1 00:00:01,540 --> 00:00:06,760 [Music] 2 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:17,000 I 3 00:00:35,520 --> 00:00:40,200 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 4 00:00:37,480 --> 00:00:41,879 with me George Galloway and me gatri 5 00:00:40,200 --> 00:00:44,520 none of the leaders of Britain's big 6 00:00:41,879 --> 00:00:47,120 three political parties are popular but 7 00:00:44,520 --> 00:00:49,920 there's unpopular and then there's Ed 8 00:00:47,120 --> 00:00:53,160 miliband having LED labor if LED is the 9 00:00:49,920 --> 00:00:55,760 right word to an embarrassing 29% in the 10 00:00:53,160 --> 00:00:58,640 polls in opposition to one of the worst 11 00:00:55,760 --> 00:01:01,600 governments in recent history now only 12 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:03,960 14% of the British public think he's 13 00:01:01,600 --> 00:01:06,799 ready to be prime minister he's even 14 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:09,720 less popular than Nick CL and believe me 15 00:01:06,799 --> 00:01:11,840 that's saying something cue the outbreak 16 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:14,400 of good old-fashioned backstabbing in 17 00:01:11,840 --> 00:01:16,640 what was once the People's Party with 18 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:18,920 Tales of letters being drafted calling 19 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:21,079 on him to go and the metaphorical 20 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:22,920 Prospect of man in Gray suits paying a 21 00:01:21,079 --> 00:01:25,920 house call on the labor leader to tell 22 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:28,759 him his time is up our first guest was 23 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:31,119 once one of those gray suited men in 24 00:01:28,759 --> 00:01:34,240 fact he's a veteran of the Blair Brown 25 00:01:31,119 --> 00:01:36,439 fratricide who once got down and dirty 26 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:38,640 in 10 Downing Street and survived to 27 00:01:36,439 --> 00:01:41,960 tell the tale he's a man who knows where 28 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:43,880 the bodies are buried though again only 29 00:01:41,960 --> 00:01:46,079 metaphorically and he knows a thing or 30 00:01:43,880 --> 00:01:49,119 two about the dark arts of the inner 31 00:01:46,079 --> 00:01:51,399 party struggle and Intrigue much of it 32 00:01:49,119 --> 00:01:53,920 but I promise you he's still got some up 33 00:01:51,399 --> 00:01:56,920 his sleeve he's laid out in a blistering 34 00:01:53,920 --> 00:01:59,439 new book Power Trip a decade of policy 35 00:01:56,920 --> 00:02:01,799 plots and spin I'm delighted to be 36 00:01:59,439 --> 00:02:04,079 joined on The Show by demon McBride 37 00:02:01,799 --> 00:02:06,360 demon welcome I must say it's a terrific 38 00:02:04,079 --> 00:02:08,879 fantastic book I can't wait for the next 39 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:10,200 Edition uh because I know you've kept 40 00:02:08,879 --> 00:02:12,640 one or two 41 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:15,120 things that's right they don't want a 42 00:02:12,640 --> 00:02:17,120 sequel look it doesn't get much worse 43 00:02:15,120 --> 00:02:20,239 14% of the people think you're fit to be 44 00:02:17,120 --> 00:02:23,360 the Prime Minister Labor's at 29% in the 45 00:02:20,239 --> 00:02:27,200 polls which is uh Michael foot territory 46 00:02:23,360 --> 00:02:32,080 the Mr ster Landslide territory in 47 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:34,480 1983 uh and only 6 months or so to go uh 48 00:02:32,080 --> 00:02:35,599 where do we go from here I don't know I 49 00:02:34,480 --> 00:02:38,040 think the first thing it would be nice 50 00:02:35,599 --> 00:02:39,800 to see is Ed millerand admitting some 51 00:02:38,040 --> 00:02:41,159 kind of problem exists and instead 52 00:02:39,800 --> 00:02:42,720 there's this just this Defiance just 53 00:02:41,159 --> 00:02:44,879 this head in the sand mentality that 54 00:02:42,720 --> 00:02:47,200 there is no problem I think that the uh 55 00:02:44,879 --> 00:02:49,920 if Michael F marked the last point at 56 00:02:47,200 --> 00:02:53,360 which a biblo file could be a political 57 00:02:49,920 --> 00:02:56,840 leader in Britain Ed millerand marks the 58 00:02:53,360 --> 00:02:59,200 day when the public will no longer vote 59 00:02:56,840 --> 00:03:00,640 for a speak your weight machine a 60 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:05,000 robotic 61 00:03:00,640 --> 00:03:06,920 uh policy wonk with no visible human 62 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:08,760 characteristics that's why the demands 63 00:03:06,920 --> 00:03:11,239 on for someone like Alan Johnson isn't 64 00:03:08,760 --> 00:03:12,959 it who speaks human yeah and and that's 65 00:03:11,239 --> 00:03:14,640 why frankly he's he's even more 66 00:03:12,959 --> 00:03:16,680 unpopular than nickl even more unpopular 67 00:03:14,640 --> 00:03:18,280 than David Cameron because at least 68 00:03:16,680 --> 00:03:20,319 those guys who are deeply unpopular 69 00:03:18,280 --> 00:03:22,000 themselves have shown some sort of 70 00:03:20,319 --> 00:03:23,400 humanity people sort of feel they knew 71 00:03:22,000 --> 00:03:24,840 know something about them even with C 72 00:03:23,400 --> 00:03:26,120 it's just a sort of think well you know 73 00:03:24,840 --> 00:03:27,560 we don't like the way you betrayed us 74 00:03:26,120 --> 00:03:29,120 but with mban they feel they know 75 00:03:27,560 --> 00:03:30,680 nothing no they don't understand him at 76 00:03:29,120 --> 00:03:32,000 all the only thing people quote about 77 00:03:30,680 --> 00:03:33,640 him is that he stabbed his own brother 78 00:03:32,000 --> 00:03:36,080 in the back and all they see from him 79 00:03:33,640 --> 00:03:37,560 now is these high fluen speeches that 80 00:03:36,080 --> 00:03:39,560 connect with no one and resonate with no 81 00:03:37,560 --> 00:03:43,000 one and speak to nothing that is about 82 00:03:39,560 --> 00:03:44,519 their ordinary lives the key of those 83 00:03:43,000 --> 00:03:47,760 was the 84 00:03:44,519 --> 00:03:49,360 rambling Soliloquy at the labor 85 00:03:47,760 --> 00:03:52,760 conference about all the people he 86 00:03:49,360 --> 00:03:54,640 bumped into on Hamstead Heath surely he 87 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,519 knows that was a catastrophic blunder 88 00:03:54,640 --> 00:03:57,720 that speech well I mean the bizarre 89 00:03:56,519 --> 00:03:59,400 thing about that was remember he left 90 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:00,280 out a big section on the deficit and on 91 00:03:59,400 --> 00:04:01,720 immigration 92 00:04:00,280 --> 00:04:03,720 God knows how long that speech would 93 00:04:01,720 --> 00:04:05,680 have been if he included those things it 94 00:04:03,720 --> 00:04:07,519 would have been 80 minutes so what on 95 00:04:05,680 --> 00:04:09,519 Earth possessed them to think that that 96 00:04:07,519 --> 00:04:10,959 was on this big stage this huge 97 00:04:09,519 --> 00:04:12,920 opportunity to reach the British people 98 00:04:10,959 --> 00:04:14,560 that that was the way to go I mean it 99 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,359 just it's fathomless and that's what 100 00:04:14,560 --> 00:04:17,320 gives people no confidence that they can 101 00:04:16,359 --> 00:04:18,600 turn it around because it's not just 102 00:04:17,320 --> 00:04:20,759 you've made a mistake or you've made a 103 00:04:18,600 --> 00:04:22,440 gaff it's that the whole plan is wrong 104 00:04:20,759 --> 00:04:24,600 you've got no sense of how you should be 105 00:04:22,440 --> 00:04:29,880 presenting yourself to people I've been 106 00:04:24,600 --> 00:04:31,120 here before uh and Mia Copa uh I was was 107 00:04:29,880 --> 00:04:33,080 one of those that encouraged Michael 108 00:04:31,120 --> 00:04:34,560 foot to run for the leadership quite 109 00:04:33,080 --> 00:04:36,720 quickly became apparent it was a 110 00:04:34,560 --> 00:04:39,160 disastrous Choice Dennis Healey might 111 00:04:36,720 --> 00:04:41,759 well have beaten uh Thatcher certainly 112 00:04:39,160 --> 00:04:44,600 would not have lost by the same amount I 113 00:04:41,759 --> 00:04:48,680 pressed the late John Smith God Rest his 114 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:51,039 soul to tell Neil kinnick that he had to 115 00:04:48,680 --> 00:04:53,080 move aside because to me it was 116 00:04:51,039 --> 00:04:55,280 absolutely evident that Neil kinnick 117 00:04:53,080 --> 00:04:59,160 could not uh 118 00:04:55,280 --> 00:05:02,240 win can it happen is it just too late 119 00:04:59,160 --> 00:05:03,840 can Allan Johnson be pressed into coming 120 00:05:02,240 --> 00:05:05,400 forward I think having got through this 121 00:05:03,840 --> 00:05:07,400 week There's no way it's external 122 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:09,000 pressure that forces Milan or or 123 00:05:07,400 --> 00:05:11,360 pressure from his own party the only 124 00:05:09,000 --> 00:05:13,560 thing that would possibly save us is he 125 00:05:11,360 --> 00:05:15,759 is intrinsically a good man and he 126 00:05:13,560 --> 00:05:18,000 believes in socialist causes he believes 127 00:05:15,759 --> 00:05:19,880 in the lab party and in his heart of 128 00:05:18,000 --> 00:05:21,440 hearts I would hope that at some point 129 00:05:19,880 --> 00:05:24,240 over the next two or three months he 130 00:05:21,440 --> 00:05:26,440 will sit down with people that just care 131 00:05:24,240 --> 00:05:27,720 about him and care about the party and 132 00:05:26,440 --> 00:05:29,240 aren't caring about their own seats or 133 00:05:27,720 --> 00:05:30,880 their own futures or their own careers 134 00:05:29,240 --> 00:05:33,880 and will just think well do I want to go 135 00:05:30,880 --> 00:05:36,800 down in history as leading this party in 136 00:05:33,880 --> 00:05:38,039 a winnable election to a terrible defeat 137 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:39,560 and ask himself that question if he 138 00:05:38,039 --> 00:05:41,080 thinks that's what's going to happen and 139 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:43,039 he's got no Prospect to tur it around I 140 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,400 I hope he'd be the person to say look 141 00:05:43,039 --> 00:05:46,600 I've tried my best but it's not going to 142 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,160 work out and I'm asking alen Johnson to 143 00:05:46,600 --> 00:05:49,800 come in and take over for the election 144 00:05:48,160 --> 00:05:52,360 that's almost the only thing I can see 145 00:05:49,800 --> 00:05:54,600 now now there's a rose tinted scenario 146 00:05:52,360 --> 00:05:56,080 here which is that somehow the Tories 147 00:05:54,600 --> 00:05:57,840 keep shooting themselves in the foot 148 00:05:56,080 --> 00:05:59,800 that somehow Milan finds his voice the 149 00:05:57,840 --> 00:06:01,759 expectations will be so low when he goes 150 00:05:59,800 --> 00:06:03,680 into the pre-election leadership debates 151 00:06:01,759 --> 00:06:06,160 that perhaps he surprises everyone with 152 00:06:03,680 --> 00:06:08,440 his eloquence and his arguments and I 153 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:10,319 just saw a pig flying by me there I'm 154 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:12,440 giving you the optimistic scenario but 155 00:06:10,319 --> 00:06:14,319 the danger is that EDM lean might just 156 00:06:12,440 --> 00:06:16,240 cling on to that optimistic scenario 157 00:06:14,319 --> 00:06:17,479 right the way to a week before the 158 00:06:16,240 --> 00:06:20,680 election and then realize it's too late 159 00:06:17,479 --> 00:06:24,080 and by that stage we're finished I don't 160 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:28,080 like breaking this news to labor but 161 00:06:24,080 --> 00:06:30,199 this is the okay caral uh because 162 00:06:28,080 --> 00:06:32,520 Scotland will break away yeah if the 163 00:06:30,199 --> 00:06:34,560 Tories get back and then there'll never 164 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:36,319 be a labor government again I'm not in 165 00:06:34,560 --> 00:06:37,880 labor but I want a labor government and 166 00:06:36,319 --> 00:06:42,199 the people I represent want a labor 167 00:06:37,880 --> 00:06:46,680 government need one to survive yeah uh 168 00:06:42,199 --> 00:06:50,199 so if I could just be heard by Alan 169 00:06:46,680 --> 00:06:52,759 Johnson whom I quite admire actually I'd 170 00:06:50,199 --> 00:06:55,520 say to him you have to show some signal 171 00:06:52,759 --> 00:06:57,800 you really have to but he's just also 172 00:06:55,520 --> 00:06:59,000 too nice a guy isn't he yeah and he will 173 00:06:57,800 --> 00:07:01,080 not not be the one to wield the knife he 174 00:06:59,000 --> 00:07:02,199 wasn't under go Brown remember even 175 00:07:01,080 --> 00:07:03,879 though people thought that he was he was 176 00:07:02,199 --> 00:07:05,680 the man to do so then and so he will not 177 00:07:03,879 --> 00:07:07,280 do it but labor and peas will not grasp 178 00:07:05,680 --> 00:07:09,479 this that this is the win or bust 179 00:07:07,280 --> 00:07:10,720 election and it's it's it's both because 180 00:07:09,479 --> 00:07:12,319 of what will happen in Scotland but as a 181 00:07:10,720 --> 00:07:14,000 consequence of that what that will allow 182 00:07:12,319 --> 00:07:15,720 to happen in England the Tories will 183 00:07:14,000 --> 00:07:16,960 drive through boundary changes which 184 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:18,800 will totally change the composition of 185 00:07:16,960 --> 00:07:20,560 the elector you'll end up with a sort of 186 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,599 right-wing Coalition sort of you know 187 00:07:20,560 --> 00:07:24,520 brought together stitched up ukip and 188 00:07:22,599 --> 00:07:25,960 the Tories Coalition and then the 189 00:07:24,520 --> 00:07:28,680 dynamic of British 190 00:07:25,960 --> 00:07:30,840 politics and and it's a fearful scenario 191 00:07:28,680 --> 00:07:32,400 will just be drifting from uh center 192 00:07:30,840 --> 00:07:33,720 right to Far Right Center right to far 193 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:35,919 right that will be the dynamic of 194 00:07:33,720 --> 00:07:37,400 British politics at that stage we will 195 00:07:35,919 --> 00:07:39,680 almost have to sort of form a sort of 196 00:07:37,400 --> 00:07:41,639 new version of the left standing up for 197 00:07:39,680 --> 00:07:43,199 the workers to to have a chance of sort 198 00:07:41,639 --> 00:07:44,680 of busting into that because that's 199 00:07:43,199 --> 00:07:46,159 that's the way things will be and I 200 00:07:44,680 --> 00:07:48,080 talked to lber and PE and they say well 201 00:07:46,159 --> 00:07:49,280 you know nothing ever really changes and 202 00:07:48,080 --> 00:07:50,520 I said well you don't realize this is 203 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:53,479 the election when it will change they 204 00:07:50,520 --> 00:07:56,360 quite wrong uh about that now the last 205 00:07:53,479 --> 00:07:59,720 thing I suppose the Ed millerand wanted 206 00:07:56,360 --> 00:08:01,919 to come riding over the horizon to give 207 00:07:59,720 --> 00:08:05,199 him his endorsement it was the dreaded 208 00:08:01,919 --> 00:08:07,159 Tony Blair endorsement uh this week how 209 00:08:05,199 --> 00:08:09,280 do you think that will have played well 210 00:08:07,159 --> 00:08:10,639 I mean but but I you know Blair is toxic 211 00:08:09,280 --> 00:08:13,879 within a l part he's toxic within 212 00:08:10,639 --> 00:08:15,360 Britain at the moment and um you know he 213 00:08:13,879 --> 00:08:16,800 gets put into these scenarios where he 214 00:08:15,360 --> 00:08:18,120 still because of the sort of fantasies 215 00:08:16,800 --> 00:08:19,440 that go on in Blair's head he still 216 00:08:18,120 --> 00:08:20,720 thinks of himself as a king maker he 217 00:08:19,440 --> 00:08:22,159 still thinks of himself as wielding this 218 00:08:20,720 --> 00:08:24,280 great influence both with the party and 219 00:08:22,159 --> 00:08:26,479 with the British public and uh you know 220 00:08:24,280 --> 00:08:30,319 it's crazy I mean Ian if I was if I was 221 00:08:26,479 --> 00:08:32,680 at millerand I I I hope I hope I pray 222 00:08:30,319 --> 00:08:34,240 that Ed Milan did not actually caught 223 00:08:32,680 --> 00:08:35,440 that and think that would be useful to 224 00:08:34,240 --> 00:08:38,320 have Tony Blair saying that because what 225 00:08:35,440 --> 00:08:40,519 Ed Milan needs right now are the people 226 00:08:38,320 --> 00:08:41,959 that the British public trust the few 227 00:08:40,519 --> 00:08:44,640 that they trust within the L party to 228 00:08:41,959 --> 00:08:46,240 come out and say right this is the guy 229 00:08:44,640 --> 00:08:47,560 the reason he can't get them to come out 230 00:08:46,240 --> 00:08:48,839 that is that those people are fairly 231 00:08:47,560 --> 00:08:49,880 trustworthy they speak the truth and I 232 00:08:48,839 --> 00:08:53,040 don't think they believe it themselves 233 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:54,800 they're not prepared to uh to lie you 234 00:08:53,040 --> 00:08:57,480 walked in Downing Street with Gordon 235 00:08:54,800 --> 00:09:00,120 Brown I have a a double-edged 236 00:08:57,480 --> 00:09:03,040 relationship with him he he said uh 237 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:06,040 recently I was his mentor and his Tor 238 00:09:03,040 --> 00:09:07,839 Mentor uh but the one thing that we saw 239 00:09:06,040 --> 00:09:10,880 in the Scottish referendum Campaign 240 00:09:07,839 --> 00:09:14,079 which we fought every day of uh is that 241 00:09:10,880 --> 00:09:18,440 Gordon Brown is very far from a man past 242 00:09:14,079 --> 00:09:21,000 it he emerged into that debate and saved 243 00:09:18,440 --> 00:09:22,800 the day Britain would not now exist if 244 00:09:21,000 --> 00:09:24,839 it were not for Gordon Brown that's 245 00:09:22,800 --> 00:09:26,200 quite a big claim to make but it's true 246 00:09:24,839 --> 00:09:27,959 yeah it's true though it wasn't 247 00:09:26,200 --> 00:09:30,480 recognized acknowledged by Ed Milan 248 00:09:27,959 --> 00:09:32,279 during the conference un 249 00:09:30,480 --> 00:09:34,440 he he thanked everybody who had actually 250 00:09:32,279 --> 00:09:36,880 almost lost the referendum and didn't 251 00:09:34,440 --> 00:09:41,480 thank the guy Gordon Brown who saved the 252 00:09:36,880 --> 00:09:43,880 referendum yeah uh why can't Gordon come 253 00:09:41,480 --> 00:09:46,360 out of retirement and lead the Scottish 254 00:09:43,880 --> 00:09:48,760 labor party lead the fight back against 255 00:09:46,360 --> 00:09:49,920 the SNP I fear he's the only man that 256 00:09:48,760 --> 00:09:53,000 can do 257 00:09:49,920 --> 00:09:55,720 it I sort of wish he would myself I 258 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,640 think my sympathy with him is that you 259 00:09:55,720 --> 00:09:59,600 know how Riven the Scottish laad party 260 00:09:57,640 --> 00:10:01,399 is with internal Division and I don't 261 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:04,240 think he he found this in dowy Street 262 00:10:01,399 --> 00:10:05,600 he's very bad at managing if you like a 263 00:10:04,240 --> 00:10:08,839 playground of squabbling children he 264 00:10:05,600 --> 00:10:10,600 doesn't do it well um and you know you 265 00:10:08,839 --> 00:10:12,399 you'd like people to just sort of almost 266 00:10:10,600 --> 00:10:13,920 respect this Father Figure status and 267 00:10:12,399 --> 00:10:15,360 and all sort of settle down but that's 268 00:10:13,920 --> 00:10:16,720 not what you know that's not the way it 269 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,200 works in Scotland that people keep these 270 00:10:16,720 --> 00:10:19,920 sort of feuds going and he's he's been 271 00:10:18,200 --> 00:10:22,240 at the heart of that for the last 40 272 00:10:19,920 --> 00:10:24,120 years so and I don't think he thinks he 273 00:10:22,240 --> 00:10:25,560 can fix that and if you can't fix that I 274 00:10:24,120 --> 00:10:27,720 don't think he thinks he can fix the 275 00:10:25,560 --> 00:10:30,399 scottage well except there's not that 276 00:10:27,720 --> 00:10:32,839 much now that needs fixing in the sense 277 00:10:30,399 --> 00:10:34,959 that they're down to about 10,000 278 00:10:32,839 --> 00:10:37,720 members in the entire country as 279 00:10:34,959 --> 00:10:40,279 compared with the 880,000 members of the 280 00:10:37,720 --> 00:10:42,480 SNP so in a way what you would need is 281 00:10:40,279 --> 00:10:45,560 Gordon Brown given plenty potentially 282 00:10:42,480 --> 00:10:48,360 Powers uh to effectively close down what 283 00:10:45,560 --> 00:10:50,399 was there before and start a new but the 284 00:10:48,360 --> 00:10:52,800 one thing I I must tell you he's got is 285 00:10:50,399 --> 00:10:55,279 immense respect amongst the public in 286 00:10:52,800 --> 00:10:57,440 Scotland and I I don't actually think 287 00:10:55,279 --> 00:10:59,920 there's anybody else that comes remotely 288 00:10:57,440 --> 00:11:01,760 close to that MH yeah I mean I think you 289 00:10:59,920 --> 00:11:03,560 know it's the classic problem with 290 00:11:01,760 --> 00:11:06,200 Gordon I think he'd make a great first 291 00:11:03,560 --> 00:11:07,920 Minister from right now leading the 292 00:11:06,200 --> 00:11:10,040 charge but it's how to get there and I 293 00:11:07,920 --> 00:11:12,560 don't know whether he's got that kind of 294 00:11:10,040 --> 00:11:13,760 energy in him uh to to lead that I think 295 00:11:12,560 --> 00:11:15,800 I think where it's a sort of straight up 296 00:11:13,760 --> 00:11:17,680 and down yes or no fight Gordon's 297 00:11:15,800 --> 00:11:18,839 exactly the man you want making those 298 00:11:17,680 --> 00:11:21,560 convincing arguments in the way that he 299 00:11:18,839 --> 00:11:23,920 did in the for before the referendum but 300 00:11:21,560 --> 00:11:26,200 to sort of try and Stitch together that 301 00:11:23,920 --> 00:11:29,720 that party is is what you mean just 302 00:11:26,200 --> 00:11:32,760 finally then um you've never been a of 303 00:11:29,720 --> 00:11:35,600 course but you know how politics in the 304 00:11:32,760 --> 00:11:38,720 Heart of Darkness that is Westminster 305 00:11:35,600 --> 00:11:42,040 operates the Tories have their own 306 00:11:38,720 --> 00:11:44,040 problems uh Europe for all of the time 307 00:11:42,040 --> 00:11:46,279 nearly 30 years I've been in Parliament 308 00:11:44,040 --> 00:11:48,880 has been a fisure at the heart of the 309 00:11:46,279 --> 00:11:51,120 Tory party is it possible the Tory party 310 00:11:48,880 --> 00:11:52,760 itself could break apart over this well 311 00:11:51,120 --> 00:11:54,480 I think it's perfectly possible the way 312 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:57,000 the best way labor might still win this 313 00:11:54,480 --> 00:11:58,560 election is the Tories imploding and and 314 00:11:57,000 --> 00:12:00,360 blowing themselves in the foot if you 315 00:11:58,560 --> 00:12:02,600 like because because the problem they've 316 00:12:00,360 --> 00:12:04,279 got is that for them another coalition 317 00:12:02,600 --> 00:12:06,160 government will not be enough they've 318 00:12:04,279 --> 00:12:07,320 spent they you know David Cameron has 319 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:09,519 spent the last four years telling his 320 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:10,920 backbenches if only we'd won a majority 321 00:12:09,519 --> 00:12:12,160 if only we can deliver a majority next 322 00:12:10,920 --> 00:12:14,040 time around we'll be able to do the 323 00:12:12,160 --> 00:12:16,120 things you want us to do if they can't 324 00:12:14,040 --> 00:12:17,760 do that then the T party tears itself 325 00:12:16,120 --> 00:12:20,040 apart again and you end up with this 326 00:12:17,760 --> 00:12:21,440 split um where some people will say well 327 00:12:20,040 --> 00:12:24,040 the only way of securing that is to 328 00:12:21,440 --> 00:12:25,360 throw a lot in totally with ukip and uh 329 00:12:24,040 --> 00:12:27,440 and that means abandoning support for 330 00:12:25,360 --> 00:12:29,399 Europe in a referendum and you know a 331 00:12:27,440 --> 00:12:31,279 significant chunk of the Tory will 332 00:12:29,399 --> 00:12:32,880 refused to do that and so I think they 333 00:12:31,279 --> 00:12:34,000 could tear themselves apart now and 334 00:12:32,880 --> 00:12:35,079 hopefully from my point of view they 335 00:12:34,000 --> 00:12:37,279 tear themselves apart before the 336 00:12:35,079 --> 00:12:40,199 election not not wait till after Jam 337 00:12:37,279 --> 00:12:42,320 McBride author of power trip it's a 338 00:12:40,199 --> 00:12:44,839 fantastic read I must tell you thanks 339 00:12:42,320 --> 00:12:47,120 for joining us after the break a report 340 00:12:44,839 --> 00:12:49,240 from the front in Syria the medical 341 00:12:47,120 --> 00:12:51,160 front that is where it must sometimes 342 00:12:49,240 --> 00:12:54,720 feel like the trenches of the first 343 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:54,720 world war we'll be right 344 00:12:57,560 --> 00:13:03,560 back welcome back to Sputnik more than 3 345 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:06,480 years into the Civil War and foreign 346 00:13:03,560 --> 00:13:08,440 invasion of Syria the medical services 347 00:13:06,480 --> 00:13:11,160 available to the hundreds of thousands 348 00:13:08,440 --> 00:13:14,279 of dead and wounded could scarcely be 349 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:16,320 more strained sanctions and War have 350 00:13:14,279 --> 00:13:18,839 transformed a medical front in Syria 351 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:21,320 into Killing Fields what Heroes 352 00:13:18,839 --> 00:13:23,720 therefore are the doctors and nurses who 353 00:13:21,320 --> 00:13:25,440 have remained at their post any of whom 354 00:13:23,720 --> 00:13:28,920 could have walked into a lucrative 355 00:13:25,440 --> 00:13:31,279 surgical job in the Gulf at any time yet 356 00:13:28,920 --> 00:13:34,000 in instead they have chosen to remain in 357 00:13:31,279 --> 00:13:37,079 their $100 a month sanctions bound and 358 00:13:34,000 --> 00:13:40,320 War torn country because well their 359 00:13:37,079 --> 00:13:43,720 dignity and honor is more important one 360 00:13:40,320 --> 00:13:46,120 such doctor is Mr Ahmed Al kadur 361 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:48,360 cardiothoracic surgeon and the 362 00:13:46,120 --> 00:13:52,880 personification of that dignity and I'm 363 00:13:48,360 --> 00:13:54,680 glad to say he joins us now Mr Ahmed in 364 00:13:52,880 --> 00:13:56,639 your case it's even more extraordinary 365 00:13:54,680 --> 00:13:59,680 you were working and living here in 366 00:13:56,639 --> 00:14:02,680 Britain for the last 17 years in safe 367 00:13:59,680 --> 00:14:05,839 with decent salary uh but you've decided 368 00:14:02,680 --> 00:14:08,440 to go back to Syria in the midst of all 369 00:14:05,839 --> 00:14:10,519 of this why first of all thank you very 370 00:14:08,440 --> 00:14:13,600 much for this opportunity and the 371 00:14:10,519 --> 00:14:15,759 greeting to you to your uh program here 372 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:19,160 from my people in 373 00:14:15,759 --> 00:14:22,320 Syria uh I in the beginning of this 374 00:14:19,160 --> 00:14:25,160 crisis I decided to go to Syria to do 375 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:28,440 some charity operation and enjoyed it 376 00:14:25,160 --> 00:14:32,000 very much so uh some of the local 377 00:14:28,440 --> 00:14:35,920 charities wanted this trips to do uh 378 00:14:32,000 --> 00:14:39,199 heart surgery on my own people and uh 379 00:14:35,920 --> 00:14:42,480 with very cheap prices comparing to to 380 00:14:39,199 --> 00:14:45,279 England and then uh a few months back uh 381 00:14:42,480 --> 00:14:49,160 I found a lot of Syrian doctors decided 382 00:14:45,279 --> 00:14:51,639 to leave the country and to go outside 383 00:14:49,160 --> 00:14:54,480 uh for lucrative jobs as you mentioned 384 00:14:51,639 --> 00:14:57,320 in your introduction so I just and I got 385 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:59,440 the opportunity to go and work in one of 386 00:14:57,320 --> 00:15:02,680 the uh main leading hospitals at 387 00:14:59,440 --> 00:15:05,759 Damascus University so I decided to take 388 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:09,199 my family and go live there I enjoy 389 00:15:05,759 --> 00:15:11,720 helping my own people uh it's a good 390 00:15:09,199 --> 00:15:12,480 experience for me it's a progression in 391 00:15:11,720 --> 00:15:15,839 my 392 00:15:12,480 --> 00:15:20,199 career uh so I decided take this 393 00:15:15,839 --> 00:15:24,000 decision and uh go there uh offer my 394 00:15:20,199 --> 00:15:26,920 help uh encourage people uh encourage my 395 00:15:24,000 --> 00:15:29,920 colleague to stay there keep the country 396 00:15:26,920 --> 00:15:33,519 United in this difficult time and how is 397 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:37,639 it is it uh as bad as it looks on 398 00:15:33,519 --> 00:15:40,639 television uh Damascus people people in 399 00:15:37,639 --> 00:15:46,240 Damascus uh they insist to 400 00:15:40,639 --> 00:15:48,440 live uh they insist to stay they insist 401 00:15:46,240 --> 00:15:52,160 to keep their countries 402 00:15:48,440 --> 00:15:54,800 United of course sanctions and the war 403 00:15:52,160 --> 00:15:57,920 affected the country very badly 404 00:15:54,800 --> 00:16:01,360 especially the health system uh Health 405 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:04,399 surface comparing with NS for example in 406 00:16:01,360 --> 00:16:06,079 UK If we say before the crisis started 407 00:16:04,399 --> 00:16:10,279 let's say Syrian health system was 408 00:16:06,079 --> 00:16:12,480 offering 70% comparing to NSS now is 409 00:16:10,279 --> 00:16:15,600 about 30% let's say because of the 410 00:16:12,480 --> 00:16:18,800 sanctions because of the security uh 411 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:23,639 people die they can't travel to Damascus 412 00:16:18,800 --> 00:16:26,279 the so the health uh the hospitals only 413 00:16:23,639 --> 00:16:29,560 available now in big cities like 414 00:16:26,279 --> 00:16:33,199 Damascus or Latakia taros uh all other 415 00:16:29,560 --> 00:16:36,440 places this war ruined the hospitals 416 00:16:33,199 --> 00:16:39,279 ruin the schools ruin this war ruin 417 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:41,920 everything even the uh architecture 418 00:16:39,279 --> 00:16:43,079 Heritage which we've got uh I've been 419 00:16:41,920 --> 00:16:45,759 operating in 420 00:16:43,079 --> 00:16:49,240 Damascus uh people they come from all 421 00:16:45,759 --> 00:16:52,560 over Syria even they are freely to come 422 00:16:49,240 --> 00:16:54,600 from raka idb where are under control of 423 00:16:52,560 --> 00:16:58,519 Isis they travel to Damascus they took 424 00:16:54,600 --> 00:17:01,040 the trouble traveling to Damascus uh and 425 00:16:58,519 --> 00:17:03,680 appear operating on such a lot of people 426 00:17:01,040 --> 00:17:06,079 and do they stay or go back they go back 427 00:17:03,680 --> 00:17:08,160 after I do a hard job I say look please 428 00:17:06,079 --> 00:17:09,839 be careful of yourself I did a hard job 429 00:17:08,160 --> 00:17:13,679 I don't want you to lose your life on 430 00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:15,959 the way so now many people will be 431 00:17:13,679 --> 00:17:20,880 shocked that on top of all this there 432 00:17:15,959 --> 00:17:23,240 are sanctions on uh Syria uh I know 433 00:17:20,880 --> 00:17:25,640 intimately the regime of sanctions that 434 00:17:23,240 --> 00:17:27,439 was imposed on Iraq and what the 435 00:17:25,640 --> 00:17:30,880 consequences for the Health Care System 436 00:17:27,439 --> 00:17:33,840 were in that tell us about the sanctions 437 00:17:30,880 --> 00:17:37,919 well because of the sanctions uh Syria 438 00:17:33,840 --> 00:17:39,919 transferred from exporter to medicine to 439 00:17:37,919 --> 00:17:42,440 uh to getting as much as possible bit 440 00:17:39,919 --> 00:17:44,960 and pieces from there and there the 441 00:17:42,440 --> 00:17:47,600 trader refused to to sign long-term 442 00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:50,520 contract with hospitals because of the 443 00:17:47,600 --> 00:17:52,559 currency instability they cannot sign a 444 00:17:50,520 --> 00:17:56,679 long-term contract of supply for 445 00:17:52,559 --> 00:17:58,840 hospital so I end up buying uh little 446 00:17:56,679 --> 00:18:01,799 bit there little bit there with double 447 00:17:58,840 --> 00:18:04,679 or trouble the price and that raise the 448 00:18:01,799 --> 00:18:06,960 cost of everything Health Service the 449 00:18:04,679 --> 00:18:09,679 equipment equipment sometimes is not 450 00:18:06,960 --> 00:18:12,080 available so we have to stop operation 451 00:18:09,679 --> 00:18:15,799 for silly things sometimes something not 452 00:18:12,080 --> 00:18:18,520 available uh because of the security uh 453 00:18:15,799 --> 00:18:21,039 on the road uh some Supply didn't reach 454 00:18:18,520 --> 00:18:23,080 a hospital where I I've been working for 455 00:18:21,039 --> 00:18:24,840 example we we had to stop the service 456 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:29,799 for a week because there was a lack of 457 00:18:24,840 --> 00:18:33,280 oxygen because the oxygen Factory uh a 458 00:18:29,799 --> 00:18:35,720 uh controlled by by uh these Rebels so 459 00:18:33,280 --> 00:18:37,840 they didn't reach the hospital so a lot 460 00:18:35,720 --> 00:18:40,480 of difficulties going on but we're 461 00:18:37,840 --> 00:18:43,039 trying to do our best to keep the 462 00:18:40,480 --> 00:18:45,679 systems going a lot of people I can see 463 00:18:43,039 --> 00:18:48,600 a lot of people are dying because they 464 00:18:45,679 --> 00:18:51,640 couldn't reach the hospital on time if 465 00:18:48,600 --> 00:18:53,720 if you got an emergency overnight nobody 466 00:18:51,640 --> 00:18:56,000 uh uh could have travel overnight 467 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:59,200 because it's not safe to travel to the 468 00:18:56,000 --> 00:19:00,960 hospital so uh a lot of difficulty is 469 00:18:59,200 --> 00:19:03,200 associated with this war with the 470 00:19:00,960 --> 00:19:06,159 security situation in the country in 471 00:19:03,200 --> 00:19:09,280 Iraq uh the excuse was that medical 472 00:19:06,159 --> 00:19:12,320 material had a dual use that it had 473 00:19:09,280 --> 00:19:14,559 potentially military use as well as uh 474 00:19:12,320 --> 00:19:17,480 this they employed as a tactic against 475 00:19:14,559 --> 00:19:20,520 even pencils because a pencil can write 476 00:19:17,480 --> 00:19:24,320 a note or it can the graphite in it if 477 00:19:20,520 --> 00:19:28,320 you amassed 500 trillion pencils might 478 00:19:24,320 --> 00:19:30,120 make uh enough for a for a bomb uh the 479 00:19:28,320 --> 00:19:32,760 sanctions on Iraq were different though 480 00:19:30,120 --> 00:19:34,520 to the sanctions on Syria just explain 481 00:19:32,760 --> 00:19:35,679 what restrictions there are apart from 482 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:38,400 the currency 483 00:19:35,679 --> 00:19:40,600 instability yeah we cannot import a lot 484 00:19:38,400 --> 00:19:43,360 of materials for example I do hard 485 00:19:40,600 --> 00:19:46,840 surgery I need a lot of equipment from 486 00:19:43,360 --> 00:19:49,960 major companies major major companies 487 00:19:46,840 --> 00:19:51,520 not allowed to to to to send materials 488 00:19:49,960 --> 00:19:54,720 to Syria because of 489 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:58,120 sanctions most of the Traders they uh 490 00:19:54,720 --> 00:19:59,960 their accounts uh outside uh being 491 00:19:58,120 --> 00:20:03,200 closed because they are they got 492 00:19:59,960 --> 00:20:05,240 Connection in Syria uh so uh most of 493 00:20:03,200 --> 00:20:07,559 Traders they they left their business 494 00:20:05,240 --> 00:20:10,200 because they couldn't afford to to to 495 00:20:07,559 --> 00:20:14,520 bring into Syria uh any any products or 496 00:20:10,200 --> 00:20:17,200 any medical products uh medicines or or 497 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:20,240 equipment for operations or or 498 00:20:17,200 --> 00:20:22,360 instruments for the hospitals itself 499 00:20:20,240 --> 00:20:24,880 even as I said to you local Supply is 500 00:20:22,360 --> 00:20:27,840 even sometimes difficult to transport 501 00:20:24,880 --> 00:20:30,200 between factories and the hospitals so 502 00:20:27,840 --> 00:20:32,720 all this contri Ed to to the healthy 503 00:20:30,200 --> 00:20:34,039 crisis so do you receive equipment in 504 00:20:32,720 --> 00:20:38,080 different ways and maybe through 505 00:20:34,039 --> 00:20:42,280 Charities or invo sometimes Charities 506 00:20:38,080 --> 00:20:44,200 sometimes personal helps as I said we we 507 00:20:42,280 --> 00:20:47,000 have to to pay as I said double or 508 00:20:44,200 --> 00:20:49,000 trible the price of the same product is 509 00:20:47,000 --> 00:20:51,720 being sold somewhere else much much 510 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:54,080 cheaper in in Lebanon or something we 511 00:20:51,720 --> 00:20:57,640 have to to get the same product to Syria 512 00:20:54,080 --> 00:21:01,000 with a trible price so what is the I 513 00:20:57,640 --> 00:21:04,080 mean there obviously the trauma injuries 514 00:21:01,000 --> 00:21:07,440 uh wounds and uh and so on from the 515 00:21:04,080 --> 00:21:09,640 actual fighting and explosions and so on 516 00:21:07,440 --> 00:21:12,679 but what are what are the other health 517 00:21:09,640 --> 00:21:15,440 impacts of living through this uh 518 00:21:12,679 --> 00:21:18,640 horrific uh period psychological illness 519 00:21:15,440 --> 00:21:21,640 for example must be multiplying multiply 520 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:25,360 sometimes when when um I got my child is 521 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:27,960 7 years old H before I convinced him to 522 00:21:25,360 --> 00:21:31,640 go there I said look my dad we have to 523 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:33,720 go help my own people work but but he he 524 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:35,799 said to me you can see on the TV people 525 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:38,240 shopping heads and say Allah abbar where 526 00:21:35,799 --> 00:21:40,559 you we going to go and he was really 527 00:21:38,240 --> 00:21:44,919 scared it took me a while to convince 528 00:21:40,559 --> 00:21:47,799 him to go and uh really uh we he wake at 529 00:21:44,919 --> 00:21:51,080 night few times hearing the bombing from 530 00:21:47,799 --> 00:21:53,520 our he scared a few times and then uh I 531 00:21:51,080 --> 00:21:56,679 encouraged him that we have to stay we 532 00:21:53,520 --> 00:22:00,000 have to be brave this our homeland we 533 00:21:56,679 --> 00:22:01,559 need to keep United we we need to stay 534 00:22:00,000 --> 00:22:04,600 here otherwise we're going to lose our 535 00:22:01,559 --> 00:22:08,799 land forever like other people and now 536 00:22:04,600 --> 00:22:10,720 he start to realize and he's braver than 537 00:22:08,799 --> 00:22:14,480 before and this is in Damascus that's in 538 00:22:10,720 --> 00:22:18,440 Damascus so imagine imagine in homes 539 00:22:14,480 --> 00:22:21,080 about uh there was assassination a month 540 00:22:18,440 --> 00:22:24,039 back killed more than 50 children in one 541 00:22:21,080 --> 00:22:28,840 school in the m in homes but people in 542 00:22:24,039 --> 00:22:32,720 Syria insist to to stay and to to fight 543 00:22:28,840 --> 00:22:35,760 for their independent and to keep United 544 00:22:32,720 --> 00:22:38,799 and by the end of the day we don't want 545 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:40,919 to lose Syria as we uh as as Iraqi 546 00:22:38,799 --> 00:22:45,159 people lost their Iraq you mention or 547 00:22:40,919 --> 00:22:47,799 Libyan lost Libya so I got many friends 548 00:22:45,159 --> 00:22:50,919 Libyan friend Iraqi friend they have no 549 00:22:47,799 --> 00:22:54,000 hope in the future I still got hope 550 00:22:50,919 --> 00:22:55,159 Syria will recover if we reach a 551 00:22:54,000 --> 00:22:58,039 peaceful 552 00:22:55,159 --> 00:23:02,400 agreement by negotiation by spreading 553 00:22:58,039 --> 00:23:05,559 the peace Mission by by by the help of 554 00:23:02,400 --> 00:23:08,760 real friend of Syria real friends who 555 00:23:05,559 --> 00:23:11,279 can go to Damascus and and announce a 556 00:23:08,760 --> 00:23:13,799 meeting of reconciliation from Damascus 557 00:23:11,279 --> 00:23:15,720 itself we don't want the friends outside 558 00:23:13,799 --> 00:23:19,200 the uh 559 00:23:15,720 --> 00:23:24,000 funding uh terroristic group there and 560 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:27,559 there for uh for other goals you see how 561 00:23:24,000 --> 00:23:32,279 can uh in a word or two uh how can 562 00:23:27,559 --> 00:23:34,760 people help your work I think uh 563 00:23:32,279 --> 00:23:36,720 sanctions affecting normal people this 564 00:23:34,760 --> 00:23:38,279 should be lifted 565 00:23:36,720 --> 00:23:42,799 immediately 566 00:23:38,279 --> 00:23:47,320 sanctions I think real friends of uh 567 00:23:42,799 --> 00:23:51,720 Syria uh should help uh Syria by pushing 568 00:23:47,320 --> 00:23:55,279 into uh negotiation and uh peaceful uh 569 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:58,039 agreement between all syrians between 570 00:23:55,279 --> 00:24:01,440 all syrians the talk should be between 571 00:23:58,039 --> 00:24:05,960 all serence between all parties without 572 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:08,840 excluding anybody and I'm pretty sure uh 573 00:24:05,960 --> 00:24:11,480 uh the situation uh without Outsider 574 00:24:08,840 --> 00:24:16,640 interference will be much better I think 575 00:24:11,480 --> 00:24:19,320 the situation got inflamed by uh by The 576 00:24:16,640 --> 00:24:22,679 Outsiders well I'm I'm practically 577 00:24:19,320 --> 00:24:28,360 speechless uh so it remains only for me 578 00:24:22,679 --> 00:24:28,360 to thank you for coming on 579 00:24:29,360 --> 00:24:33,320 and now it's your turn to tell us what 580 00:24:31,039 --> 00:24:36,159 you think through the portals of social 581 00:24:33,320 --> 00:24:39,120 media what's rattling gri well how deep 582 00:24:36,159 --> 00:24:41,840 is the crisis in at with labor actually 583 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:44,480 Steve Connor makes a point that if melet 584 00:24:41,840 --> 00:24:47,120 stood down now he's been he would be 585 00:24:44,480 --> 00:24:49,240 seen as a crumbling under pressure and 586 00:24:47,120 --> 00:24:52,760 labor would suffer as a result and where 587 00:24:49,240 --> 00:24:55,279 will Western policy end in Syria takes 588 00:24:52,760 --> 00:24:57,919 replies that the West wants another Iraq 589 00:24:55,279 --> 00:25:00,240 and Libya but Palestine is also at stake 590 00:24:57,919 --> 00:25:02,919 if false undoubtedly the Palestine 591 00:25:00,240 --> 00:25:06,000 question and Syria are now as they have 592 00:25:02,919 --> 00:25:10,159 always been inextricably 593 00:25:06,000 --> 00:25:14,120 entwined uh but uh it seems to me that 594 00:25:10,159 --> 00:25:18,080 the cour is set in Syria for perhaps 595 00:25:14,120 --> 00:25:21,360 decades more of this war of attrition I 596 00:25:18,080 --> 00:25:22,840 really don't see any ending uh even in 597 00:25:21,360 --> 00:25:24,919 my lifetime I must 598 00:25:22,840 --> 00:25:26,640 say well unfortunately that's all that 599 00:25:24,919 --> 00:25:28,440 we've got for this week and 600 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:30,520 unfortunately that's the end of the the 601 00:25:28,440 --> 00:25:33,240 show please keep in touch with us on 602 00:25:30,520 --> 00:25:35,159 Twitter you can find us on rtor Sputnik 603 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:38,159 and on Facebook on Sputnik on Russia 604 00:25:35,159 --> 00:25:42,679 today it's goodbye from me and from me 605 00:25:38,159 --> 00:25:42,679 George Galloway it's been marvelous 606 00:25:43,430 --> 00:25:51,539 [Music]