1 00:00:34,250 --> 00:00:39,329 welcome to Sputnik orbiting the world 2 00:00:36,870 --> 00:00:40,890 with me George Galloway and me gayathri 3 00:00:39,329 --> 00:00:43,860 well they know a thing or two about 4 00:00:40,890 --> 00:00:45,390 democracy in Greece and on Sunday they 5 00:00:43,860 --> 00:00:47,640 chose the most radical left-wing 6 00:00:45,390 --> 00:00:51,449 government elected in Europe since the 7 00:00:47,640 --> 00:00:54,780 1930s and it is the 1930s in Greece is 8 00:00:51,449 --> 00:00:57,659 50% youth unemployment mass poverty a 9 00:00:54,780 --> 00:00:59,850 suicide epidemic fascist on the Mars and 10 00:00:57,659 --> 00:01:02,489 the state being dismantled on the demand 11 00:00:59,850 --> 00:01:04,830 of other states the left-wing syriza 12 00:01:02,489 --> 00:01:06,780 party together with other radical forces 13 00:01:04,830 --> 00:01:09,720 including a party called the river and 14 00:01:06,780 --> 00:01:12,360 the Greek Communists who won 32 seats 15 00:01:09,720 --> 00:01:14,720 between them now has a clear mandate and 16 00:01:12,360 --> 00:01:18,479 majority for an end to what they call 17 00:01:14,720 --> 00:01:20,759 austerity a 1930s words for making the 18 00:01:18,479 --> 00:01:22,920 working people pay for the failures of a 19 00:01:20,759 --> 00:01:25,579 system over which they had no control 20 00:01:22,920 --> 00:01:28,560 and for which they now refused to take 21 00:01:25,579 --> 00:01:30,270 responsibility the other states found it 22 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:32,130 hard to muster much in a way of 23 00:01:30,270 --> 00:01:35,130 enthusiasm for the Greek people's 24 00:01:32,130 --> 00:01:37,620 verdict in fact hair yonkers the head of 25 00:01:35,130 --> 00:01:39,659 the EU sent the tweet congratulating the 26 00:01:37,620 --> 00:01:43,080 city's a leader on his election as 27 00:01:39,659 --> 00:01:45,780 president well he's in fact new prime 28 00:01:43,080 --> 00:01:48,890 minister joining us now to survey the 29 00:01:45,780 --> 00:01:51,540 scene from the Sputnik is dr basilis 30 00:01:48,890 --> 00:01:56,030 monastery artists from the prestigious 31 00:01:51,540 --> 00:02:00,020 london school of economics professor the 32 00:01:56,030 --> 00:02:02,190 verdict came as not much of a surprise 33 00:02:00,020 --> 00:02:05,640 though there were some surprising 34 00:02:02,190 --> 00:02:08,519 elements PASOK being reduced to five 35 00:02:05,640 --> 00:02:12,450 percent having once towered over Greek 36 00:02:08,519 --> 00:02:16,200 politics for decades the Golden Dawn the 37 00:02:12,450 --> 00:02:19,500 fascist formation over play explicitly 38 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:23,330 fascist swastika senal becoming the 39 00:02:19,500 --> 00:02:27,510 third party in Greece but Cerises 40 00:02:23,330 --> 00:02:29,330 winning the majority though just one 41 00:02:27,510 --> 00:02:31,980 seat short of a parliamentary majority 42 00:02:29,330 --> 00:02:34,620 wasn't a surprise tinkles true of you 43 00:02:31,980 --> 00:02:36,959 would your your reading of the election 44 00:02:34,620 --> 00:02:39,090 results as a whole I think there's two 45 00:02:36,959 --> 00:02:42,360 elements in the series are 46 00:02:39,090 --> 00:02:45,030 one is of course the repeal of the 47 00:02:42,360 --> 00:02:48,090 anti-austerity rhetoric and ideas that 48 00:02:45,030 --> 00:02:49,650 have of course a huge appeal in increase 49 00:02:48,090 --> 00:02:52,410 people have been suffering for many 50 00:02:49,650 --> 00:02:55,650 years and they did not see either an end 51 00:02:52,410 --> 00:02:58,620 to this austerity program but also did 52 00:02:55,650 --> 00:03:01,680 not see the foods of austerity did not 53 00:02:58,620 --> 00:03:03,090 see there is a stabilization if you want 54 00:03:01,680 --> 00:03:05,040 of the economy it is not declining 55 00:03:03,090 --> 00:03:06,780 anymore as it has been in previous years 56 00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:09,569 but they did not see the job creation 57 00:03:06,780 --> 00:03:10,890 did not see the increases in income that 58 00:03:09,569 --> 00:03:13,040 one would associate of course with the 59 00:03:10,890 --> 00:03:15,780 end of austerity so this very much a 60 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:17,610 public support for the change in policy 61 00:03:15,780 --> 00:03:19,590 in the direction of ending austerity and 62 00:03:17,610 --> 00:03:22,590 cities that was the most credible of the 63 00:03:19,590 --> 00:03:24,569 parties promising thought I think also 64 00:03:22,590 --> 00:03:26,430 there's another element of the 65 00:03:24,569 --> 00:03:28,470 dissatisfaction of big parts of the 66 00:03:26,430 --> 00:03:30,209 public and of the elect a traditional 67 00:03:28,470 --> 00:03:31,920 electorate of the electrodes of the 68 00:03:30,209 --> 00:03:34,349 traditional parties of the centre-left 69 00:03:31,920 --> 00:03:36,000 and satellite at this satisfaction with 70 00:03:34,349 --> 00:03:37,799 the way they implemented the policies 71 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:41,099 the way to communicate the policies and 72 00:03:37,799 --> 00:03:42,780 the way they also engaged in 73 00:03:41,099 --> 00:03:46,350 negotiations with the with the European 74 00:03:42,780 --> 00:03:48,209 Union the eurozone partners the policies 75 00:03:46,350 --> 00:03:50,639 inglis have not been near as effective 76 00:03:48,209 --> 00:03:53,730 the austerity policies nearly as 77 00:03:50,639 --> 00:03:57,120 effective as in other places in southern 78 00:03:53,730 --> 00:03:58,739 Europe they have been painful across the 79 00:03:57,120 --> 00:04:01,170 south of the eurozone but they have been 80 00:03:58,739 --> 00:04:02,970 particularly painful increase partly 81 00:04:01,170 --> 00:04:06,500 because of the way they were half 82 00:04:02,970 --> 00:04:09,530 implemented and not directed towards 83 00:04:06,500 --> 00:04:12,930 supporting essentially supporting growth 84 00:04:09,530 --> 00:04:17,190 how serious is syriza which is a very 85 00:04:12,930 --> 00:04:20,930 new party it has a lot of leftist 86 00:04:17,190 --> 00:04:24,300 rhetoric how serious are they about 87 00:04:20,930 --> 00:04:27,810 challenging the orthodoxy of the EU on 88 00:04:24,300 --> 00:04:30,840 this matter I think overall syriza has 89 00:04:27,810 --> 00:04:33,030 is absolutely serious and committed to 90 00:04:30,840 --> 00:04:35,490 challenging the main some of the main 91 00:04:33,030 --> 00:04:38,520 premises of the EU and special of the 92 00:04:35,490 --> 00:04:39,900 eurozone of the EMU architecture how it 93 00:04:38,520 --> 00:04:42,570 is built on the idea of fiscal 94 00:04:39,900 --> 00:04:44,930 discipline of the idea of of balanced 95 00:04:42,570 --> 00:04:48,180 budgets and of course price stability of 96 00:04:44,930 --> 00:04:50,400 full employment as a priority so they're 97 00:04:48,180 --> 00:04:52,020 very much they both above committed to 98 00:04:50,400 --> 00:04:52,510 challenging that and they also have an 99 00:04:52,020 --> 00:04:54,670 alternate 100 00:04:52,510 --> 00:04:55,900 the proposal an alternative vision for a 101 00:04:54,670 --> 00:04:59,080 Europe which is more geared up for the 102 00:04:55,900 --> 00:05:04,690 peoples by Europe for the markets so to 103 00:04:59,080 --> 00:05:06,490 speak and the other new power in Greek 104 00:05:04,690 --> 00:05:09,160 politics but there's not really a new 105 00:05:06,490 --> 00:05:11,230 party so the party has a lot long 106 00:05:09,160 --> 00:05:14,770 history obviously they come out of the 107 00:05:11,230 --> 00:05:19,800 Communist Party historically but they in 108 00:05:14,770 --> 00:05:22,870 different formations this this political 109 00:05:19,800 --> 00:05:24,940 area has been active in in Greek 110 00:05:22,870 --> 00:05:28,840 politics both in Parliament and also in 111 00:05:24,940 --> 00:05:30,100 society so they have the organizational 112 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:32,020 structure the Heather appeal to 113 00:05:30,100 --> 00:05:36,340 particular segments of society and they 114 00:05:32,020 --> 00:05:39,250 know how to take the priorities forward 115 00:05:36,340 --> 00:05:41,140 what they do not have is any experience 116 00:05:39,250 --> 00:05:43,720 vast majority of them did not have an 117 00:05:41,140 --> 00:05:46,480 experience with government so this big 118 00:05:43,720 --> 00:05:48,790 uncertainty about how they will handle 119 00:05:46,480 --> 00:05:50,290 both governing Greece the country but 120 00:05:48,790 --> 00:05:52,450 also the negotiations with the givers 121 00:05:50,290 --> 00:05:55,300 and partners all I ask because the 122 00:05:52,450 --> 00:05:57,970 markets were very calm as a result of 123 00:05:55,300 --> 00:06:02,170 their result you wouldn't have expected 124 00:05:57,970 --> 00:06:05,410 that the new finance minister quickly 125 00:06:02,170 --> 00:06:08,440 ruled out any exit from the euro the 126 00:06:05,410 --> 00:06:10,660 so-called grexit which really would have 127 00:06:08,440 --> 00:06:15,370 set the dominoes tumbling across 128 00:06:10,660 --> 00:06:17,770 southern Europe and the decision to form 129 00:06:15,370 --> 00:06:21,280 their formal coalition with the 130 00:06:17,770 --> 00:06:24,730 so-called independent Greeks which did 131 00:06:21,280 --> 00:06:27,100 not require any problematic negotiation 132 00:06:24,730 --> 00:06:30,430 of any kind really just the placing of 133 00:06:27,100 --> 00:06:34,000 various personnel in ministries rather 134 00:06:30,430 --> 00:06:36,370 than a negotiation with the river or 135 00:06:34,000 --> 00:06:39,030 with the KKE the Communist Party which 136 00:06:36,370 --> 00:06:42,640 would have required a programmatic 137 00:06:39,030 --> 00:06:46,240 dialogue and line by line agreement yes 138 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:47,920 and it seems paradoxical but it was 139 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:49,360 actually easier to form a coalition with 140 00:06:47,920 --> 00:06:51,970 independent cakes given the 141 00:06:49,360 --> 00:06:55,360 circumstances both parties have a 142 00:06:51,970 --> 00:06:57,970 nuptial priority on anti-austerity and 143 00:06:55,360 --> 00:06:59,800 against the memorandum that Greece's the 144 00:06:57,970 --> 00:07:03,220 great governments have signs there with 145 00:06:59,800 --> 00:07:05,620 the troika and politically they come 146 00:07:03,220 --> 00:07:06,700 from very different traditions obviously 147 00:07:05,620 --> 00:07:11,710 the independent Greeks 148 00:07:06,700 --> 00:07:14,410 our populace right-wing party and with 149 00:07:11,710 --> 00:07:19,570 very regressive you take views on 150 00:07:14,410 --> 00:07:22,270 migration on national security on social 151 00:07:19,570 --> 00:07:25,090 rights you know gay marriages and so 152 00:07:22,270 --> 00:07:27,370 forth so it is very paradoxical in that 153 00:07:25,090 --> 00:07:30,370 sense that syriza found them as the 154 00:07:27,370 --> 00:07:32,410 coalition partner but for all practical 155 00:07:30,370 --> 00:07:35,650 purposes what really matters for gays in 156 00:07:32,410 --> 00:07:38,110 the next few months at least is a common 157 00:07:35,650 --> 00:07:40,540 stance on the issue of austerity and the 158 00:07:38,110 --> 00:07:42,370 bailout agreement and that they are 159 00:07:40,540 --> 00:07:44,080 indeed in full agreement they would have 160 00:07:42,370 --> 00:07:45,880 much more and much more difficult task 161 00:07:44,080 --> 00:07:48,940 in baking an agreement either with the 162 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:51,100 communist party who are adamant on on 163 00:07:48,940 --> 00:07:53,470 the proposition that we should exit the 164 00:07:51,100 --> 00:07:55,330 European Union and this was something 165 00:07:53,470 --> 00:07:58,450 that syriza didn't want to negotiate or 166 00:07:55,330 --> 00:08:01,210 two to entertain as a thought for the 167 00:07:58,450 --> 00:08:04,990 policy proposal all for the river the 168 00:08:01,210 --> 00:08:08,500 Patani which is a center-left basically 169 00:08:04,990 --> 00:08:12,130 a party newly formed party and for them 170 00:08:08,500 --> 00:08:14,890 a maintaining the country in inside the 171 00:08:12,130 --> 00:08:18,750 eurozone and committing to a an agenda 172 00:08:14,890 --> 00:08:21,730 of structural reforms was an absolute 173 00:08:18,750 --> 00:08:23,290 red line so they would say this I would 174 00:08:21,730 --> 00:08:25,120 then have to negotiate very very 175 00:08:23,290 --> 00:08:28,540 difficult negotiation with the river 176 00:08:25,120 --> 00:08:30,160 dupatta me on what kind of structural 177 00:08:28,540 --> 00:08:31,960 reforms in which would which ones would 178 00:08:30,160 --> 00:08:35,220 go in the direction of liberalizing 179 00:08:31,960 --> 00:08:37,420 markets which would go in a direction of 180 00:08:35,220 --> 00:08:41,050 perhaps increasing efficiency in the 181 00:08:37,420 --> 00:08:43,479 economy but not making they call me more 182 00:08:41,050 --> 00:08:45,370 open to markets so it came very 183 00:08:43,479 --> 00:08:46,780 naturally that the coalition was formed 184 00:08:45,370 --> 00:08:49,000 between the independent greeks and 185 00:08:46,780 --> 00:08:51,310 syriza and i do not expect to have any 186 00:08:49,000 --> 00:08:55,170 sort of frictions of disagreements 187 00:08:51,310 --> 00:08:57,280 between them until the issue of the of 188 00:08:55,170 --> 00:08:59,920 austerity and the bailout agreement is 189 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:03,030 resolved one way or another hmm let me 190 00:08:59,920 --> 00:09:06,340 ask you about the Golden Dawn this 191 00:09:03,030 --> 00:09:11,620 Europe's most successful explicitly 192 00:09:06,340 --> 00:09:15,370 fascist formation how did they do how 193 00:09:11,620 --> 00:09:17,310 did they outdo expectation a more role 194 00:09:15,370 --> 00:09:19,640 are they likely to play in this new 195 00:09:17,310 --> 00:09:22,130 parliamentary scene 196 00:09:19,640 --> 00:09:23,630 I think at least in the short term they 197 00:09:22,130 --> 00:09:28,190 will play not all in the parliamentary 198 00:09:23,630 --> 00:09:31,490 scene no party wants to have any kind of 199 00:09:28,190 --> 00:09:33,530 relation with them at least our presence 200 00:09:31,490 --> 00:09:35,270 there has been room also some evidence 201 00:09:33,530 --> 00:09:39,860 that the new democracy the previous 202 00:09:35,270 --> 00:09:41,690 government party had links or some 203 00:09:39,860 --> 00:09:44,540 members of it had some links with the 204 00:09:41,690 --> 00:09:46,520 gold Golden Dawn members at the moment 205 00:09:44,540 --> 00:09:48,560 nobody is associating with them in any 206 00:09:46,520 --> 00:09:51,670 way in in any case the leadership of the 207 00:09:48,560 --> 00:09:54,380 party is still in custody awaiting trial 208 00:09:51,670 --> 00:09:57,500 the part is not illegal organization 209 00:09:54,380 --> 00:10:00,200 behind the party has been deemed as a 210 00:09:57,500 --> 00:10:04,670 criminal organization and there's a 211 00:10:00,200 --> 00:10:07,940 trial partly for that it must be said 212 00:10:04,670 --> 00:10:10,760 that the lecture successful Golden Dawn 213 00:10:07,940 --> 00:10:12,680 is not an accident no matter how much 214 00:10:10,760 --> 00:10:15,350 work would like to think that it is an 215 00:10:12,680 --> 00:10:17,090 accident there is support for the views 216 00:10:15,350 --> 00:10:19,960 of corded or not maybe not the most 217 00:10:17,090 --> 00:10:24,590 extreme of them but there is definitely 218 00:10:19,960 --> 00:10:27,320 an anti-migrant sentiment so this goes a 219 00:10:24,590 --> 00:10:29,420 long way to explain why Citizen both 220 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:33,350 patriotic and wearing Germans wash the 221 00:10:29,420 --> 00:10:37,970 car type insignias on their arm it's not 222 00:10:33,350 --> 00:10:40,160 the only God's mmm yes absolutely well I 223 00:10:37,970 --> 00:10:42,830 mean cities are having one of the 224 00:10:40,160 --> 00:10:45,350 election spectacularly do you think this 225 00:10:42,830 --> 00:10:48,710 will influence or perhaps empower other 226 00:10:45,350 --> 00:10:51,140 left-wing radical if you will far left 227 00:10:48,710 --> 00:10:52,550 parties in the rest of Europe I think 228 00:10:51,140 --> 00:10:55,160 absolutely guessing you can see how 229 00:10:52,550 --> 00:10:57,560 prevent mostly acted and engaged in 230 00:10:55,160 --> 00:11:00,050 syriza in Spain yes and how they reacted 231 00:10:57,560 --> 00:11:02,120 to the to the city's victory I think we 232 00:11:00,050 --> 00:11:03,650 also see signals to that effect even 233 00:11:02,120 --> 00:11:04,970 from Italy and France where we don't 234 00:11:03,650 --> 00:11:08,600 have a radical left but we have a 235 00:11:04,970 --> 00:11:11,510 socialist center left the government's 236 00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:14,450 in both countries and they were much 237 00:11:11,510 --> 00:11:17,180 more positive in the in relation to the 238 00:11:14,450 --> 00:11:19,460 cities of victory than other governments 239 00:11:17,180 --> 00:11:22,860 not the only social democrat who who 240 00:11:19,460 --> 00:11:25,170 didn't work him up with a Ed Miliband 241 00:11:22,860 --> 00:11:27,270 but for his sake that the new Greek 242 00:11:25,170 --> 00:11:28,740 government didn't read his response i 243 00:11:27,270 --> 00:11:30,510 want to go a minute or so a minute and a 244 00:11:28,740 --> 00:11:33,480 half let me ask you one thing about 245 00:11:30,510 --> 00:11:36,360 pasok i was once a great admirer or 246 00:11:33,480 --> 00:11:39,540 papandrea the father mainly for his 247 00:11:36,360 --> 00:11:42,780 foreign policy stands the Palestinians 248 00:11:39,540 --> 00:11:46,280 on Sean his son then became the prime 249 00:11:42,780 --> 00:11:49,800 minister they were a family of some note 250 00:11:46,280 --> 00:11:51,870 paso cuz now it would appear plunged 251 00:11:49,800 --> 00:11:53,760 into oblivion will they ever come back 252 00:11:51,870 --> 00:11:55,740 it has it seems extremely unlikely I 253 00:11:53,760 --> 00:11:58,650 wouldn't think they will be able to come 254 00:11:55,740 --> 00:12:03,300 back they got four point seven percent 255 00:11:58,650 --> 00:12:05,940 of the of the vote and they facing big 256 00:12:03,300 --> 00:12:08,760 challenge ahead in terms of feather 257 00:12:05,940 --> 00:12:12,300 split perhaps there is a party 258 00:12:08,760 --> 00:12:13,860 conference being scheduled quite soon 259 00:12:12,300 --> 00:12:15,990 but I think they have more things that 260 00:12:13,860 --> 00:12:19,740 divide them done things that unite them 261 00:12:15,990 --> 00:12:21,900 there is a part of a shock of course 262 00:12:19,740 --> 00:12:24,030 that will be perhaps a backbone of a 263 00:12:21,900 --> 00:12:25,440 future formation in the center left but 264 00:12:24,030 --> 00:12:29,310 I would doubt very much that it would be 265 00:12:25,440 --> 00:12:32,130 called pisaq professor as a tour the 266 00:12:29,310 --> 00:12:34,260 horizont that was a tour de force thank 267 00:12:32,130 --> 00:12:37,410 you very much indeed thank you coming on 268 00:12:34,260 --> 00:12:39,600 the sputnik coming up after the break a 269 00:12:37,410 --> 00:12:41,970 well-known and controversial former 270 00:12:39,600 --> 00:12:43,590 member of the British Cabinet about the 271 00:12:41,970 --> 00:12:45,960 most well-known most controversial 272 00:12:43,590 --> 00:12:49,370 British minister of them all Winston 273 00:12:45,960 --> 00:12:49,370 Churchill don't miss it 274 00:12:52,050 --> 00:12:56,950 welcome back to Sputnik 50 years ago 275 00:12:55,060 --> 00:12:59,440 this week the remains of Sir Winston 276 00:12:56,950 --> 00:13:01,420 Churchill were taken by barge from the 277 00:12:59,440 --> 00:13:03,790 British Parliament down the Thames with 278 00:13:01,420 --> 00:13:06,970 every grain along the river bowing in 279 00:13:03,790 --> 00:13:09,160 respect as he passed by mr. Churchill 280 00:13:06,970 --> 00:13:11,320 was the only commoner of the 20th 281 00:13:09,160 --> 00:13:13,510 century allowed to lie in state in the 282 00:13:11,320 --> 00:13:15,460 palace of westminster upon his demise he 283 00:13:13,510 --> 00:13:18,760 had been a member of the House of 284 00:13:15,460 --> 00:13:20,980 Commons for 64 years the right Honorable 285 00:13:18,760 --> 00:13:23,380 Andrew Mitchell MP like Churchill is a 286 00:13:20,980 --> 00:13:25,780 Tory though like him a surprisingly 287 00:13:23,380 --> 00:13:28,450 undocked ranier one he's a former 288 00:13:25,780 --> 00:13:30,460 cabinet minister with responsibility for 289 00:13:28,450 --> 00:13:33,610 International Development and he joins 290 00:13:30,460 --> 00:13:36,040 us now but before he speaks gayatri red 291 00:13:33,610 --> 00:13:38,200 gloves and all asked the London public 292 00:13:36,040 --> 00:13:40,480 what they thought of Winston Churchill 293 00:13:38,200 --> 00:13:42,580 he was a great talker and a very 294 00:13:40,480 --> 00:13:44,200 powerful leader and did a lot for our 295 00:13:42,580 --> 00:13:45,850 country in retrospect whether people 296 00:13:44,200 --> 00:13:47,740 like it or not he still helped this 297 00:13:45,850 --> 00:13:50,590 country in a massive way yeah I think he 298 00:13:47,740 --> 00:13:53,320 was a great british man um he was a good 299 00:13:50,590 --> 00:13:55,450 leader of his time misunderstood i think 300 00:13:53,320 --> 00:13:57,910 it is you and then he came good when he 301 00:13:55,450 --> 00:14:01,750 needed to whereas amazing render these 302 00:13:57,910 --> 00:14:04,720 amazing things um and he was very brave 303 00:14:01,750 --> 00:14:06,070 made a brave decisions um unimportant 304 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,720 I'm believe you've won the war for 305 00:14:06,070 --> 00:14:10,060 Brennan well he was the leader at the 306 00:14:07,720 --> 00:14:14,260 time for world war two day did a good 307 00:14:10,060 --> 00:14:17,530 job Andrew Mitchell unanimous there and 308 00:14:14,260 --> 00:14:20,680 that doesn't surprise me but what does 309 00:14:17,530 --> 00:14:23,200 surprise me is the deluge of negativity 310 00:14:20,680 --> 00:14:25,780 we got about Churchill on the 311 00:14:23,200 --> 00:14:28,480 twittersphere which is goes to show how 312 00:14:25,780 --> 00:14:30,820 out of touch some people can be some 313 00:14:28,480 --> 00:14:33,430 people especially on the left because 314 00:14:30,820 --> 00:14:35,020 the truth is if not for Winston 315 00:14:33,430 --> 00:14:37,480 Churchill if he had not become Prime 316 00:14:35,020 --> 00:14:39,160 Minister in 1940 you and I would have 317 00:14:37,480 --> 00:14:42,520 been conducting this interview and 318 00:14:39,160 --> 00:14:45,610 German if indeed we were alive to 319 00:14:42,520 --> 00:14:49,540 conduct it isn't that the case yes I 320 00:14:45,610 --> 00:14:51,550 mean he had a curiously up-and-down 321 00:14:49,540 --> 00:14:53,620 career I've just been reading Boris 322 00:14:51,550 --> 00:14:55,480 Johnson's appreciation to group of 323 00:14:53,620 --> 00:14:59,560 Winston Churchill on the 50th 324 00:14:55,480 --> 00:15:00,880 anniversary and it's interesting the 325 00:14:59,560 --> 00:15:02,980 extent to which she got some of the 326 00:15:00,880 --> 00:15:03,690 things wrong that he did but he was the 327 00:15:02,980 --> 00:15:07,070 right man 328 00:15:03,690 --> 00:15:10,140 in the right place at the right time in 329 00:15:07,070 --> 00:15:12,260 1939-40 he'd been warning about what was 330 00:15:10,140 --> 00:15:17,130 going to happen with extraordinary 331 00:15:12,260 --> 00:15:18,810 perceptiveness and come 1940 came the 332 00:15:17,130 --> 00:15:20,940 right man at an incredibly difficult 333 00:15:18,810 --> 00:15:23,340 time as a result of which we're not 334 00:15:20,940 --> 00:15:25,710 speaking German as he is that and in the 335 00:15:23,340 --> 00:15:27,900 Boris Johnson book which is quite a fine 336 00:15:25,710 --> 00:15:29,910 piece of work even though it's Boris 337 00:15:27,900 --> 00:15:32,340 channeling Churchill threw himself as a 338 00:15:29,910 --> 00:15:37,020 as a potential leader of the 339 00:15:32,340 --> 00:15:40,050 Conservative Party it is salutary to 340 00:15:37,020 --> 00:15:43,890 remind ourselves as the book does as 341 00:15:40,050 --> 00:15:47,010 some other books carefully omit the 342 00:15:43,890 --> 00:15:50,190 strength of the surrender party at the 343 00:15:47,010 --> 00:15:54,030 time in the British establishment and 344 00:15:50,190 --> 00:15:57,030 when mr. Churchill said that not until 345 00:15:54,030 --> 00:16:00,740 the last of us is lying on the cabinet 346 00:15:57,030 --> 00:16:04,950 floor choking in our own blood will we 347 00:16:00,740 --> 00:16:08,100 surrender he meant it and the 348 00:16:04,950 --> 00:16:10,740 establishment a piece part a new that he 349 00:16:08,100 --> 00:16:13,290 meant it there were a lot of fifth 350 00:16:10,740 --> 00:16:16,080 columnist surround at that time well 351 00:16:13,290 --> 00:16:18,830 there was a powerful group it comes out 352 00:16:16,080 --> 00:16:22,440 rather well actually in the Boris 353 00:16:18,830 --> 00:16:23,940 account in the early days when he had 354 00:16:22,440 --> 00:16:27,390 just become Prime Minister a very 355 00:16:23,940 --> 00:16:29,700 powerful group who were very worried 356 00:16:27,390 --> 00:16:32,340 that Britain simply was not going to be 357 00:16:29,700 --> 00:16:37,530 able to win and the power of the 358 00:16:32,340 --> 00:16:39,840 arguments of the appeases was very clear 359 00:16:37,530 --> 00:16:42,300 that I think Churchill's genius was to 360 00:16:39,840 --> 00:16:45,000 see that there was no deal that was 361 00:16:42,300 --> 00:16:48,000 possible and that this was going to be a 362 00:16:45,000 --> 00:16:53,280 fight to the death and it was that 363 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:55,320 clarity of vision and planning and some 364 00:16:53,280 --> 00:16:58,440 quite skillful political maneuvering in 365 00:16:55,320 --> 00:17:01,140 the cabinet at the time which got him 366 00:16:58,440 --> 00:17:04,800 out of scare into second gear thank 367 00:17:01,140 --> 00:17:09,030 goodness the left criticism of him 368 00:17:04,800 --> 00:17:14,610 focuses on partially a misreading of 369 00:17:09,030 --> 00:17:17,040 some important episodes in his life but 370 00:17:14,610 --> 00:17:17,400 he was not a doctrinaire Tory you could 371 00:17:17,040 --> 00:17:19,440 make a 372 00:17:17,400 --> 00:17:22,830 argument I could that he wasn't really a 373 00:17:19,440 --> 00:17:25,380 Tory at all and indeed he ratted and 374 00:17:22,830 --> 00:17:27,810 rerouted for years as a conservative 375 00:17:25,380 --> 00:17:29,850 party crossing the floor to the then 376 00:17:27,810 --> 00:17:33,660 liberals crossing back to the 377 00:17:29,850 --> 00:17:37,860 Conservatives but actually with some 378 00:17:33,660 --> 00:17:41,640 quite solid progressive reforms to his 379 00:17:37,860 --> 00:17:45,450 to his credit yes I mean he was he had a 380 00:17:41,640 --> 00:17:47,760 very strong social conscience the social 381 00:17:45,450 --> 00:17:51,270 reforms which you refer are hugely to 382 00:17:47,760 --> 00:17:53,580 his credit and as for his positioning in 383 00:17:51,270 --> 00:17:56,700 the Tory party given that he had had 384 00:17:53,580 --> 00:17:59,610 been a liberal it's quite difficult to 385 00:17:56,700 --> 00:18:03,150 pin down but often Tory positioning is 386 00:17:59,610 --> 00:18:06,360 quite difficult to pin down um but but 387 00:18:03,150 --> 00:18:10,130 he did make mistakes he was wrong about 388 00:18:06,360 --> 00:18:14,010 the abdication he was wrong about India 389 00:18:10,130 --> 00:18:18,150 the Dardanelles campaign but his 390 00:18:14,010 --> 00:18:19,740 extraordinary bravery and the accounts 391 00:18:18,150 --> 00:18:22,050 of when he was wounded and when he was 392 00:18:19,740 --> 00:18:26,250 hurt and so forth his extraordinary 393 00:18:22,050 --> 00:18:29,070 bravery his his real strong patriotism 394 00:18:26,250 --> 00:18:31,770 and his clarity of vision at certain key 395 00:18:29,070 --> 00:18:34,650 moments in his career and in our 396 00:18:31,770 --> 00:18:37,770 national life that's why I suspect in 397 00:18:34,650 --> 00:18:40,830 your film you got a cross-section a 398 00:18:37,770 --> 00:18:44,580 hundred percent more or less in in favor 399 00:18:40,830 --> 00:18:48,150 of saluting him as a great if not the 400 00:18:44,580 --> 00:18:51,350 greatest Englishman and why I think you 401 00:18:48,150 --> 00:18:54,720 know he goes down in our in our national 402 00:18:51,350 --> 00:18:57,620 pantheon in such a very high in elevated 403 00:18:54,720 --> 00:19:01,350 case at the critical moments his clarity 404 00:18:57,620 --> 00:19:04,170 saved our country he was a wordsmith 405 00:19:01,350 --> 00:19:06,990 extraordinaire I mean he wrote millions 406 00:19:04,170 --> 00:19:10,260 upon millions of words received the 407 00:19:06,990 --> 00:19:12,360 nobel prize for literature but one of 408 00:19:10,260 --> 00:19:15,420 the best things he ever wrote and this 409 00:19:12,360 --> 00:19:18,720 something up your street and mine with 410 00:19:15,420 --> 00:19:22,140 our mutual interest in in Africa and in 411 00:19:18,720 --> 00:19:24,810 the Sudan he fought at the omnimon was 412 00:19:22,140 --> 00:19:27,720 disgusted by the mass slaughter wrought 413 00:19:24,810 --> 00:19:30,210 by the Gatling gun but even more 414 00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:31,260 disgusted by the conduct of those who 415 00:19:30,210 --> 00:19:34,830 dug up the 416 00:19:31,260 --> 00:19:37,100 Maddie from the tomb cut off the head 417 00:19:34,830 --> 00:19:41,760 and played football with the skull 418 00:19:37,100 --> 00:19:45,230 chacho exposed this crime to the British 419 00:19:41,760 --> 00:19:48,570 public in the pall mall gazette he was 420 00:19:45,230 --> 00:19:51,390 quite breathtakingly audacious ER with 421 00:19:48,570 --> 00:19:53,640 the pen as well as with the sword yes 422 00:19:51,390 --> 00:19:58,800 which of course in politics is a hugely 423 00:19:53,640 --> 00:20:02,370 valuable ability to do that I've just 424 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:05,310 been reading the biography of Roy 425 00:20:02,370 --> 00:20:08,160 Jenkins there's a up for a prize this 426 00:20:05,310 --> 00:20:11,760 week and he had the same when remarkable 427 00:20:08,160 --> 00:20:13,740 ability to write extremely well and as 428 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:16,170 well as to get across his political 429 00:20:13,740 --> 00:20:18,570 views through the speeches he made when 430 00:20:16,170 --> 00:20:20,910 I retired Roy Jenkins from the house of 431 00:20:18,570 --> 00:20:23,460 your hands and for which he thanked me 432 00:20:20,910 --> 00:20:25,260 he much preferred the red carpets of the 433 00:20:23,460 --> 00:20:28,290 House of Lords speaking of our red 434 00:20:25,260 --> 00:20:30,150 carpets and Winston Churchill was always 435 00:20:28,290 --> 00:20:33,450 in the House of Commons why does he 436 00:20:30,150 --> 00:20:34,680 never become a lord I think you know 437 00:20:33,450 --> 00:20:36,990 there's no former Prime Minister's I 438 00:20:34,680 --> 00:20:39,900 think knowingly in the House of Lords 439 00:20:36,990 --> 00:20:42,750 and you know he stayed to a very great 440 00:20:39,900 --> 00:20:44,670 age external I mean he stayed in the 441 00:20:42,750 --> 00:20:46,140 commons for as long as he possibly could 442 00:20:44,670 --> 00:20:48,480 I think that when he left the commons 443 00:20:46,140 --> 00:20:50,340 that was hymns leaving from from 444 00:20:48,480 --> 00:20:52,230 westminster's clearly the right decision 445 00:20:50,340 --> 00:20:56,490 I was just going to make the point about 446 00:20:52,230 --> 00:20:59,760 Roy Jenkins Jenkins begun his tremendous 447 00:20:56,490 --> 00:21:04,140 biography of Churchill not really buying 448 00:20:59,760 --> 00:21:07,890 much of the Churchill myth but by the 449 00:21:04,140 --> 00:21:10,710 end having had to carefully examine all 450 00:21:07,890 --> 00:21:12,930 the papers and all the arguments he 451 00:21:10,710 --> 00:21:17,490 wrote at the end of that biography that 452 00:21:12,930 --> 00:21:20,820 he considered Churchill the most amazing 453 00:21:17,490 --> 00:21:22,800 human being ever to occupy yes any 454 00:21:20,820 --> 00:21:25,500 officer Prime yes I think I think most 455 00:21:22,800 --> 00:21:29,580 people who have written about it comes 456 00:21:25,500 --> 00:21:31,500 crossing Boris's book as well come away 457 00:21:29,580 --> 00:21:34,650 from a close examination of the original 458 00:21:31,500 --> 00:21:37,980 sources with their already elevated 459 00:21:34,650 --> 00:21:39,930 respect even further enhanced and you 460 00:21:37,980 --> 00:21:42,120 know that's a that's encouraging because 461 00:21:39,930 --> 00:21:44,070 a lot of these biographies paint Winston 462 00:21:42,120 --> 00:21:46,740 Churchill warts and all but 463 00:21:44,070 --> 00:21:49,110 that is the invariable conclusion which 464 00:21:46,740 --> 00:21:51,270 their biographers reach speaking of 465 00:21:49,110 --> 00:21:54,210 painting of warts and all it said that 466 00:21:51,270 --> 00:21:57,390 that lady churchill burned grim 467 00:21:54,210 --> 00:22:00,270 Sutherlands portrait of him because 468 00:21:57,390 --> 00:22:03,360 although he very generously received it 469 00:22:00,270 --> 00:22:05,550 he apparently hated it I rather like it 470 00:22:03,360 --> 00:22:09,690 what do you think I remember 471 00:22:05,550 --> 00:22:12,630 understanding why Lady churchill didn't 472 00:22:09,690 --> 00:22:14,640 like it but whether that was because she 473 00:22:12,630 --> 00:22:17,450 didn't like it as an appreciation of art 474 00:22:14,640 --> 00:22:20,100 or didn't like it because her husband 475 00:22:17,450 --> 00:22:23,820 didn't appreciate it history doesn't 476 00:22:20,100 --> 00:22:28,560 tell we mustn't burn portraits warts and 477 00:22:23,820 --> 00:22:30,570 all what lesson or what can we draw from 478 00:22:28,560 --> 00:22:34,700 Churchill's life now as we look back on 479 00:22:30,570 --> 00:22:37,830 it fifty years on after his demise 480 00:22:34,700 --> 00:22:41,820 clearly Boris sees something of 481 00:22:37,830 --> 00:22:46,730 Churchill in himself American by 482 00:22:41,820 --> 00:22:50,490 extension very maverick political stance 483 00:22:46,730 --> 00:22:54,620 posing with the ak-47s in Kurdistan just 484 00:22:50,490 --> 00:22:58,170 last week is George is Boris Johnson 485 00:22:54,620 --> 00:23:00,030 potentially another charger well I 486 00:22:58,170 --> 00:23:03,510 character history doesn't repeat itself 487 00:23:00,030 --> 00:23:08,070 in the same way thank goodness and Boris 488 00:23:03,510 --> 00:23:11,640 after all was asked to write this rather 489 00:23:08,070 --> 00:23:14,160 good and splendid biography appreciation 490 00:23:11,640 --> 00:23:16,340 after 50 years he was asked to do it I 491 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:19,110 think he set to that task were the same 492 00:23:16,340 --> 00:23:22,650 vim and vigor which he sets to 493 00:23:19,110 --> 00:23:24,800 everything and did a very good job I'll 494 00:23:22,650 --> 00:23:28,290 take that as a yes I'll take that as 495 00:23:24,800 --> 00:23:30,990 Boris Johnson appreciation ok we're 496 00:23:28,290 --> 00:23:35,460 looking back Winston Churchill 50 years 497 00:23:30,990 --> 00:23:37,920 on in a nutshell was he the greatest of 498 00:23:35,460 --> 00:23:39,660 them all well as Prime Minister there 499 00:23:37,920 --> 00:23:44,160 are other prime ministers in the last 500 00:23:39,660 --> 00:23:45,620 150 years who you could say were great 501 00:23:44,160 --> 00:23:47,100 and who had extraordinary 502 00:23:45,620 --> 00:23:50,130 characteristics and extraordinary 503 00:23:47,100 --> 00:23:51,930 virtues but given the time when Winston 504 00:23:50,130 --> 00:23:56,160 Churchill was Prime Minister and the 505 00:23:51,930 --> 00:23:57,720 challenge that our country faced I think 506 00:23:56,160 --> 00:23:59,940 that without 507 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:02,460 he was the greatest occupant ever of 508 00:23:59,940 --> 00:24:04,410 number 10 Andrew Mitchell great to see 509 00:24:02,460 --> 00:24:10,230 you again thanks very much for coming on 510 00:24:04,410 --> 00:24:12,090 the sputnik I now it's your turn to tell 511 00:24:10,230 --> 00:24:14,310 us what you think through the portals of 512 00:24:12,090 --> 00:24:16,590 social media what's rattling gayatri 513 00:24:14,310 --> 00:24:19,530 okay Cowen's on the grease result 514 00:24:16,590 --> 00:24:21,750 includes max weight saying they had no 515 00:24:19,530 --> 00:24:23,940 money before and now they have none but 516 00:24:21,750 --> 00:24:26,310 they do have self-determination freedom 517 00:24:23,940 --> 00:24:28,950 respect and solidarity that's a lot more 518 00:24:26,310 --> 00:24:31,800 than they had before well done nine riaz 519 00:24:28,950 --> 00:24:34,470 kazi instead says it will be the same as 520 00:24:31,800 --> 00:24:36,810 Obama's election slogan yes we can his 521 00:24:34,470 --> 00:24:39,690 Nobel Peace Prize and we all know the 522 00:24:36,810 --> 00:24:41,700 rest of history bit of death that's just 523 00:24:39,690 --> 00:24:44,040 a little bit of the Barack Obama about 524 00:24:41,700 --> 00:24:46,830 the syriza leader but I don't want to be 525 00:24:44,040 --> 00:24:49,680 too intent on Churchill we received a 526 00:24:46,830 --> 00:24:52,680 lot of hostility and filthy common look 527 00:24:49,680 --> 00:24:54,720 hate me LOL you Jim hate me well then AB 528 00:24:52,680 --> 00:24:57,390 Kamal says Churchill was the bush of his 529 00:24:54,720 --> 00:25:00,210 time racist aristocrat Alison done 530 00:24:57,390 --> 00:25:02,730 something of saying all powerful leaders 531 00:25:00,210 --> 00:25:04,890 have unpalatable flaws Churchill will be 532 00:25:02,730 --> 00:25:07,080 chiefly remembered however for being a 533 00:25:04,890 --> 00:25:09,840 lone voice denouncing the Nazis in the 534 00:25:07,080 --> 00:25:12,120 early 30s and insisting on war when 535 00:25:09,840 --> 00:25:15,060 appetite for war so soon after the first 536 00:25:12,120 --> 00:25:17,370 was so low he rallied Europe against a 537 00:25:15,060 --> 00:25:20,790 significant evil whether he was a fat 538 00:25:17,370 --> 00:25:24,240 drunk or not hardly methicillin lose fat 539 00:25:20,790 --> 00:25:26,280 he drank and he smoked a chain smoke to 540 00:25:24,240 --> 00:25:28,830 Havana cigars and he lived till he was 541 00:25:26,280 --> 00:25:30,780 90 and that's all that we've got time 542 00:25:28,830 --> 00:25:32,340 for this week which alas means that's 543 00:25:30,780 --> 00:25:34,020 the end of the show you can stay in 544 00:25:32,340 --> 00:25:36,120 touch with us on Twitter on RT 545 00:25:34,020 --> 00:25:38,550 underscore Sputnik and on facebook on 546 00:25:36,120 --> 00:25:40,380 Sputnik on Russia today goodbye for me 547 00:25:38,550 --> 00:25:43,490 guy Anthony I'm from me George Galloway 548 00:25:40,380 --> 00:25:43,490 it's been marvelous