pap Posted 23 September, 2011 Share Posted 23 September, 2011 Anyone else see Question Time? I am watching it now on iPlayer. Another wholly unimpressive set of answers from the political party members. Private Eye's Ian Hislop and Justine Roberts of Mumsnet made the most sense. Common thing in Question Time. What is about being a member of a political party that turns you into a soundbite machine? It appears that the Conservatives are going for style over substance. Preti Patel seemed totally clueless, betraying hints of a nasty streak as she fumbled her way through her answers. Her response during the debate on capital punishment was particularly left field. Don't really think she got the point at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 23 September, 2011 Share Posted 23 September, 2011 An MP who aligns themself to a political party automatically sets themself under the charge of a 'chief whip' who has the job of ensuring that in public all members adhere to the 'party line' in topics. I would suspect that any party member who appears on something like question time will have been vetted by the whip to ensure that any risk of embarrasing or undermining comment for their parties are minimised. It no surprise therefore that the answers they give will be a bit sterile on the whole. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRM Posted 23 September, 2011 Share Posted 23 September, 2011 i'd much rather look at Preti Patel than that disgusting annoying mess Harriot Harman anyday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 23 September, 2011 Author Share Posted 23 September, 2011 An MP who aligns themself to a political party automatically sets themself under the charge of a 'chief whip' who has the job of ensuring that in public all members adhere to the 'party line' in topics. I would suspect that any party member who appears on something like question time will have been vetted by the whip to ensure that any risk of embarrasing or undermining comment for their parties are minimised. Well, the role of the whip extends further than that - they ensure that the MPs votes the way that the party wants to. Personally, I don't know why they bother, and I don't know where they got the idea that we want them all to believe the same things. The reason that the non-politicians always come off best in those shows is because they've got the courage of their convictions and greater freedom to give an honest opinion. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pap Posted 23 September, 2011 Author Share Posted 23 September, 2011 i'd much rather look at Preti Patel than that disgusting annoying mess Harriot Harman anyday. Yeah, but if it was Any Questions on Radio 4, you wouldn't even have that. She'd just sound like an ignorant simpleton. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 23 September, 2011 Share Posted 23 September, 2011 Harriet Harman is bad, but Jaqui Smith is the pits. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lord Duckhunter Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 QT has been going down for the past 10 years. Where on earth do they get half the idiots in the audience from? I would change the format and have 6 journo's from various outlets asking meaningful questions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfc123 Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 They mainly come from the big three local parties. When QT is coming to say Brighton, the local parties are all informed in advance and get the bulk of the tickets. That's why when you hear applause or abuse from only one part of the audience it's because they're all seated in designated area's.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colinjb Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 They mainly come from the big three local parties. When QT is coming to say Brighton, the local parties are all informed in advance and get the bulk of the tickets. That's why when you hear applause or abuse from only one part of the audience it's because they're all seated in designated area's.... That's completely contrary to my experiences when attending QT in Coventry last December. Everyone I spoke to had applied via phone or online for seats and then by luck had been picked. Applause and jeering came from all areas of the crowd which was an extremely wide cross-section of students, public and private sector workers, a few retired individuals and people of all backgrounds and race. I was also extremely heartened that despite Coventry being a labour heartland an effort was obviously made by the producers to keep the audience as diverse as possible. There was a small area (30 seats max) to the side of the stage where people who seemed to be party affiliated were sat but they were explicitely asked by David Dimbleby to be silent through the filming process because audience reaction is about 'public opinion, not political volume.' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintandy666 Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 That Conservative MP was quite scary in her views. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pfc123 Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 That's completely contrary to my experiences when attending QT in Coventry last December. Everyone I spoke to had applied via phone or online for seats and then by luck had been picked. Applause and jeering came from all areas of the crowd which was an extremely wide cross-section of students, public and private sector workers, a few retired individuals and people of all backgrounds and race. I was also extremely heartened that despite Coventry being a labour heartland an effort was obviously made by the producers to keep the audience as diverse as possible. There was a small area (30 seats max) to the side of the stage where people who seemed to be party affiliated were sat but they were explicitely asked by David Dimbleby to be silent through the filming process because audience reaction is about 'public opinion, not political volume.' Ah, interesting. The info I got from a party member was relating to a show that happened while the party conferences were in full swing- maybe that had an influence? Either way it's just such a shame the whips have the politcian guests so nailed to floor that they can't even begin to be a bit more honest and open.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 Where on earth do they get half the idiots in the audience from? Wasn't Super Mikey or saintandy666 (i have difficulty differentiating between them) talking about going in the audience? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintandy666 Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 Wasn't Super Mikey or saintandy666 (i have difficulty differentiating between them) talking about going in the audience? We both were! Didn't get in My brother's girlfriend did though and her friend, and neither of them are affiliated to parties so the stuff which someone said further up in nonsense. I know of a few others who have been to other editions as well who aren't affiliated. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ecuk268 Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 Mrs ecuk268 has been a few times when it's been held in Southampton and she's not a member of anything. Easy to get tickets, just write and ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dune Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 We both were! Didn't get in My brother's girlfriend did though and her friend, and neither of them are affiliated to parties so the stuff which someone said further up in nonsense. I know of a few others who have been to other editions as well who aren't affiliated. It sounds a right laugh. The teenagers of today do some really mad things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintandy666 Posted 24 September, 2011 Share Posted 24 September, 2011 It sounds a right laugh. The teenagers of today do some really mad things. I think we both have enough time to have a healthy interest in current affairs(as it should be) and do 'mad things' as well. You really do have a chip on your shoulder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thedelldays Posted 25 September, 2011 Share Posted 25 September, 2011 I think we both have enough time to have a healthy interest in current affairs(as it should be) and do 'mad things' as well.You really do have a chip on your shoulder. what is the 'maddest thing you have done...?threw your empty crisp packet on the pavement instead of the litter bin...? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saintandy666 Posted 25 September, 2011 Share Posted 25 September, 2011 what is the 'maddest thing you have done...?threw your empty crisp packet on the pavement instead of the litter bin...? I would not discuss my life with some random old my man on an open internet forum. Out of interest, what should a teenager be doing then? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Turkish Posted 25 September, 2011 Share Posted 25 September, 2011 what is the 'maddest thing you have done...?threw your empty crisp packet on the pavement instead of the litter bin...? I cant for one second imagine a keen follower of current affairs would commit criminal acts such as the one you suggest, even in an attempt at an act of madness. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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