 133 00:05:57,080 --> 00:05:59,960 spend whatever they like there is no 134 00:05:58,400 --> 00:06:02,400 limit whatever on their spend spending 135 00:05:59,960 --> 00:06:04,680 budgets and they spend 20 million 30 136 00:06:02,400 --> 00:06:06,080 million on general elections this is 137 00:06:04,680 --> 00:06:08,319 getting more and more like the United 138 00:06:06,080 --> 00:06:10,599 States in those in those terms and what 139 00:06:08,319 --> 00:06:14,960 we're really we as individuals can spend 140 00:06:10,599 --> 00:06:17,120 only 13,000 as individuals 420 4 40p and 141 00:06:14,960 --> 00:06:19,960 if you spend 50p you're in trouble you 142 00:06:17,120 --> 00:06:22,960 know so I think a lot of this was about 143 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:26,039 in practice it was about for example the 144 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:28,720 national party leader or you know big 145 00:06:26,039 --> 00:06:31,039 beast of the of of the particular party 146 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:33,360 roll into town into a particular 147 00:06:31,039 --> 00:06:36,360 constituency do a lot of campaigning for 148 00:06:33,360 --> 00:06:38,960 the day and then leave and the question 149 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:42,039 really was does that mean that the local 150 00:06:38,960 --> 00:06:44,440 MP had to account for that money that 151 00:06:42,039 --> 00:06:46,639 cost if you like as part of his or her 152 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:49,039 budget or was that part of the national 153 00:06:46,639 --> 00:06:51,280 budget and of course the 154 00:06:49,039 --> 00:06:53,800 argument the defense if you like would 155 00:06:51,280 --> 00:06:56,840 have been don't be ridiculous of course 156 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:58,440 you know because the law is so opaque to 157 00:06:56,840 --> 00:07:00,199 if there if there aren't any cases they 158 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:02,840 should stand for you because you've made 159 00:07:00,199 --> 00:07:04,479 uh you've made a very strong and defense 160 00:07:02,840 --> 00:07:07,759 and one which I agree with but 161 00:07:04,479 --> 00:07:10,680 nonetheless the law is the law and if 162 00:07:07,759 --> 00:07:13,879 prosecutions had ensued and we'll know 163 00:07:10,680 --> 00:07:15,759 in a day or two whether they will that 164 00:07:13,879 --> 00:07:16,919 would have been a severe problem for it 165 00:07:15,759 --> 00:07:18,599 would have been a problem but I'm not 166 00:07:16,919 --> 00:07:20,080 sure I follow your logic when you say 167 00:07:18,599 --> 00:07:21,440 that that would have Whitted a majority 168 00:07:20,080 --> 00:07:23,800 because that's on the assumption that a 169 00:07:21,440 --> 00:07:26,160 new candidate from the same party 170 00:07:23,800 --> 00:07:27,800 wouldn't have simply won the seat when 171 00:07:26,160 --> 00:07:29,680 actually all of the background noise 172 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:32,160 would have been whatever the courts have 173 00:07:29,680 --> 00:07:34,400 decided you and I know this is a stitch 174 00:07:32,160 --> 00:07:36,360 up you know and actually I suspect the 175 00:07:34,400 --> 00:07:39,160 vast majority of those candidates would 176 00:07:36,360 --> 00:07:41,560 have seen their successes reelected well 177 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:43,840 look if that law was an ass and I think 178 00:07:41,560 --> 00:07:46,520 we're in agreement that it was what 179 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:49,199 about the fixed term Parliament act we 180 00:07:46,520 --> 00:07:51,319 supposed to be locked into a fiveyear 181 00:07:49,199 --> 00:07:54,919 parliament that didn't last long well 182 00:07:51,319 --> 00:07:56,520 you and I know that um when I was uh 183 00:07:54,919 --> 00:07:58,560 parliamentary private secretary in the 184 00:07:56,520 --> 00:08:00,520 home office the then Home Secretary 185 00:07:58,560 --> 00:08:03,080 introduced a piece legislation called 186 00:08:00,520 --> 00:08:04,599 the dangerous dogs act I'm not going to 187 00:08:03,080 --> 00:08:07,159 tell viewers a lot about the dangerous 188 00:08:04,599 --> 00:08:09,639 dogs act but basically I've decided that 189 00:08:07,159 --> 00:08:12,440 trying to legislate to tell a dog what 190 00:08:09,639 --> 00:08:14,000 to do is a pretty pointless proposition 191 00:08:12,440 --> 00:08:16,080 it's been known as one of the darest 192 00:08:14,000 --> 00:08:17,599 acts the Tor government ever introduced 193 00:08:16,080 --> 00:08:19,080 and alongside that I think goes the 194 00:08:17,599 --> 00:08:20,879 fixed term Parliament act you know I 195 00:08:19,080 --> 00:08:23,240 used to say to people forget all this 196 00:08:20,879 --> 00:08:25,680 business of a two-thirds majority a 197 00:08:23,240 --> 00:08:28,240 simple majority could simply abolish the 198 00:08:25,680 --> 00:08:30,000 act and had Theresa May for whatever 199 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:31,520 reason found that it was NE necessary to 200 00:08:30,000 --> 00:08:33,800 invoke that proposition should have 201 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,919 easily done so you can sweep any act off 202 00:08:33,800 --> 00:08:37,800 the statute book If by a simple majority 203 00:08:35,919 --> 00:08:40,360 in the House of Commons by one vote if 204 00:08:37,800 --> 00:08:41,919 necessary no it was pointless it was a s 205 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,880 to Nick CLE during the days of the 206 00:08:41,919 --> 00:08:46,120 Coalition and it's rightly been 207 00:08:43,880 --> 00:08:47,880 consigned to history we don't operate 208 00:08:46,120 --> 00:08:49,760 that system because if a prime minister 209 00:08:47,880 --> 00:08:51,640 as you well know if a prime minister 210 00:08:49,760 --> 00:08:55,040 loses the confidence of the House of 211 00:08:51,640 --> 00:08:57,440 Commons he or she is bound to resign and 212 00:08:55,040 --> 00:08:59,440 is bound on that basis of losing a vote 213 00:08:57,440 --> 00:09:00,880 of confidence to go to the country and 214 00:08:59,440 --> 00:09:03,519 to dissolve 215 00:09:00,880 --> 00:09:07,279 parliament now we found a rare uh 216 00:09:03,519 --> 00:09:10,200 measure of agreement uh so far let me 217 00:09:07,279 --> 00:09:12,720 throw one in that we might not agree on 218 00:09:10,200 --> 00:09:16,399 I think Tesa May's announcement that she 219 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:19,160 would not face the others in televised 220 00:09:16,399 --> 00:09:21,880 debates might be a leite motif running 221 00:09:19,160 --> 00:09:25,760 through this election frit 222 00:09:21,880 --> 00:09:27,920 scared cowardly even and certainly not 223 00:09:25,760 --> 00:09:30,440 Democratic hiding away from the 224 00:09:27,920 --> 00:09:33,440 electorate hoping that the tide which 225 00:09:30,440 --> 00:09:35,920 she imagines to be there will sweep her 226 00:09:33,440 --> 00:09:39,600 in that may turn out to be a very 227 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:41,519 considerable mistake it may actually it 228 00:09:39,600 --> 00:09:43,360 may because you're right about that sort 229 00:09:41,519 --> 00:09:46,640 of light Motif which obviously all the 230 00:09:43,360 --> 00:09:49,000 opposition parties will try to underpin 231 00:09:46,640 --> 00:09:51,360 it's worth reflecting though that uh you 232 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:53,399 know Tony Blair for example never 233 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,959 indulged in a TV debate and the read 234 00:09:53,399 --> 00:09:58,240 reason he didn't was he said I'm way in 235 00:09:54,959 --> 00:10:00,640 the lead I can only lose and of course 236 00:09:58,240 --> 00:10:03,440 it was Gordon Brown ironically who first 237 00:10:00,640 --> 00:10:06,399 agreed uh I'm I'm least qualified to do 238 00:10:03,440 --> 00:10:08,279 so your your word's not mine George but 239 00:10:06,399 --> 00:10:10,600 I'm not far away from you and then of 240 00:10:08,279 --> 00:10:12,600 course David Cameron who was in and not 241 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:14,079 in uh was going to do it they're not 242 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:16,480 going to do it then tried to dictate 243 00:10:14,079 --> 00:10:18,519 terms then got dictated to and was all a 244 00:10:16,480 --> 00:10:20,760 bit of a dog's breakfast it's pretty 245 00:10:18,519 --> 00:10:23,560 typical of Theresa to say look I am far 246 00:10:20,760 --> 00:10:25,399 away in the lead I have nothing to gain 247 00:10:23,560 --> 00:10:27,640 and everything to lose by indulging in 248 00:10:25,399 --> 00:10:28,880 this piece of Television which is not 249 00:10:27,640 --> 00:10:30,440 nothing to do with the real issues in 250 00:10:28,880 --> 00:10:34,160 front of the country I'm not going to do 251 00:10:30,440 --> 00:10:35,720 it unfortunately I agree with you that 252 00:10:34,160 --> 00:10:38,079 that gives the opportunity to the 253 00:10:35,720 --> 00:10:41,399 opposition all the opposition parties to 254 00:10:38,079 --> 00:10:42,839 play this frit card if you like and 255 00:10:41,399 --> 00:10:45,480 where will that end up you know in all 256 00:10:42,839 --> 00:10:48,200 honesty I don't know this could end up 257 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:49,760 defining any future election as one in 258 00:10:48,200 --> 00:10:52,040 which you simply have to 259 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:53,839 participate if I take your point that 260 00:10:52,040 --> 00:10:55,920 these are new things televised 261 00:10:53,839 --> 00:10:58,600 relatively in the UK although in an age 262 00:10:55,920 --> 00:11:01,200 where a day is a long time in politics 263 00:10:58,600 --> 00:11:04,040 people think it's always been the case 264 00:11:01,200 --> 00:11:06,680 that contenders for power 265 00:11:04,040 --> 00:11:09,519 appear against each other in front of 266 00:11:06,680 --> 00:11:12,360 the cameras yeah but what if the TV 267 00:11:09,519 --> 00:11:15,680 companies have 268 00:11:12,360 --> 00:11:18,920 the if I may put it that way to go ahead 269 00:11:15,680 --> 00:11:20,200 with the debates and empty chair the 270 00:11:18,920 --> 00:11:22,320 Prime Minister the leader of the 271 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:27,240 conservative party or do a Roy 272 00:11:22,320 --> 00:11:30,480 hattersley and put a some some uh uh 273 00:11:27,240 --> 00:11:32,639 some kind of Icon there instead that's 274 00:11:30,480 --> 00:11:34,560 going to be a big problem for the Tories 275 00:11:32,639 --> 00:11:35,880 well it could be but then again don't 276 00:11:34,560 --> 00:11:37,560 remember don't forget that she'll have 277 00:11:35,880 --> 00:11:38,880 an opportunity to put her side of the 278 00:11:37,560 --> 00:11:40,360 case as well she'll say this is 279 00:11:38,880 --> 00:11:43,279 irrelevant this is only done for 280 00:11:40,360 --> 00:11:45,720 television it it adds nothing I will be 281 00:11:43,279 --> 00:11:48,279 speaking that night in front of an 282 00:11:45,720 --> 00:11:50,240 audience uh and uh if a camera would 283 00:11:48,279 --> 00:11:52,120 like to come and record what I say that 284 00:11:50,240 --> 00:11:54,839 is my pitch to the British people I'm 285 00:11:52,120 --> 00:11:56,760 not here to Pander to some TV channel I 286 00:11:54,839 --> 00:11:58,639 am talking direct to the British people 287 00:11:56,760 --> 00:12:01,040 you know is that convincing enough I 288 00:11:58,639 --> 00:12:03,639 don't know I'm genuinely not sure I 289 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:06,000 would have said to her do it do it for 290 00:12:03,639 --> 00:12:07,600 goodness sake and what's more do it the 291 00:12:06,000 --> 00:12:10,240 way they like because you're going to 292 00:12:07,600 --> 00:12:14,040 win anyway it's not exactly as if our 293 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:16,320 adversaries are wonderful orators 294 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:19,639 wonderful debators yeah yeah we're 295 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:21,360 talking Jeremy Corbin Tim Fon I suppose 296 00:12:19,639 --> 00:12:24,360 maybe the nationalists would squeeze in 297 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:27,519 for one or two although that might be 298 00:12:24,360 --> 00:12:30,199 problematic I myself think it's quite a 299 00:12:27,519 --> 00:12:32,680 significant mistake and one that will ha 300 00:12:30,199 --> 00:12:34,760 her uh through the campaign we got to 301 00:12:32,680 --> 00:12:37,480 take a break now but we're all lucky 302 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:41,199 that you can stay for the second half 303 00:12:37,480 --> 00:12:43,880 let's tour the opposition horiz on this 304 00:12:41,199 --> 00:12:46,160 is a special Westminster edition of 305 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:49,880 Sputnik orbiting the world with me 306 00:12:46,160 --> 00:12:49,880 George Galloway we'll be right 307 00:12:52,160 --> 00:12:56,480 back welcome back to Sputnik orbiting 308 00:12:54,760 --> 00:12:58,839 the world with me George Galloway 309 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:01,519 special Westminster Edition in the wake 310 00:12:58,839 --> 00:13:03,839 of the prime minister's surprising call 311 00:13:01,519 --> 00:13:07,360 for a general election on June the 8th 312 00:13:03,839 --> 00:13:09,399 I'm joined by Tori Grande who's never 313 00:13:07,360 --> 00:13:12,959 had the garlands that he deserves but a 314 00:13:09,399 --> 00:13:15,000 former Minister former Tor meel 315 00:13:12,959 --> 00:13:20,199 candidate here in London and an all 316 00:13:15,000 --> 00:13:22,959 around wise guy and good one uh Steve 317 00:13:20,199 --> 00:13:26,600 Trea May is up against as you pointed 318 00:13:22,959 --> 00:13:28,440 out an opposition at the lowest levels 319 00:13:26,600 --> 00:13:31,360 predicted to get the lowest 320 00:13:28,440 --> 00:13:36,560 parliamentary representation since 321 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:40,040 1935 yeah but just like Trump there is a 322 00:13:36,560 --> 00:13:44,120 possibility that Jeremy Corbin might as 323 00:13:40,040 --> 00:13:46,320 it were set the country a light with 324 00:13:44,120 --> 00:13:48,839 expectation with possibility there's a 325 00:13:46,320 --> 00:13:52,240 lot of anti-tory feeling particularly in 326 00:13:48,839 --> 00:13:54,600 poor places post-industrial places uh 327 00:13:52,240 --> 00:13:58,639 parts of the Kingdom which are far from 328 00:13:54,600 --> 00:14:02,000 her home couny kind of uh appeal do you 329 00:13:58,639 --> 00:14:03,639 disc that possibility entirely uh no you 330 00:14:02,000 --> 00:14:05,279 know you talked about how you were the 331 00:14:03,639 --> 00:14:07,399 only person who thought that we'd leave 332 00:14:05,279 --> 00:14:09,800 the EU and and the only person who 333 00:14:07,399 --> 00:14:11,680 thought we'd elect Donald Trump I won a 334 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,839 lot of money on the EU referendum 335 00:14:11,680 --> 00:14:16,279 unfortunately I lost the lot on Trump so 336 00:14:13,839 --> 00:14:18,480 don't ask me however I do remember John 337 00:14:16,279 --> 00:14:20,800 Howard John Howard the Australian 338 00:14:18,480 --> 00:14:22,279 Premier who uh found himself in a 339 00:14:20,800 --> 00:14:24,959 position where he was way ahead in the 340 00:14:22,279 --> 00:14:28,000 opinion polls his party just won a 341 00:14:24,959 --> 00:14:30,880 surprisingly good byelection he decided 342 00:14:28,000 --> 00:14:33,800 to go to the country and 5 Weeks Later 343 00:14:30,880 --> 00:14:36,759 was ousted by a labor Administration 344 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:39,199 which actually won 75 out of 125 seats 345 00:14:36,759 --> 00:14:41,440 in their low house I mean in other words 346 00:14:39,199 --> 00:14:43,839 these surprises can happen so do I 347 00:14:41,440 --> 00:14:45,759 discount it completely no and I think 348 00:14:43,839 --> 00:14:49,040 would be foolish for anybody ever to do 349 00:14:45,759 --> 00:14:52,079 so uh Jeremy Corbin has surprised many 350 00:14:49,040 --> 00:14:54,480 many people already uh when he was uh 351 00:14:52,079 --> 00:14:58,360 finally included in the lineup for the 352 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:59,680 labor leadership alongside such Titans 353 00:14:58,360 --> 00:15:02,440 as Andy 354 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:06,199 you know never known to 355 00:15:02,440 --> 00:15:07,920 CLW from the jaws of Victory Burnham or 356 00:15:06,199 --> 00:15:09,639 I Cooper or whatever he surprised 357 00:15:07,920 --> 00:15:12,600 everybody I suspect by winning and 358 00:15:09,639 --> 00:15:15,120 winning margin 200 to one and won by a 359 00:15:12,600 --> 00:15:17,880 clear margin so do I discount it no I 360 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:21,240 don't however I think what's interesting 361 00:15:17,880 --> 00:15:25,800 is the way that Dynamics have changed um 362 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:27,639 Theresa May has won a grudging respect 363 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:30,720 even from people who are not natural 364 00:15:27,639 --> 00:15:35,920 Tories and it's to do think with her 365 00:15:30,720 --> 00:15:39,560 personal character she's uh pretty tough 366 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:42,880 uh she is not given to sound bites she 367 00:15:39,560 --> 00:15:47,079 is thought of as somebody who tells it 368 00:15:42,880 --> 00:15:48,680 as it is uh she's even able I suspect to 369 00:15:47,079 --> 00:15:50,360 persuade people that even though she 370 00:15:48,680 --> 00:15:51,519 said I'm not going to have an election 371 00:15:50,360 --> 00:15:54,199 I'm not going to have election I'm not 372 00:15:51,519 --> 00:15:56,600 you know and so on many times over and 373 00:15:54,199 --> 00:15:58,279 then says I am she's able to persuade 374 00:15:56,600 --> 00:16:00,079 people that somehow this is consistent 375 00:15:58,279 --> 00:16:01,839 with the line that she's taking and 376 00:16:00,079 --> 00:16:03,440 that's quite a that's quite a trick I 377 00:16:01,839 --> 00:16:05,519 think the last person we saw with that 378 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,959 kind of ability was was of course Tony 379 00:16:05,519 --> 00:16:09,759 Blair and prior to that Margaret 380 00:16:06,959 --> 00:16:12,560 Thatcher neither John Major nor Gordon 381 00:16:09,759 --> 00:16:15,399 Brown nor David Cameron had that ability 382 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:17,800 and so I suspect this will be more than 383 00:16:15,399 --> 00:16:20,279 ever about 384 00:16:17,800 --> 00:16:23,240 personalities about who do you want to 385 00:16:20,279 --> 00:16:25,800 lead us in this uncertain time when we 386 00:16:23,240 --> 00:16:27,360 are facing a brexit negotiation which is 387 00:16:25,800 --> 00:16:29,720 either going to go very well or very 388 00:16:27,360 --> 00:16:32,040 badly and it's worth therefore I think 389 00:16:29,720 --> 00:16:35,000 more reflecting on the time when for 390 00:16:32,040 --> 00:16:36,399 example Michael Foot Led the labor party 391 00:16:35,000 --> 00:16:39,240 and you will remember this very very 392 00:16:36,399 --> 00:16:42,800 well indeed and again it became a choice 393 00:16:39,240 --> 00:16:45,839 between Thatcher who had just apparently 394 00:16:42,800 --> 00:16:47,240 personally won the Forkland war and 395 00:16:45,839 --> 00:16:49,240 Michael thought he was seen as 396 00:16:47,240 --> 00:16:50,800 completely out of touch and you know far 397 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:52,880 too old from another world and from 398 00:16:50,800 --> 00:16:55,519 another world but I'll tell you what 399 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:57,519 something about Corbin he's and I think 400 00:16:55,519 --> 00:16:59,600 you know this he's a good and honest 401 00:16:57,519 --> 00:17:02,480 person he's sincere 402 00:16:59,600 --> 00:17:04,199 he has principles and the one thing he's 403 00:17:02,480 --> 00:17:06,079 good at he's not that great in the House 404 00:17:04,199 --> 00:17:08,400 of Commons though he's got better the 405 00:17:06,079 --> 00:17:10,720 one thing he's good at is out there on 406 00:17:08,400 --> 00:17:13,400 the street and that's where his election 407 00:17:10,720 --> 00:17:16,000 will be fought it is possible that he 408 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:18,520 can capture the Z guys capture the 409 00:17:16,000 --> 00:17:22,319 imagination against a rather straight 410 00:17:18,520 --> 00:17:24,280 laced Tory leadership and Tory campaign 411 00:17:22,319 --> 00:17:27,480 I I I can't disagree with that George I 412 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:30,200 think that's right I mean he uh uh he is 413 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:32,880 a he's I mean I've known him for the 30 414 00:17:30,200 --> 00:17:34,320 odd years uh not as long as you but I've 415 00:17:32,880 --> 00:17:36,200 I've certainly known him as a fellow 416 00:17:34,320 --> 00:17:39,840 member of the House of Commons he is 417 00:17:36,200 --> 00:17:42,360 clearly um a man of integrity uh he's a 418 00:17:39,840 --> 00:17:44,880 man who sticks by his principles uh he's 419 00:17:42,360 --> 00:17:47,160 a man who uh tells it the way he sees it 420 00:17:44,880 --> 00:17:49,160 and not the way he's told to see it I I 421 00:17:47,160 --> 00:17:50,960 get all that and I also get the fact 422 00:17:49,160 --> 00:17:54,000 that he's good on the stump I mean he I 423 00:17:50,960 --> 00:17:56,559 saw him out in cuden which is a swing 424 00:17:54,000 --> 00:17:58,080 seat yesterday and he was full of fire 425 00:17:56,559 --> 00:17:59,440 and vigor and I think he'll go on doing 426 00:17:58,080 --> 00:18:01,039 that during the election man he's no 427 00:17:59,440 --> 00:18:03,480 Michael foot in that 428 00:18:01,039 --> 00:18:05,640 context it's also true that Mrs mayor is 429 00:18:03,480 --> 00:18:07,640 not a great natural oror not by any 430 00:18:05,640 --> 00:18:10,080 means she's more comfortable reading a 431 00:18:07,640 --> 00:18:11,960 speech than she is extemporizing and I 432 00:18:10,080 --> 00:18:13,640 always think that I mean you can do this 433 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:16,120 and I like think I used to be able to do 434 00:18:13,640 --> 00:18:17,640 it you know to extemporize is to is to 435 00:18:16,120 --> 00:18:20,720 have been seen to be speaking from the 436 00:18:17,640 --> 00:18:23,039 heart so can this have a big impact yes 437 00:18:20,720 --> 00:18:25,919 it could I think the problem that jemy 438 00:18:23,039 --> 00:18:28,120 Corbin has however is that his 439 00:18:25,919 --> 00:18:30,600 opposition is mainly from his own party 440 00:18:28,120 --> 00:18:32,640 yeah yeah this full of holes his back is 441 00:18:30,600 --> 00:18:34,240 full of holes this is a man who has MPS 442 00:18:32,640 --> 00:18:36,440 in his own party saying we're going to 443 00:18:34,240 --> 00:18:38,600 stand as a labor candidate but we would 444 00:18:36,440 --> 00:18:41,880 never vote for him as a prime minister 445 00:18:38,600 --> 00:18:44,559 quite unprecedented unprecedented now 446 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:47,120 the Liberals on the face of it were dead 447 00:18:44,559 --> 00:18:50,000 and buried in 2015 brexit has 448 00:18:47,120 --> 00:18:52,480 undoubtedly given them some more wind in 449 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:55,320 their sales how much we shall see but 450 00:18:52,480 --> 00:18:59,360 they are running unequivocally as the 451 00:18:55,320 --> 00:19:02,120 second referendum people try to Scupper 452 00:18:59,360 --> 00:19:07,159 brexit and if we can't Scupper it make 453 00:19:02,120 --> 00:19:09,720 it as moderate uh break as uh possible 454 00:19:07,159 --> 00:19:12,440 48% of the people voted to remain in the 455 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:15,200 EU so that's a potential vote Bank of 456 00:19:12,440 --> 00:19:16,799 some importance if people all got behind 457 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:19,280 the Liberals what do you think of that 458 00:19:16,799 --> 00:19:21,600 well I remember Zack Goldsmith who for 459 00:19:19,280 --> 00:19:23,200 completely separate reasons resigned and 460 00:19:21,600 --> 00:19:25,080 put himself up for re-election that was 461 00:19:23,200 --> 00:19:27,400 over the issue of building a third 462 00:19:25,080 --> 00:19:29,280 Runway at e row but nonetheless uh it 463 00:19:27,400 --> 00:19:31,440 was immediately after a Time when he had 464 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:34,400 voted to leave his father of course 465 00:19:31,440 --> 00:19:36,880 famously uh founded the referendum party 466 00:19:34,400 --> 00:19:39,600 and and so his views are very clear but 467 00:19:36,880 --> 00:19:42,440 his constituents were overwhelmingly uh 468 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:44,080 forain and they ditched him and that was 469 00:19:42,440 --> 00:19:46,080 because the libdems were able to say 470 00:19:44,080 --> 00:19:47,919 well we of course our remainers and we 471 00:19:46,080 --> 00:19:50,840 will stick up for you and we represent 472 00:19:47,919 --> 00:19:52,840 you and who's to say what impact that 473 00:19:50,840 --> 00:19:56,120 will have I have a sneaking suspicion 474 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:58,200 that um there will be a few liberal wins 475 00:19:56,120 --> 00:20:00,760 against Tories in seats that they 476 00:19:58,200 --> 00:20:03,640 previously held and it will be on that 477 00:20:00,760 --> 00:20:07,480 basis however again you know I really do 478 00:20:03,640 --> 00:20:10,080 sense that time has moved on um every 479 00:20:07,480 --> 00:20:14,120 poll tells us that many people who did 480 00:20:10,080 --> 00:20:16,640 vote remain are now resigned to the 481 00:20:14,120 --> 00:20:18,320 Democratic vote that's my own experience 482 00:20:16,640 --> 00:20:19,880 and then they're saying okay so who's 483 00:20:18,320 --> 00:20:22,240 going to be best to negotiate the best 484 00:20:19,880 --> 00:20:24,760 deal for us and it's not Tim faren you 485 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:26,440 know in the end you and I know it's the 486 00:20:24,760 --> 00:20:28,720 one thing that unites all Tores and all 487 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:30,120 labor politicians is that the libdems 488 00:20:28,720 --> 00:20:31,919 the most cynical party in British 489 00:20:30,120 --> 00:20:33,760 politics yes everyone hates that we all 490 00:20:31,919 --> 00:20:35,559 hate the liberal Democrats it's a it's a 491 00:20:33,760 --> 00:20:38,640 famous sport in this country but it has 492 00:20:35,559 --> 00:20:41,679 some Merit as well I I predict uh here 493 00:20:38,640 --> 00:20:44,760 that they they'll go from eight to uh 494 00:20:41,679 --> 00:20:46,640 certainly double figures maybe 30 or so 495 00:20:44,760 --> 00:20:49,480 maybe 20 maybe 496 00:20:46,640 --> 00:20:51,679 30 but Mrs May of course banks on the 497 00:20:49,480 --> 00:20:54,960 idea that she will more than make up the 498 00:20:51,679 --> 00:20:57,080 difference in areas where we as a party 499 00:20:54,960 --> 00:20:59,320 the conservatives haven't necessarily 500 00:20:57,080 --> 00:21:00,880 been prominent for a gener 501 00:20:59,320 --> 00:21:03,919 it was significant to me that she 502 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:06,000 appeared yesterday in Bolton MH uh in 503 00:21:03,919 --> 00:21:08,960 what is now a labor seat but was a Tory 504 00:21:06,000 --> 00:21:10,720 seat back in the '90s and she sees us 505 00:21:08,960 --> 00:21:13,039 able to win that kind of a seat now 506 00:21:10,720 --> 00:21:15,159 that's quite a pitch of course Jeremy 507 00:21:13,039 --> 00:21:16,840 was in uh Jeremy Corbin was in C in a 508 00:21:15,159 --> 00:21:18,760 seat that is now held by a Tor but is 509 00:21:16,840 --> 00:21:20,960 pretty marginal he too is looking to be 510 00:21:18,760 --> 00:21:23,120 able to shift that one but I think her 511 00:21:20,960 --> 00:21:25,000 view is that yes there'll be a bit of 512 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:26,760 collateral damage from the lib demems 513 00:21:25,000 --> 00:21:30,760 but it'll be more than overtaken by the 514 00:21:26,760 --> 00:21:33,400 seats that she wins in places where the 515 00:21:30,760 --> 00:21:35,880 sense is among labor voters that we've 516 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:37,919 always been labor but we can't vote for 517 00:21:35,880 --> 00:21:40,159 Jeremy Corbin as a leader now this 518 00:21:37,919 --> 00:21:41,279 decent honorable man that you and I have 519 00:21:40,159 --> 00:21:44,720 just 520 00:21:41,279 --> 00:21:46,640 discussed faces that huge huge problem 521 00:21:44,720 --> 00:21:50,720 of credibility as a leader well we'll 522 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:52,120 see uh what about uh ukip who uh are 523 00:21:50,720 --> 00:21:54,039 between well I don't know if they're 524 00:21:52,120 --> 00:21:56,880 between leaders I think nutal is still 525 00:21:54,039 --> 00:21:58,880 the leader uh Nigel farage is clearly 526 00:21:56,880 --> 00:22:01,320 the leader but he's over the water and 527 00:21:58,880 --> 00:22:04,039 we don't know if he's going to run uh 528 00:22:01,320 --> 00:22:06,600 again are you kept done and dusted do 529 00:22:04,039 --> 00:22:09,279 you think is there historic achievement 530 00:22:06,600 --> 00:22:11,960 to have got the referendum to have seen 531 00:22:09,279 --> 00:22:13,640 it go their way and that many people 532 00:22:11,960 --> 00:22:16,080 think there's not really that much 533 00:22:13,640 --> 00:22:19,120 further point for them I think uh Mrs 534 00:22:16,080 --> 00:22:21,520 Mayer shot their Fox uh although she was 535 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:24,360 a remainer technically if what maybe 536 00:22:21,520 --> 00:22:26,240 somewhat reluctantly uh after the vote 537 00:22:24,360 --> 00:22:28,039 and when she was elected as uh or 538 00:22:26,240 --> 00:22:30,400 appointed almost as leader of the Tory 539 00:22:28,039 --> 00:22:33,080 party she made that famous uh 540 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:35,120 wonderfully delic comment brexit means 541 00:22:33,080 --> 00:22:36,559 brexit we could have a whole program 542 00:22:35,120 --> 00:22:38,159 discussing what that means but 543 00:22:36,559 --> 00:22:40,360 nonetheless it's there you know what it 544 00:22:38,159 --> 00:22:42,840 did say was I'm not going to overturn 545 00:22:40,360 --> 00:22:44,200 this we are going to leave and I am 546 00:22:42,840 --> 00:22:46,400 going to get the best deal that I can 547 00:22:44,200 --> 00:22:48,919 for the UK and everything that she said 548 00:22:46,400 --> 00:22:51,520 after that is really simply making 549 00:22:48,919 --> 00:22:53,000 ukip's position frankly now irrelevant 550 00:22:51,520 --> 00:22:55,039 they'll of course say are well we've got 551 00:22:53,000 --> 00:22:57,520 to hold their feet to the fire and so on 552 00:22:55,039 --> 00:22:59,400 but a the present leader Paul nut all is 553 00:22:57,520 --> 00:23:01,159 frankly incredible 554 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:03,520 H and I mean that in the sense that so 555 00:23:01,159 --> 00:23:05,840 far we can't believe a word he says and 556 00:23:03,520 --> 00:23:08,120 B that Nigel farage may or may not 557 00:23:05,840 --> 00:23:10,400 decide to stand in thanet South a seat 558 00:23:08,120 --> 00:23:11,960 that he's fought and lost in before 559 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:14,080 whether he does or not he's not going to 560 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:16,240 be as prominent or frankly have the same 561 00:23:14,080 --> 00:23:19,440 case to make as he was able to make in 562 00:23:16,240 --> 00:23:21,200 2015 so you Kip for me not surprising 563 00:23:19,440 --> 00:23:23,679 that the increased lead that the Tories 564 00:23:21,200 --> 00:23:25,520 got in recent bills all came not at the 565 00:23:23,679 --> 00:23:29,360 expense of labor but actually at the 566 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:33,360 expense of finally then many people 567 00:23:29,360 --> 00:23:35,279 thought initially not I but many thought 568 00:23:33,360 --> 00:23:39,600 that Mrs May is going for a bigger 569 00:23:35,279 --> 00:23:41,720 majority to drive through a hard brexit 570 00:23:39,600 --> 00:23:44,400 I think the opposite I think she wants 571 00:23:41,720 --> 00:23:47,760 to have a mandate and have enough 572 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:51,400 Hinterland around her that she can make 573 00:23:47,760 --> 00:23:54,279 the deal and her instincts as a as a 574 00:23:51,400 --> 00:23:56,880 remainer in fact are likely to see 575 00:23:54,279 --> 00:23:59,279 Britain negotiate more of a sweetheart 576 00:23:56,880 --> 00:24:02,559 deal with the EU rather than than uh the 577 00:23:59,279 --> 00:24:05,320 break that the brexiteers perhaps 578 00:24:02,559 --> 00:24:07,600 imagined I couldn't agree more in simple 579 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:10,159 terms I couldn't agree more you know 580 00:24:07,600 --> 00:24:11,679 speaking of somebody who voted to leave 581 00:24:10,159 --> 00:24:13,440 I believe that we should take back 582 00:24:11,679 --> 00:24:15,000 control of our borders and our laws I 583 00:24:13,440 --> 00:24:16,559 believe that we should be acting in the 584 00:24:15,000 --> 00:24:18,799 interest of the British people 585 00:24:16,559 --> 00:24:20,880 unequivocally I dislike unelected 586 00:24:18,799 --> 00:24:22,760 bureaucracies being able to dictate to a 587 00:24:20,880 --> 00:24:25,440 national to a country that still calls 588 00:24:22,760 --> 00:24:26,919 itself a country but for example taking 589 00:24:25,440 --> 00:24:28,640 back control of our borders is not going 590 00:24:26,919 --> 00:24:31,240 to mean closing them unless we really do 591 00:24:28,640 --> 00:24:33,679 want to commit economic suicide we need 592 00:24:31,240 --> 00:24:35,840 migrants this country will need migrants 593 00:24:33,679 --> 00:24:38,120 for the foreseeable future to deal with 594 00:24:35,840 --> 00:24:40,520 the expansion in our economy we're still 595 00:24:38,120 --> 00:24:43,320 the fastest growing economy in the G7 596 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:45,640 now you know Mrs May precisely as you 597 00:24:43,320 --> 00:24:47,840 say is not going to get reelected in 598 00:24:45,640 --> 00:24:50,000 order to push some kind of let's split 599 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:52,799 each other's lip kind of um you know 600 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:54,960 conclusion with the EU on the contrary 601 00:24:52,799 --> 00:24:57,720 it's precisely to say you don't want 602 00:24:54,960 --> 00:24:59,520 tariffs neither do we we want to take 603 00:24:57,720 --> 00:25:01,200 back control our borders and our laws 604 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:02,799 but a we're going to keep 90% of the 605 00:25:01,200 --> 00:25:04,919 laws and B we're certainly not going to 606 00:25:02,799 --> 00:25:08,520 close the borders why would we do it it 607 00:25:04,919 --> 00:25:10,799 would be insane and it's that Ultra 608 00:25:08,520 --> 00:25:13,720 remainer Ultra lever rather excuse me 609 00:25:10,799 --> 00:25:15,919 Ultra lever part of the Tory party in 610 00:25:13,720 --> 00:25:17,840 Parliament that she wants to di diminish 611 00:25:15,919 --> 00:25:20,200 the influence of by getting a much 612 00:25:17,840 --> 00:25:22,360 bigger majority in her own name Steve 613 00:25:20,200 --> 00:25:24,679 Norris it's been uh fantastic 614 00:25:22,360 --> 00:25:29,039 fascinating talking to you Steve Norris 615 00:25:24,679 --> 00:25:32,720 Tori Grande touring the Horizon with me 616 00:25:29,039 --> 00:25:35,799 as we get the 2017 British general 617 00:25:32,720 --> 00:25:40,240 election underway I hope you've enjoyed 618 00:25:35,799 --> 00:25:40,240 the show it's been marvelous