I was watching Channel 4 news last night and the interview between Jeremy Corbyn and Krishnan Guru Murty. In typical style the presenter was trying to trip up the interviewee and quoted him as having called Hamas and / or Hezbullah 'friends'. Corbyn reacted because while he started to answer Guru Murty kept butting in and then Corbyn called him a tabloid journalist in a little hissy fit. I am sure it is on youtube and worth a look as it does have some merit. I do wish interviewers would allow people to answer and on that note Corbyn has a point.
And by the same token Thurnby I wish all politicians would answer a question honestly, however that's never going to happen. The Paxman, Michael Howard interview is a classic
Corbyn demonstrated ai a stroke how unfit he is to do the job. I wonder how Blair would have handled it. Rather differently I think.
I kind of liked his response. It's not that of a political leader I guess but it was refreshing to see a journalist being put in their place for sensationalising a story and detracting from the real issue.
I'm not a Corbyn supporter, but I thought the interview was atrocious. I used to like Channel 4 news, but this is not the only example making me lose patience.
I like some of what Corbyn says (namely his anti-austerity economics) but his stance on foreign affairs is mental. Pacifism is all well and good on the face of it but it is a very naive interpretation of human nature. Just because you are an honourable person, doesn't mean others will be.
Blair fan? There is a great debate on YouTube Blair vs Christopher Hitchens. Blair gets absolutely crushed. The murdering lying ****wit should be on trial
You can't just go off on one like Corbyn did. He thinks we should talk to ISIS. That's totally mental. They would probably chuck a gallon of unleaded over him and strike a match.
Interviewee aside Krisnan is a nasty spiteful little **** of a journalist. Thinks it's clever to provoke the interviewee time & time again hoping they'll lose it or walk off set. Can't stand the guy he's not trying to get the truth out of people he's just trying to be an arse like he's hoping to get picked up for Fox news or some such. As for Corbyn at least he has some policies to make Labour an OPPOSITION party not just simpering wannabe red Toryscum with their tongues shoved up Cameron's arse like they are right now, which is probably at least partly why so few voted for them
Many thanks for all of your comments and I think the summary of them is spot on. Guru Murty is an amateur and not in the leagues of Jon Snow (when he was at his best) and is arrogant and tabloid. I opened this thread basically because it is so rare now to see a 'real' debate and for soemone to lose their rag. Believe me I hate Blair for what he did but when it came to handling tricky interviews then he was a master. As KIO said though at the top, Guru Muurty v Corbyn was low down on the bill behind Paxman v Howard, now that was classic.
I am in a bit of a strange position. I was a Labour councillor for 14 years and some of my views are fairly left wing. Having said that Blair was a huge success as a leader. OK Iraq was a foreign policy mistake but in those years from 97 on there were huge improvements in education and the NHS that have been thrown into reverse since 2010. Blair kept the Tories away from the levers of power and I for one will always be grateful for that. Canvassing on the doorstep it was clear how people supported the centre left stance. You may not like that,unfortunately it just happens to be true.
To clarify CT. Like most people I voted for Blair in 97, as was written by Robert Harris he wasn't a politicain it was a craze. He came to power overthrowing the Tories who had their noses in the though for years and the country were sick of them. I regret that in many ways much of the 13 years in power were wasted and of course the Iraq venture was a disaster and you cannot say that he wasn't warned. He ignored public opinion, the very thing that road him to power in the first place. Politics surely does corrupt. he did well but could and should have done better and since leaving office he has feathered his own nest and f*cked the Middle east and other swathes of the World possibly forever, that is not a legacy anyone would want.
I disagree on the Middle East, it's been ****ed for many centuries. Ever since Allah reared his ugly turbiined head.
A generation in power always swings public opinion against you. You either run out of ideas or get to the point of having to start reforming things you've already changed once. In general the British public like a reforming government, across the spectrum. It was one of millinand's issues that he failed to sell a vision not just cheap give always. What labour need now (I'm not a labour supporter as I think many of you know but value the role the opposition play) is a clean slate and a clearly defined vision that can be developed over the next few years. Being in opposition isn't about a blanket gain saying of everything the government does, but tackling it on certain points, if you only debate 20-30% of the points it gives more weight when you do. Harriet Harmon seems to get this. The leadership candidates less so.
Unfortunately it's an interview technique I see employed by Stewart White on Look East quite frequently. It doesn't befit the BBC at all.
Sadly IMO the most capable leader of the opposition has already pulled out of the fray. Listened to PM's questions this afternoon and Labour need someone stronger to put up against Cameron as whilst HH is a decent human being and seems to have more common sense than a lot of the potential leaders she kept walking into his punches and came across as not being able to understand the subtext of his points.
And that's why I liked Blair. He would expose Cameron for what he is. Merely a populist PR apparatchik.Whilst I am generally on the left I acknowledge that it can't be sold to the English electorate so you have to present what they will accept.
Let's be fair - Blair was a bit of a PR machine too. Just one more towards the better end of the political spectrum.
Murty pulled the same stunt with Robert Downey Jr a few months back. He's on to promote the new Avengers film, which Murty completely ignores and instead grills him on his problems with addiction years ago. I'm not surprised Downey walked out. It's deliberately manufactured controversy to attract viewers. By all means grill the people who deserve it, fairly, but this is like Russell Brand interviewing people, where it's clear he thinks he's most important.
