The programme will inevitably be a disappointment, but Twitter should be fun.
Wednesday 11 June 2014
Question Time
Iain Duncan Smith is on BBC's Question Time tonight. Don't expect any hard questions, however. It's clear from the line-up that the intention is to lead on the issue of Islam in schools. If you're thinking that it depends on what questions the audience ask, you'd be wrong. I was in a QT audience 10 years ago, and I don't suppose much has changed. The producers select those questions they want to use. However, since another panel member is Labour's Chris Bryant, who is the shadow welfare minister, there will probably be a discussion on employment. There's a useful summary on FullFact which could help with that.
It's also possible that the Oxfam graphic will be raised. Tories hate it and are attacking Oxfam's charitable status because they've become "political". The Daily Mail has the right-wing response, but there's a very sensible article by Richard Murphy on the Tax Research UK site. There could be a lively argument on this, especially as Ian Hislop is also on the panel. I don't suppose for one moment that IDS will be asked about threats to shut down the Trussell Trust.
The programme will inevitably be a disappointment, but Twitter should be fun.
The programme will inevitably be a disappointment, but Twitter should be fun.
Ian Hislop is generally a very good panelist. Wouldn't be surprised if IDS doesn't show up.
ReplyDeleteI imagine it's already been recorded... Hasn't it? Is never live.
DeleteNo, it's recorded about an hour before it's shown. I was able to nip home and watch myself on TV (a chastening experience). They don't edit it unless they have to.
DeleteBBC Radio 5 Live broadcast QT in real time and have QT Extra time which is a phone in after the show. May listen to QT and see if I can get on air.
ReplyDeleteAs for the Oxfam poster. Thank goodness someone is making these noises! If the Tories the this Oxfam campaign, it can only be because their long dormant consciences have been pricked.
And shutting down the Trussell Trust? Again, Smith has shown what an inadequate man he is. He hates the evidence, denies the facts and as a result tries to silence those who question and challenge him, the BBC and now the Trussell Trust. The man is a dangerous menace!
Not much to report on QT with regards the purpose of this blog. Most of the questions were about the crisis in Iraq and the Birmingham schools row. Smith was mostly unchallenged with regards welfare and the shambolic running of his department.
ReplyDeleteOnly a couple of times was he taken to task, once by Salma Yaqoob from the Stop the War coalition who mentioned that 13m people are living below the poverty line and a chap in the audience who asked the Lib Dem MP in relation to her party how they could be in a partnership with the Tories with people like Iain Duncan Smith alongside them. Smith just looked on doing his usual bulldog chewing a wasp impression!
He did get into a shouting match with Chris Bryant, who was determined not to be talked over by IDS. It felt as if IDS had been guaranteed that nothing would be said on welfare (despite having the shadow minister on as well as him) and he got very angry when the subject was brought up. There was a magnificent middle-aged chap in the audience who told IDS exactly what he thought of him.
DeleteI agree. It does seem this episode was strangely a welfare free zone. Odd considering Smith is Work and pensions secretary. Very odd too that the Oxfam campaign was never mentioned especially as it made the headlines over the previous couple of days. Smith really hates being challenged!
DeleteIDS Question Time 12.06.14 - A total embarrassment.
ReplyDelete